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SCE0050 - Fostering Medical Assessments (AH1/AH2) and Medical Advisor Services

LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

07 Aug 2026 at 14:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by Leicester City Council, in collaboration with Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council, and North Northamptonshire Council, is currently in the planning stage. This initiative, under the tender ID SCE0050, seeks to explore market options for delivering fostering medical assessments and medical advisory services. The process focuses on service delivery within the Health and Social Work Services category and covers the geographical region of Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. The current market engagement phase has a deadline set for 4th September 2026, with the entire procurement process projected to progress towards formal notice issuance by 1st February 2027. The contract period is tentatively planned from June 2027 to May 2028.

This tender offers a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in health and social work services, particularly those with experience in medical assessments and advisory roles for fostering services. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) are especially encouraged to engage in this soft market test, as it will inform future service models and commissioning strategies. Businesses that can propose innovative delivery models, either individually or through collaborative networks, have the potential to influence the procurement's framework, aligning with Leicester City Council's objective to ensure timely, high-quality assessments within legal requirements. This opportunity not only allows businesses to expand their service footprint across multiple regions but also to contribute to high-impact social care initiatives.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

SCE0050 - Fostering Medical Assessments (AH1/AH2) and Medical Advisor Services

Notice Description

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION Fostering Medical Assessments (AH1/AH2) and Medical Advisor Services Leicester City Council is exploring the market to understand the availability and capability of organisations to deliver fostering medical assessments and provide independent medical advice to the Our Fostering Service. We are considering commissioning a provider who can undertake the full fostering medical assessment process, including completion of the Adult Health Report (AH1) and the Medical Advisor Report (AH2), full medical summary and attend fostering panels where required. Traditionally these assessments are completed by General Practitioners (GPs), with a Fostering Medical Advisor reviewing the information and providing advice to the fostering service and fostering panel. Due to increasing challenges in accessing GP capacity, Leicester City Council wishes to understand alternative delivery models that maintain high quality, timely assessments whilst meeting statutory requirements. We are also interested in understanding whether providers would have the capacity to deliver this service across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire (LLRN) should commissioning partners wish to pursue a collaborative approach. In addition to exploring a single provider model, Leicester City Council is also seeking market views on alternative delivery approaches that could support a collaborative service across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire (LLRN). This may include a single provider delivering across the whole footprint, a lead provider working with delivery partners or subcontractors, or a geographical delivery model where providers are responsible for delivering services within defined localities. The Council is keen to understand which delivery models the market considers to be the most effective, sustainable and capable of providing timely, high-quality fostering medical assessments and Medical Advisor services. Responses received through this Soft Market Test will help inform the future commissioning approach and determine whether a collaborative model across the wider LLRN footprint is viable. This soft market test gives providers and other stakeholders the opportunity to express their interests and feed in their views about the potential service model and specification principles. The commissioners will use the information to appraise options and further develop the specification. This process does not constitute a formal tender or other competitive bidding process and will not result in the letting of a Contract. The authority is using this process solely to test the market to gather information and ascertain the level of interest in this particular service. There are therefore no formal criteria which we will use to judge your response, and it is not our intention to provide any feedback. Leicester City Council is a unitary authority serving a population of approximately 380,000 people. The Council is responsible for delivering a wide range of children's social care services, including fostering, adoption and kinship support. Leicester is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in the UK, with increasing demand for children's services. The Council is exploring alternative approaches to delivering fostering medical assessments and Medical Advisor services to ensure prospective foster carers receive timely, high-quality assessments that meet statutory requirements. Please note that any procurement and contract start dates mentioned in this notice are estimates and may change. Additionally, the total contract value is an estimate and it is likely to change. Further information can be found through the following advert link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=fdb335f2-fe8b-f111-813c-005056b64545

Planning Information

THIS IS NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION Fostering Medical Assessments (AH1/AH2) and Medical Advisor Services Leicester City Council is exploring the market to understand the availability and capability of organisations to deliver fostering medical assessments and provide independent medical advice to the Our Fostering Service. We are considering commissioning a provider who can undertake the full fostering medical assessment process, including completion of the Adult Health Report (AH1) and the Medical Advisor Report (AH2), full medical summary and attend fostering panels where required. Traditionally these assessments are completed by General Practitioners (GPs), with a Fostering Medical Advisor reviewing the information and providing advice to the fostering service and fostering panel. Due to increasing challenges in accessing GP capacity, Leicester City Council wishes to understand alternative delivery models that maintain high quality, timely assessments whilst meeting statutory requirements. We are also interested in understanding whether providers would have the capacity to deliver this service across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire (LLRN) should commissioning partners wish to pursue a collaborative approach. In addition to exploring a single provider model, Leicester City Council is also seeking market views on alternative delivery approaches that could support a collaborative service across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire (LLRN). This may include a single provider delivering across the whole footprint, a lead provider working with delivery partners or subcontractors, or a geographical delivery model where providers are responsible for delivering services within defined localities. The Council is keen to understand which delivery models the market considers to be the most effective, sustainable and capable of providing timely, high-quality fostering medical assessments and Medical Advisor services. Responses received through this Soft Market Test will help inform the future commissioning approach and determine whether a collaborative model across the wider LLRN footprint is viable. This soft market test gives providers and other stakeholders the opportunity to express their interests and feed in their views about the potential service model and specification principles. The commissioners will use the information to appraise options and further develop the specification. This process does not constitute a formal tender or other competitive bidding process and will not result in the letting of a Contract. The authority is using this process solely to test the market to gather information and ascertain the level of interest in this particular service. There are therefore no formal criteria which we will use to judge your response, and it is not our intention to provide any feedback. Leicester City Council is a unitary authority serving a population of approximately 380,000 people. The Council is responsible for delivering a wide range of children's social care services, including fostering, adoption and kinship support. Leicester is one of the youngest and most diverse cities in the UK, with increasing demand for children's services. The Council is exploring alternative approaches to delivering fostering medical assessments and Medical Advisor services to ensure prospective foster carers receive timely, high-quality assessments that meet statutory requirements. Please note that any procurement and contract start dates mentioned in this notice are estimates and may change. Additionally, the total contract value is an estimate and it is likely to change. Further information can be found through the following advert link: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=fdb335f2-fe8b-f111-813c-005056b64545

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06df68
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075420-2026
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
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Feb 20276 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 31 May 2028 1-2 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
LEICESTER CITY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL

RUTLAND 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
LE1 1FZ
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)
TLF25 North Northamptonshire
Delivery Location
TLF21 Leicester
Local Authority
North Northamptonshire
Electoral Ward
Lloyds
Westminster Constituency
Corby and East Northamptonshire

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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