Planning

Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise

SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 Dec 2025 at 10:38

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

01 Dec 2025 at 16:25

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

31 Oct 2025 at 15:43

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Social Work England is initiating a procurement process for the "Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise." This tender involves the planned procurement of legal services to support hearings and meetings related to social workers' Fitness to Practise. The tender process involves an open competitive flexible procedure, with electronic submissions allowed. The procurement is specifically targeting legal advisory services across the United Kingdom, aimed at helping Social Work England protect public welfare by evaluating and managing cases of social workers' professional conduct. Important dates include the enquiry period ending on 23rd February 2026, tender submissions closing on 28th February 2026, and anticipated contract awards by 1st May 2026. The contracting phase is slated to commence on 1st June 2026, lasting until 31st May 2029, with possibilities for renewals.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in legal services, particularly those with expertise in legal advisory and representation. Organisations with robust experience in providing services for regulatory bodies and handling cases involving professional standards will find this tender particularly relevant. Bidding on this contract could facilitate entry into public sector procurement, providing a platform for showcasing capabilities in legal investigation, advocacy, and case preparation. With an initial estimated value of £34,083,333.33 and expansion possibilities, the procurement suits firms aiming for long-term partnerships and those seeking to strengthen their presence in the public services legal domain within the United Kingdom.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise

Notice Description

Introduction - Fitness to Practise Social Work England are looking for two Suppliers to deliver the following aims: 1. Conducting further investigation and preparing cases for Fitness to Practise hearings or meetings. 2. Undertaking pre-hearing case management procedures in accordance with agreed performance targets and in collaboration with other parties to the hearing. We are looking for up to two Suppliers to prepare cases for Fitness to Practise hearings or meetings and to ensure the presentation of cases before a panel of independent adjudicators. As part of our duty to protect the public, if a social worker falls seriously short of the standards expected of them, we can either remove them from the register or restrict what they can do professionally. These powers, given to us by Parliament, cover all registered social workers across both child, family and adult social care. A social workers' fitness to practise may be found impaired for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: * Conduct * Competence * Health * Caution, Conviction or determination by another regulator * Not having the necessary knowledge of English When a service user, member of the public, employers or other public body has a concern about the standard of a social worker's practise, they can raise this with Social Work England. We will undertake to investigate serious matters which may pose a risk to public protection or public confidence in the profession and take action to restrict a social worker's practice in circumstances where it is necessary to do so. The successful Bidders will prepare cases for a fitness to practise hearings or meetings and to present cases before Social Work England's adjudicators.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Up to two extensions for 12 months each has been allocated.

Planning Information

This engagement set out to understand the current availability and skill set available by Fitness to Practise specialists. Social Work England presented to suppliers in July, from there 121 meetings occurred to gain feedback from interested suppliers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d84e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080027-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79111000 - Legal advisory services

79140000 - Legal advisory and information services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£34,083,333 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£34,083,333 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Feb 20265 days to go
Future Notice Date
5 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND
Contact Name
Wayne Kehoe
Contact Email
tenders@socialworkengland.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S3 8JY
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLE3 South Yorkshire, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
City
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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