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MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS (DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY SAFEGUARDS)

NHS WALES SHARED SERVICES PARTNERSHIP-PROCUREMENT SERVICES (HOSTED BY VELINDRE UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST)

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2025 at 13:21

Tender

23 Jul 2025 at 12:45

Summary of the contracting process

The Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), acting under NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, is in the planning stage of this public procurement for medical assessments tied to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). As of 11th September 2025, the procurement process involves the intention to award a contract under the Provider Selection Regime Wales (PSR Wales) to Liquid Personnel. The procurement focuses on the health services industry and is mapped to region UKL14 (Wales). The main procurement method is via open procedure, with the procurement officially began with a tender notice published in July 2025. Key dates include the standstill period starting with this notice, allowing until 22nd September for any representations from providers. The contract is valued at £67,500 and ensures service delivery across HDUHB’s general and community hospitals as well as mental health units.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses in the health services sector, specifically those experienced with DoLS assessments, requiring medical assessors with qualifications, knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and local regulations. Businesses capable of delivering high-quality, legally defensible assessments while maintaining COVID-19 safety protocols, offering flexibility in service delivery timing, and accommodating a minimum of five assessments per week are well-suited. Expectations include a strong emphasis on technical quality (50%) alongside price and foundational economy (30% and 20%, respectively). As the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership facilitates this procurement process, it signals a lucrative growth opportunity for health services providers, particularly those that are large-scale, as demonstrated by the successful bid from Liquid Personnel, located in Manchester.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS (DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTY SAFEGUARDS)

Notice Description

Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), in its role as a Supervisory Body under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), is required to commission assessors in response to requests for DoLS Authorisations from its Managing Authorities. Requests for assessments are received from across the Health Board's inpatient locations, which include its four general hospitals, four community hospitals and its mental health and learning disability units. HDUHB employs its own team of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) but needs to commission suitably qualified "Medical" Assessors to undertake the Mental Health and Eligibility assessments for adults aged eighteen (18) or over (DoLS Form 4)

Lot Information

Lot 1

Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), in its role as a Supervisory Body under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), is required to commission assessors in response to requests for DoLS Authorisations from its Managing Authorities. Requests for assessments are received from across the Health Board's inpatient locations, which include its four general hospitals, four community hospitals and its mental health and learning disability units. HDUHB employs its own team of Best Interest Assessors (BIAs) but needs to commission suitably qualified "Medical" Assessors to undertake the Mental Health and Eligibility assessments for adults aged eighteen (18) or over (DoLS Form 4). The assessors and assessments must meet the criteria as set out in Schedule A1 Mental Capacity Act 2005 and The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Assessments, Standard Authorisations and Disputes about Residence) (Wales) Regulations 2009. All assessments are to be conducted face to face unless agreed by prior arrangement. All assessors working on this project must: - Be willing to comply with national and local policies and protocols on Covid-19 and safe visits to hospitals including but not limited to providing negative lateral flow tests if required on the days of assessments. - Be Section 12 approved and have an in depth applied knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), DoLS, and relevant case law as well as an understanding of the legislative framework that applies in Wales (Including Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014(SSWB(W)A) and the Welsh Language standards). - Be experienced in DoLS assessments and be able to produce assessments to a high quality. - Be culturally and linguistically sensitive to the needs of people in line with the principles of the MCA. - Be able to evidence that relevant checks have been made and documented on all professionals working on this project to include DBS certificate, insurance, professional qualification, and registration, annual DoLS refresher training, and relevant skills and experience. - Provide high quality, legally defensible assessments required in accordance with the relevant codes of practice under MCA and DoLS codes of practice. Please see appendix C. - Provide person-centred assessments accessible to the audience including the person's family and the Managing Authority, with minimal case law references (not required unless necessary and relevant to the specific case). - Be able to evidence comprehensive and robust quality assurance measures. - Complete all assessments and reports to comply with Welsh regulations which provides for 21 days from instruction to completion of the DoLS assessments where a request for a Standard Authorisation has been made or within a specified shorter time frame for priority cases with prior agreement. - Provide a flexible service for an average of five (5) assessments per week based on the number of referrals in any given week.

Renewal: Option to extend for a further 12 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-056499
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055839-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85100000 - Health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£75,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£67,500 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
22 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Sep 20252 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS WALES SHARED SERVICES PARTNERSHIP-PROCUREMENT SERVICES (HOSTED BY VELINDRE UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST)
Contact Name
Sara Pell
Contact Email
sara.pell@wales.nhs.uk
Contact Phone
+44 2921501500

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF15 7QZ
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
TLL14 South West Wales

Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Taff's Well
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LIQUID PERSONNEL

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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