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Independent Viability and Connected Carer Assessments

Cheshire East Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Sep 2026 at 13:33

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire East Council commissioned independent social work services for children and families identified through Operation Decker. The requirement covers viability assessments and, where needed, full Connected Carer Assessments. These assessments are intended to provide timely, standardised evidence for care planning and court decision-making. The work falls within social work services and is delivered in Cheshire East, supporting the council’s children and families functions. The appointed provider is ONYX COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES LTD, a Stafford-based small and medium-sized enterprise specialising in collaborative social work services. The requirement is focused on independent assessment work rather than general social care delivery, so it is most relevant to providers with suitably experienced social workers able to undertake formal viability and connected-carer assessments for children and families.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. Cheshire East Council used a below-threshold direct award without competition under the light-touch regime. One lot was awarded to ONYX COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES LTD. The contract was signed on 20 July 2026 and runs from 20 July 2026 to 5 November 2026. Its value is £57,450 excluding VAT and £68,940 including VAT. The requirement was evaluated through the direct-award route rather than a competitive tender, and the published outcome identifies the supplier and active contract. The award covers the full requirement for independent viability and Connected Carer Assessments, with the contract period defining the delivery window for the commissioned assessment services.

This outcome indicates demand for specialist independent social work assessments within Cheshire East’s children and families services. A credible future competitor would need social workers able to assess family viability and connected-carer arrangements, produce consistent written assessments, and work to timescales that support care planning and court decision-making. Independence, sound professional judgement and the ability to apply a standardised assessment approach would be central to meeting the requirement. Providers should also be able to handle both initial viability work and more detailed full Connected Carer Assessments where required, while coordinating effectively with the council and other professionals involved in Operation Decker cases. The appointed supplier’s SME status shows that this scale of specialist service can be delivered by a focused independent practice rather than only a large national organisation.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Viability and Connected Carer Assessments

Notice Description

Provision of independent social workers to undertake viability assessments and, where required, Full Connected Carer Assessments for children and families identified through Operation Decker. The work will provide timely and standardised assessments to inform care planning and court decision-making.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f245
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083903-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

85310000 - Social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£57,450 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Jul 2026 - 5 Nov 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cheshire East 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
CREWE
Postcode
CW1 2JZ
Postcode Area
Crewe
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD62 Cheshire East
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cheshire East
Electoral Ward
Crewe Central
Westminster Constituency
Crewe and Nantwich

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ONYX COLLABORATIVE SOCIAL WORK SERVICES LTD

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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