Planning

Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives

CARDIFF COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 May 2026 at 11:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cardiff Council is initiating a procurement process for the "Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives," aimed at the health and social work services sector. This process is currently in the planning stage, with a focus on providing services within Cardiff, UK. The procurement involves engaging businesses for market understanding and expressions of interest are requested by 12th June 2026. The service is designed to support adults with learning disabilities, autism, neurodivergent needs, age-related care, and other supportive living requirements. The estimated contract value is £1.6 million, with a gross amount of £2 million, aiming for a start date of 1st April 2027, ending on 31st March 2031, with a possibility for renewal. The "light touch" procurement regime is applied, and the tender is planned under UK devolved regulations.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses focused on social care services, particularly those experienced with shared living arrangements and regulated social care services. It is well-suited for SMEs and VCSEs due to the contract’s suitability criteria. Successful providers will need to be registered with the Care Inspectorate Wales, showcasing compliance with relevant social care regulations. Businesses will benefit from creating long-term, supportive living solutions in collaboration with the Cardiff Council’s Adult Social Services teams. By participating in this procurement, enterprises can expand their operations into the social care sector, facilitating growth through providing critical social services and support to adults with diverse needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives

Notice Description

Cardiff Council is seeking to understand the market from providers who are committed to delivering Adult Placement Services (APS) / Shared Lives The Provider will be able to arranges long-term accommodation and support and short breaks in the homes of carefully chosen. assessed, trained and supported people, who are known as 'Shared Lives Cares', to adults who have been assessed in accordance with the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and have identified individual outcomes. The population groups, the Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives, is required to support are for adults who have: * Learning Disabilities and or Autism * Neurodivergent needs. * Age-related care and support needs including Dementia * Physical / Sensory Disabilities * Mental ill Health * Drug & Alcohol Misuse The Provider will have accessible office facilities locally from where the services will be coordinated and managed. The Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives is carefully orchestrated in partnership with the Adult Social Services Social Work Teams, the Individual, their families and the Adult Placement Services (APS) / Shared Lives Carer(s). The Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives is a regulated Social Care Service for adults. Therefore, the provider will be registered with the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) as an Adult Placement Service, under the: * Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 * Regulated Services (Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2017 * Adult Placement Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 Cardiff Council expects the provider to be registered as a member of Shared Lives Plus. The provider will be responsible for: * The Co-ordinating and Implementing the Service * The recruitment of the Shared Lives Carers * Assessment processes of new or potential Shared Lives Carer(s) * Carful matching and compatibility assessments between the individuals and the Shared Lives Carer * Supporting the Shared Lives Carer(s) * Provide to the Shared Lives Carers mandatory and specific training relevant to the needs of the Individuals sharing their lives * Working in close partnership with the Social Work Teams and any other support agencies involved in the Care and Support of an individual using the service. * Ensuring Care and Support needs as outlined within the individuals Care and Support Plans are being met as outlined in the Social Services well-being (Wales) Act 2016, The Adult Placement Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2019 and Regulation 17 (Standards of care and support - overarching requirements) See Reg 17(2) & Reg 10 (1) * Complete regular reviews with both the Shared Lives Carer and the individual to ensure the quality of care provided remains high * Maintaining and managing an online referral process * Establishing an Independent Approval Panel with suitably qualified persons that has a clear term of reference and guidelines for the approval process to select Shared Lives Carer(s) in an open process that reflects equality of opportunity. The provider will support the Shared Lives Carer to meet their responsibilities, which are to support an individual's overall well-being, respecting their choices, personal views and to follow the guidelines of the Adult Placement Service (APS) / Shared Lives Provider: . The Shared Lives Carer is also responsible for: * Sharing their home and family life with the individual who has moved in with them. * Providing a safe and supportive and inclusive home environment * Providing emotional and personal care and support. * Assisting them with daily living tasks and developing life skills to improve and develop independence. * Supporting individuals to be included in social community living and lifestyles. * Supporting individuals in accessing / pursuing hobbies and learning new skills * Supporting individuals to access work or educational activities * Supporting individuals with health needs * Maintaining accurate and confidential records of the individuals progress, well-being and any financial transactions. Cardiff Council will only approve the support of 2-individuals living in any one Shared Lives Carers home. All support delivered is required to be high quality and delivered by skilled, suitably trained and qualified staff. Support will be strengths-based and outcome focused and importantly co-produced with the individual and where applicable, their families.

Planning Information

This information request is purely for Cardiff Council to understand the interest in the social care market, and we welcome expressions of interest by 12-noon on 12th June 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a0e4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/047757-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 202711 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
CARDIFF 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
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 4UW
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL22 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Butetown
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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