The Well Wave Plus: Open Access and Equity contract will complement and enhance the existing Well Wave service. Well Wave is a city wide, universal offer for young people aged 13-24, overseen by the Leeds City Council Public Health team.
Trained workers offer confidential, non-clinical relationships and sexual health support, where young people can explore ideas, build skills and access free condom products, lubricant, and pregnancy testing, plus STI self-screening kits. These drop-in services are located within organisations where young people already attend.
This contract will enhance current provision by introducing specialist, dedicated Well Wave Plus workers with the skills to engage and appropriately support most at risk, least well-supported and seldom seen young people aged 13-24 years old. Currently, most workers trained to deliver Well Wave provide the service voluntarily within their substantive roles (e.g. in youth clubs or educational settings). Under this contract, dedicated workers will be employed solely to deliver and promote Well Wave services, without constraints on location or caseload. These workers will focus on ensuring equity of access for seldom seen, marginalised or under pressure young people by developing and delivering flexible, accessible, and culturally sensitive Well Wave outreach in appropriate community settings.