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Advocacy Services for Children, Young People & Adults.

Plymouth City Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Sep 2026 at 12:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Plymouth City Council intends to commission a single integrated Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for people in Plymouth. This is a social work and related services requirement covering statutory and non-statutory support for adults, children, young people and families. The expected scope includes Care Act advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy, Independent Mental Health Advocacy, health and social care complaints advocacy, Court of Protection representation and related adult advocacy. It also includes advocacy for eligible children and young people, independent visitor services, parental advocacy and support linked to the Families First Partnership Programme. The Council wants these specialist functions brought together within one cohesive delivery model while preserving the independence, expertise and statutory requirements of each service.

This procurement is at the planning and pre-market engagement stage; it is not an invitation to tender. Plymouth City Council expects to use a light-touch procedure for an above-threshold services contract. The estimated gross value is £5,000,000. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with renewal possible to a maximum extent date of 31 March 2032. The Council intends to hold an online market engagement event through Microsoft Teams on 2 October 2026, with the time to be confirmed. Providers wishing to attend are expected to register by 29 September 2026 at 3pm. The engagement will inform co-design of the service specification, delivery model and commissioning requirements. There is one planned lot, and the contract is intended to start in April 2027.

This will suit organisations experienced in delivering independent advocacy and visiting services across adult social care, mental health, capacity, complaints, court representation and children’s services. Providers should be able to combine several specialist functions within an integrated model without compromising professional independence, legal compliance or the distinct statutory duties attached to each service. Relevant capability includes supporting adults, children, young people, parents and families, and working with the Families First Partnership Programme. The Council is seeking person-centred, high-quality provision and is using market engagement to understand how the service could be delivered effectively. Small and medium-sized businesses and voluntary, community or social enterprises are identified as suitable participants, making collaboration or consortium arrangements potentially relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Advocacy Services for Children, Young People & Adults.

Notice Description

PURPOSE OF THE PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT Plymouth City Council is seeking to commission a single integrated Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for the residents of Plymouth, bringing together a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy functions for adults, children, young people and families within one cohesive model of delivery. The purpose of this engagement is to gather feedback from the market to support the co-design of the service specification. The event will provide an opportunity for providers and stakeholders to work collaboratively with the Council to shape the future service model, delivery approach and commissioning requirements, ensuring that the procurement delivers high-quality, legally compliant and person-centred advocacy and independent visiting services. The proposed integrated service is expected to include a range of functions, including: Adult Advocacy Services, such as Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Health and Social Care Complaints Advocacy, Court of Protection Representation and associated advocacy functions. Children, Young People and Family Services, including advocacy for eligible children and young people, Independent Visitor Services, parental advocacy, and support linked to Plymouth's Families First Partnership Programme. The Council is particularly interested in exploring how specialist advocacy and independent visiting provision can be brought together within a single integrated model whilst maintaining the independence, expertise and statutory requirements associated with each function. The event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 2 October 2026 ( Time TBC). To register your interest, please email jointcommissioning@plymouth.gov.uk with "Market Engagement Event - Independent Visiting and Advocacy Services" in the subject line. please email by Tuesday 29th September 2026 by 15:00 / 3pm. Joining instructions will be provided following registration. The opportunity is on Suppling The South West Portal please search for opportunity ID DN828401.

Planning Information

PURPOSE OF THE PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT Plymouth City Council is seeking to commission a single integrated Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for the residents of Plymouth, bringing together a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy functions for adults, children, young people and families within one cohesive model of delivery. The purpose of this engagement is to gather feedback from the market to support the co-design of the service specification. The event will provide an opportunity for providers and stakeholders to work collaboratively with the Council to shape the future service model, delivery approach and commissioning requirements, ensuring that the procurement delivers high-quality, legally compliant and person-centred advocacy and independent visiting services. The proposed integrated service is expected to include a range of functions, including: Adult Advocacy Services, such as Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), Health and Social Care Complaints Advocacy, Court of Protection Representation and associated advocacy functions. Children, Young People and Family Services, including advocacy for eligible children and young people, Independent Visitor Services, parental advocacy, and support linked to Plymouth's Families First Partnership Programme. The Council is particularly interested in exploring how specialist advocacy and independent visiting provision can be brought together within a single integrated model whilst maintaining the independence, expertise and statutory requirements associated with each function. The event will be held via Microsoft Teams on 2 October 2026 ( Time TBC). To register your interest, please email jointcommissioning@plymouth.gov.uk with "Market Engagement Event - Independent Visiting and Advocacy Services" in the subject line. please email by Tuesday 29th September 2026 by 15:00 / 3pm. Joining instructions will be provided following registration. The opportunity is on Suppling The South West Portal please search for opportunity ID DN828401.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f227
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083858-2026
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

85300000 - Social work and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks 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
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Plymouth City 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
PLYMOUTH
Postcode
PL1 3BJ
Postcode Area
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK41 Plymouth
Delivery Location
TLK41 Plymouth
Local Authority
Plymouth
Electoral Ward
St Peter and the Waterfront
Westminster Constituency
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

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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