Award

Social Prescribing Link Worker - Health Connections

NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

01 Jun 2026 at 15:02

Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board intends to award a 12-month contract for Social Prescribing Link Worker services under the Provider Selection Regime to Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice). This involves non-clinical community support aimed at enhancing social and emotional well-being, predominantly in the region of Frome, UK. The procurement falls under Health services (CPV code: 85100000) and is conducted through a direct award process without prior competition notice, emphasising the importance of existing provider relationships. The standstill period began with the intention to award notice published on 1st June 2026, allowing providers until 12th June 2026 to make representations. The procurement stage is labeled as 'award', with formal contract commencement set for 1st July 2026 and completion by 30th June 2027.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for growth, particularly for businesses involved in health services who focus on community integration and non-clinical support methodologies. Established providers capable of showcasing quality, value, and collaborative innovations are well-suited to thrive in this environment. The contract's lifetime value is approximately £275,745, promoting strategic partnerships for sustainable service delivery while contributing to the regional health and care landscape. Organisations that excel in social value and reducing health inequalities will find this contract particularly aligned with their capabilities and objectives.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Social Prescribing Link Worker - Health Connections

Notice Description

Social prescribing is a key part of Universal Personalised Care, connecting people to non-clinical community activities and services that support their social, emotional, and practical wellbeing. Delivered by trained professionals, it offers a holistic, person-centred approach that empowers individuals, reduces reliance on clinical services, and strengthens local communities through meaningful engagement. Somerset Integrated Care Board are intending to award a contract to the existing provider following a Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably. This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/26 to 30/06/27. This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Somerset Integrated Care Board ("the ICB") is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice), in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: SPLW teams have strong collaborative relationships across Somerset's health, care, and community sectors, with presence within local networks, helping to ensure that individuals receive coordinated, holistic support. These links are ensured via taking a proactive role in multi-agency meetings and neighbourhood collaborations at PCN-level, contributing valuable community insight and championing prevention-first approaches. These partnerships are helping reduce duplication and improve the consistency of support for people with complex social needs. They also reflect the Providers' ongoing commitment to integrated working, collaborative problem-solving, and elevating community voices within Somerset's health and care landscape. Additionally, CCS are a key delivery partner in strategic development, ensuring that the lived experience gathered by them every day feeds directly into policy, such as shaping housing, transport and dementia support locally. Our Social Prescriber providers in Somerset come together as a Community of Practice to ensure learning and connections between teams, and as part of the Somerset Social Prescribing Collaborative to develop our strategic direction for social prescribing and a joint standards framework and performance metrics. A direct award to Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice) would be appropriate and present the best value for the Commissioner in this circumstance. Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent Provider in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: * Quality and innovation * Value * Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability * Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice * Social value The approximate lifetime value of the contract is PS275,745 This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2027. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice) this contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.

Procurement Information

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06aab2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051540-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£275,745 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Jun 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Dec 20255 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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YEOVIL
Postcode
BA22 8HR
Post Town
Bath
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK23 Somerset CC

Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Brympton
Westminster Constituency
Yeovil

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HEALTH CONNECTIONS (FROME MEDICAL PRACTICE

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06aab2-2026-06-01T16:02:13+01:00",
    "date": "2026-06-01T16:02:13+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06aab2",
    "description": "The decision was approved in line with Somerset Integrated Care Board's Scheme of Reservation and Delegation by the Contract Oversight Group (COG) and Finance Committee. There were no conflicts of interest identified among committee members. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. Written Representation can be sent to : angelamortley@nhs.net",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "QSL-Frome-SPLW-2021_22",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Social Prescribing Link Worker - Health Connections",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "85100000",
            "description": "Health services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "Social prescribing is a key part of Universal Personalised Care, connecting people to non-clinical community activities and services that support their social, emotional, and practical wellbeing. Delivered by trained professionals, it offers a holistic, person-centred approach that empowers individuals, reduces reliance on clinical services, and strengthens local communities through meaningful engagement. Somerset Integrated Care Board are intending to award a contract to the existing provider following a Provider Selection Regime Direct Award Process C. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably. This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/26 to 30/06/27. This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Somerset Integrated Care Board (\"the ICB\") is directly awarding a contract to the existing provider Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice), in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: SPLW teams have strong collaborative relationships across Somerset's health, care, and community sectors, with presence within local networks, helping to ensure that individuals receive coordinated, holistic support. These links are ensured via taking a proactive role in multi-agency meetings and neighbourhood collaborations at PCN-level, contributing valuable community insight and championing prevention-first approaches. These partnerships are helping reduce duplication and improve the consistency of support for people with complex social needs. They also reflect the Providers' ongoing commitment to integrated working, collaborative problem-solving, and elevating community voices within Somerset's health and care landscape. Additionally, CCS are a key delivery partner in strategic development, ensuring that the lived experience gathered by them every day feeds directly into policy, such as shaping housing, transport and dementia support locally. Our Social Prescriber providers in Somerset come together as a Community of Practice to ensure learning and connections between teams, and as part of the Somerset Social Prescribing Collaborative to develop our strategic direction for social prescribing and a joint standards framework and performance metrics. A direct award to Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice) would be appropriate and present the best value for the Commissioner in this circumstance. Direct Award C has been used for the award of this contract. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed new contract. The services provided are the service specification are not changing considerably The Commissioner made the decision of directly awarding the incumbent Provider in accordance with the following five criteria outlined in Regulation (9) of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023: * Quality and innovation * Value * Integration, collaboration, and service sustainability * Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice * Social value The approximate lifetime value of the contract is PS275,745 This contract is for a period of 12 months from 01/07/2026 to 30/06/2027. This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice) this contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. This Notice has been published by NHS South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit (SCW) on behalf of the Commissioners.",
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "name": "Quality",
                            "type": "quality",
                            "description": "90%"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "price",
                            "description": "10%"
                        }
                    ]
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "cancelled"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "85100000",
                        "description": "Health services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKK23"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethod": "limited",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "D_OUTSIDE_SCOPE",
                "scheme": "TED_PT_AWARD_CONTRACT_WITHOUT_CALL",
                "description": "The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationale": "This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The publication of this notice marks the start of the standstill period. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 12th June 2026 (8 working days following publication of intention to award notice). This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR."
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "051540-2026-1",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "status": "active",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-11939296",
                    "name": "Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice)"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-NHS-QSL",
            "name": "NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD",
                "id": "QSL",
                "scheme": "GB-NHS"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Yeovil",
                "region": "UKK23",
                "postalCode": "BA22 8HR",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "somicb.contracts-admin@nhs.net"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome",
                "buyerProfile": "http://www.nhssomerset.nhs.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "BODY_PUBLIC",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Body governed by public law"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "07",
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "description": "Health"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-11939296",
            "name": "Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice)",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Health Connections (Frome Medical Practice)",
                "id": "11939296",
                "scheme": "GB-COH"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Frome",
                "region": "UKK23",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-119761",
            "name": "Somerset Integrated Care Board",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Somerset Integrated Care Board"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Yeovil",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-NHS-QSL",
        "name": "NHS SOMERSET INTEGRATED CARE BOARD"
    },
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "051540-2026-1",
            "awardID": "051540-2026-1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amount": 275745,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "dateSigned": "2025-12-15T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "bids": {
        "statistics": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "measure": "bids",
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "value": 1
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en"
}