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Adult Advocacy Service

Swindon Borough Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

22 Sep 2026 at 10:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

16 Jun 2026 at 10:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Swindon Borough Council is commissioning a single-provider integrated adult advocacy service for residents across the Borough of Swindon. This is a health and social work service covering Independent Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy, Independent Mental Health Advocacy, Independent Health Complaints Advocacy and Independent Social Care Complaints Advocacy. It also includes Court of Protection representation, Relevant Person’s Representative-type support, litigation-related advocacy, and support for the Learning Disability Partnership Board and associated engagement activities. The service is intended to help adults express their views, understand and exercise their rights, participate in decisions, and access appropriate health and social care. It will support people facing barriers linked to learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, dementia, physical or sensory impairments, age, disadvantage or vulnerability, and will be delivered across Swindon.

The procurement has reached tender: the council invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, with a two-stage process. Stage 1 conditions of participation had an expression-of-interest deadline of 13 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC; Stage 2 tenders were due by 16 November 2026. Enquiries closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. The contract is for three years, from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an option to extend twice by 12 months, up to 31 March 2032. The estimated value is £2,341,819 excluding VAT, or £2,810,182.80 including VAT. One undivided contract is planned. Offers are evaluated on price at 20% and quality at 80%, covering mobilisation, service delivery and capacity, partnership and co-production, outcomes and quality assurance, and social value.

This opportunity suits an established advocacy provider able to deliver a broad range of statutory advocacy functions through one coordinated service. Relevant capability includes experience of Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act advocacy, NHS and social care complaints, Court of Protection representation, Relevant Person’s Representative work and litigation-friend support. The provider must be able to offer an independent, person-centred, rights-based and accessible service for adults with varied support needs, while removing barriers to inclusion and promoting voice, choice and control. Strong mobilisation, operational capacity management, responsive casework and quality assurance will be important. The service also requires collaborative working with the council, health partners, care providers, voluntary and community organisations and other stakeholders, including facilitation of the Learning Disability Partnership Board. TUPE applies.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Adult Advocacy Service

Notice Description

Adult Advocacy Service Swindon Borough Council invites expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced service providers for the provision of adult advocacy service. Project Description The Council is seeking to award a single supplier contract for the provision of an integrated Adult Advocacy Service. This requirement will not be divided into Lots. TUPE does apply. The contract will be for an initial period of three years, with the option to extend for up to a further two years. Swindon Borough Council is seeking to commission an independent, person-centred and out-come-focused Adult Advocacy Service that enables people to have their voices heard, under-stand and exercise their rights, and participate fully in decisions that affect their lives. The ser-vice will support adults to access appropriate care, support and services and ensure that they are able to influence decisions affecting their health, wellbeing and independence. Advocacy plays a vital role in promoting independence, protecting individual rights and ensuring that people can express their views, wishes and feelings. The service will support individuals who may experience barriers to participation, including people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs, dementia, physical or sensory impairments, older people, and those experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability. The successful provider will be required to deliver a range of statutory advocacy functions through an integrated service model, including: * Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA) * Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) * Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) * Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) * Independent Social Care Complaints Advocacy * Court of Protection Representation and Advocacy * Relevant Person's Representative (RPR) type role * Support to the Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB) and associated engagement activities. The Council is seeking a provider that can deliver a high-quality, accessible and responsive advocacy service that promotes voice, choice and control, reduces inequalities, safeguards rights and improves outcomes for people who may otherwise struggle to engage with complex health and social care systems. The successful provider will work collaboratively with Swindon Borough Council, health partners, care providers, the voluntary and community sector and other stakeholders to ensure advocacy is embedded within wider care and support pathways. The provider will adopt a rights-based approach, actively tackle barriers to inclusion and ensure equitable access to advocacy services across the Borough. The Council's vision is to commission a sustainable and high-quality advocacy service that supports people to live independent and fulfilling lives whilst contributing to the wider ambitions of the Swindon Plan and Adult Services Strategy, including promoting independence, reducing inequalities and ensuring people have "Lives, Not Services".

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: option to extend contract 2x 12 months

Planning Information

Swindon Borough Council invites you to contribute to preliminary market engagement in relation to Adult Advocacy Services and welcomes the views of providers on the questions set out in the accompanying questionnaire. The purpose of this engagement is to gather feedback from the market to help shape the final service specification and commercial model, ensuring the procurement delivers high-quality, legally compliant, and person-centred advocacy services. Service Overview Swindon Borough Council is seeking to commission a single supplier to deliver a comprehensive Adult Advocacy Service for residents of Swindon. The service will support adults to have their voice heard, rights upheld, and interests represented in line with statutory duties. The provider will be required to deliver a range of advocacy services across multiple legislative frameworks. The commissioned service will include the following components: Required Services The provider may be required to deliver all the following services: 1. Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA) Supporting individuals who have substantial difficulty in being involved in Care Act assessments, care planning, reviews, and safeguarding processes, where there is no appropriate person to support them. 2. Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) Supporting individuals who lack capacity to make specific decisions and have no appropriate representation, in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. 3. Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Supporting qualifying patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 to understand and exercise their rights. 4. Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA) Supporting individuals to make complaints about NHS services and navigate the NHS complaints process. 5. Independent Social Care Complaints Advocacy Supporting individuals to raise complaints regarding adult social care services. 6. Rule 1.2 (Rule 3A) Representative Advocacy Providing representation within the Court of Protection where required. 7. Litigation Friend Advocacy Supporting individuals in legal proceedings where a litigation friend is required. 8. Learning Disability Partnership Board Facilitation of the quarterly, face-to-face board.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b59a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089464-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender 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

85 - Health and social work services

98 - Other community, social and personal services

CPV Codes

85000000 - Health and social work services

98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,341,819 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,341,819 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Swindon Borough 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
SWINDON
Postcode
SN1 2JH
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLK14 Swindon
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Eastcott
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

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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