Tender

Domestic Abuse Services 2026

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

07 May 2026 at 12:55

Summary of the contracting process

Leicestershire County Council is initiating a public procurement process for "Domestic Abuse Services 2026" under the service category of social work and community health services. This tender involves an open procurement method and is currently at the tender stage, with submissions invited until 4 June 2026. The contract, valued at £999,600 annually and potentially extending to £3,998,400 over four years, is set to commence on 1 December 2026. It includes four lots focusing on therapeutic counselling for domestic abuse survivors, with specific services tailored toward adults and children in Leicestershire. The procurement aims to address gaps identified in the Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment 2021 and offers a light-touch, above-threshold opportunity for service providers.

This tender provides significant opportunities for organisations specialising in social services, particularly those adept in trauma-informed interventions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to participate. The contract seeks to build capacity within existing service provisions, reducing waiting times and expanding support options. Successful bidders will gain the opportunity to deliver crucial services that improve the welfare of domestic abuse victims in the region, thereby enhancing their business portfolio and contributing positively to community health outcomes. The project is an excellent fit for providers experienced in delivering psychological support services and community outreach programmes.

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Notice Title

Domestic Abuse Services 2026

Notice Description

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places a statutory duty on local authorities to undertake a Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment and provide safe accommodation and support to victims of domestic abuse and their children. There is an identified need for trauma informed counselling and the need for support for victims of domestic abuse as evidenced in the Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment 2021 and the Women's aid Annual Audit 2021. The Domestic Abuse services is split into 4 lots which will deliver: - Lot 1: A therapeutic trauma informed counselling service to adult victims/survivors of domestic abuse and therefore extend domestic abuse support across the County to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities are met. - Lot 2: Specialist therapeutic support for children within Leicestershire who are impacted by domestic and or sexual violence/abuse requiring counselling for their long-term recovery. - Lot 3: A County Family Service, to provide a range of interventions to help children and young people through their experience(s) of domestic abuse. - Lot 4: Outreach support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse by building further capacity within service provisions and aiming to promote and improve support options and choices for victims to remain in their homes, and by reducing waiting lists and waiting times for domestic abuse victims and survivors within outreach services. The contract is for an initial period of 2 years and shall take effect from 01 December 2026 - 30 November 2028. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months. The contract value is PS999,600 per annum (PS3,998,400 over 4 years (includes extension provisions)).

Lot Information

Therapeutic Support for Adult Victims of Domestic Abuse (Counselling Service)

This service will deliver a therapeutic trauma informed counselling service to adult victims/survivors of domestic abuse extended across the County to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities of victims are met. Provision for therapeutic support for vulnerable victims and survivors of domestic abuse is scarce and there can be barriers to accessing this. The Women's Aid Annual Audit 2025 recorded an overall increase in referrals were women experiencing domestic abuse had multiple support needs, including mental health. The 2025 Audit also found that 4.6% of referrals made to a refuge were rejected on the basis that the refuge felt they were unable to meet support needs around mental health. There has also been a noted decline in the number of specialist support workers who can offer support for mental health in both refuge and community-based support services. The Leicestershire Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment 2024 has highlighted the number of victims has increased year on year. Of 45 victims in refuge sampled for the Needs Assessment, in 2018/19, 13 of the total number had mental health issues compared to 18 of the total in 2020/21. Counselling services are crucial as they offer a safe place to explore and work through experiences of abuse. The aim of the Council is to meet the gap in services by offering a confidential therapeutic counselling service to adult victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Renewal: The contract is for an initial period of 2 years. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months.

Specialist Therapeutic Support for Young People Experiencing Domestic Abuse

This service will deliver a therapeutic trauma informed counselling service to victims/survivors of domestic abuse and also work to extend domestic abuse support across the County to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people are continued to be met. It is estimated that, by the time children start school at least 1 child per class will have experienced domestic abuse. Provision for therapeutic support for vulnerable victims and survivors of domestic abuse is scarce and often difficult to access, yet we know that domestic abuse can impact mental health and lead to mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. The Women's Aid Annual Audit 2025 found that just under a third of refuge services and just under half of community-based services did not offer dedicated support for children and young people. The aim of the Council is to meet the gap in services by offering therapeutic support/counselling to children & young people between the ages of 5 to 18. This support will be delivered by a counsellor to young people who have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse service.

Renewal: The contract is for an initial period of 2 years. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months.

Domestic Abuse Family Support Workers

To provide specialist practical help and emotional support to children and families who are experiencing domestic abuse. The service will improve health and wellbeing of children and young people and their families and contribute to keeping them safe. The Council's Children and Family Service supports families experiencing domestic abuse both where there are safeguarding concerns and increasingly at an early intervention level, trying to support families at the earliest opportunity. Over the last 12 months (March 2025 - March 2026), this early intervention offer has reached over 650 families. The service will deliver a County Family Service, to provide a range of interventions to help children and young people through their experience(s) of domestic abuse, including children and young people who have witnessed abuse in their family or have been/ are in abusive relationships of their own. The service will aim to reduce current wating lists and provide support to victims extended across the County to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities of children and young people are continued to be met. The aim of the Council is to meet the gap in services by offering a family support service to provide practical help and emotional support to children and families experiencing domestic abuse.

Renewal: The contract is for an initial period of 2 years. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months.

Outreach workers to support victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse

With an outreach service victims can access services when and where they need them at reachable moments. The Outreach Service for Leicestershire has previously been delivered under the UAVA Consortium and LWA. The Council would like to procure Outreach support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse by building further capacity within service provisions aiming to promote and improve support options and choices for victims to remain in their homes, and by reducing waiting lists and waiting times for domestic abuse victims and survivors within outreach services. An Outreach Service to enable the Provider to deliver Outreach support and Group Programme delivery to victims of domestic abuse. The service will aim to promote and improve support options and choices for victims to remain in their homes, and by reducing waiting lists and waiting times for domestic abuse victims and survivors within outreach services. The aim of the Council is to meet the gap in services by offering /providing community-based support to adult victims/survivors of domestic abuse in Leicestershire.

Renewal: The contract is for an initial period of 2 years. The Council may extend this contract beyond the initial term by a further period of 24 months.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069363
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041943-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services


CPV Codes

85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

85323000 - Community health services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£999,600 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£999,600 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
4 Jun 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
2030-05-03

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEICESTER
Postcode
LE3 8RA
Post Town
Leicester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Blaby
Electoral Ward
Glenfield Faire
Westminster Constituency
Mid Leicestershire

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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