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Social Care Provision in Prisons

City of Doncaster Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 15:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

26 Aug 2026 at 15:27

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

City of Doncaster Council is procuring prison-based social care services for people in the Doncaster prison setting. The requirement covers statutory social care provision in a secure custodial environment, including coordination with prison management, healthcare professionals and wider support agencies. Providers must operate within prison security, safeguarding, information governance, access-control and established operational requirements. The service also requires integrated care pathways and close working with prison healthcare arrangements. The procurement is for services in Doncaster prisons and sits within the health and social work services category, including CPV 85000000. The council is responsible for ensuring continuity of social care for vulnerable people in the prison population, alongside associated healthcare provision and operational governance.

The procurement is complete and was awarded directly under Schedule 5, paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that only one supplier could provide the service for technical reasons. Practice Plus Group Health and Rehabilitation Services Limited was awarded the contract on 25 August 2026. The award value is £519,278.88 excluding VAT, or £623,132.25 including VAT. The contract runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2031, with a council option to extend it by up to two years, giving a maximum end date of 31 March 2033. The value covers core services and excludes potential case-by-case night care costs, which may increase the value if assessed needs require it. There is one completed lot.

This award shows that Doncaster Council needs a specialist provider able to deliver social care inside prisons and integrate it with prison healthcare. A credible future competitor would need secure-environment operating experience, established prison access arrangements, security-cleared staff and robust safeguarding procedures. It would also need effective information-sharing protocols, governance arrangements and care pathways linking social care, healthcare, prison management and external support agencies. The council’s stated rationale indicates that mobilisation, continuity and operational integration are decisive considerations, so evidence of reliable delivery in complex, highly regulated custodial settings would be important. Providers should also be able to manage fluctuating demand, individual care assessments and possible night-care requirements, while adapting staffing and service volumes without compromising safety or statutory responsibilities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Social Care Provision in Prisons

Notice Description

City of Doncaster Council (CDC) has statutory responsibility for the provision of social care services within the prison setting. CDC was not involved in NHS England's procurement process for services commencing on 1 September 2026 and therefore had no input into the social care requirements or associated costs. Whilst the healthcare contract was awarded to PPG, no social care provision was included within the new NHS England arrangements. The delivery of social care services within a prison environment requires specialist expertise and the ability to operate within a complex and highly regulated secure setting. Providers must work closely with prison management, healthcare professionals and wider support agencies, whilst complying with prison security requirements, safeguarding arrangements, information governance protocols, access controls and established operational procedures. As the current provider of both healthcare and social care services within Doncaster prisons, PPG has established relationships, operational processes, governance arrangements, security-cleared staff and integrated care pathways already in place. Continuity of provision through PPG will minimise mobilisation risk, support effective partnership working and ensure the ongoing delivery of safe and effective services to vulnerable individuals within the prison population.

Procurement Information

The contract is being awarded directly under Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023. The service relates to the Council's statutory responsibility to provide social care services within a secure custodial environment. Delivery requires established prison access arrangements, security clearance processes, safeguarding procedures, information sharing protocols, integrated care pathways and close operational integration with prison healthcare services. Practice Plus Group has been appointed as the prison healthcare provider from 1 September 2026 and operates the associated governance, clinical and operational arrangements within the prison setting. The Council considers that effective delivery of prison social care services is dependent upon integration with these existing arrangements. An alternative provider would require the establishment of new operational, governance and access arrangements within a secure environment, creating significant mobilisation, service continuity, safeguarding and operational risks. Accordingly, the Council is satisfied that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only Practice Plus Group can provide the required services and that there are no reasonable alternatives

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ece7
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081458-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£519,278 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 Aug 20262 days ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
City of Doncaster 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
DONCASTER
Postcode
DN1 3BU
Postcode Area
Doncaster
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE35 Doncaster
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Doncaster
Electoral Ward
Town
Westminster Constituency
Doncaster Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PRACTICE PLUS GROUP HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SERVICES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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