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Carer's Peer Support and Ambassador Service

Devon County Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

01 Oct 2026 at 10:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

17 Sep 2026 at 17:15

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Devon County Council commissioned two related services for unpaid carers across Devon. The Carer Peer Support Service provides community-based, peer-led support to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and resilience, and help carers share experience and access emotional, practical and social support. Its work includes supporting carer-led groups, buddying and online communities, with access to general and condition-specific support, including for people in rural areas and carers with specialist needs. The Carer Ambassador Service uses trained volunteers with caring experience to connect carers with communities, service providers and commissioners. Ambassadors provide information and signposting, represent carers’ views, promote awareness and peer-support activities, and contribute to evaluation and quality assurance. Both are health and social care services delivered in Devon.

The procurement is complete and both contracts were awarded to Age UK Devon. The awards were made on 17 September 2026 following below-threshold limited competition; two bids were received for the peer support service. The peer support contract was valued at £398,000 and the ambassador contract at £265,000. Both were signed on 25 September 2026, with service periods running from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2028. Each contract includes potential renewal at the council’s discretion, taking account of the possible impact of local government reorganisation, with the stated maximum period ending 30 September 2028. The procurement information gives no award-scoring or evaluation basis. The two awards are reported separately; their values are not combined.

For future comparable work from Devon County Council, credible providers will need to show they can build and sustain carer-led peer networks across a county, including rural communities and people with specialist support needs. Relevant delivery capability includes group facilitation, buddying and online support, and the ability to connect carers with practical, emotional and social help. The ambassador service calls for recruiting, training and supporting volunteers with lived experience, alongside strong communication, signposting and advocacy skills. Suppliers should be able to engage effectively with local organisations, service providers and commissioners, represent carers’ feedback, and contribute to service evaluation, mystery shopping and quality assurance. The combined requirement demonstrates demand for established community-based health and social care delivery, with the capacity to operate both direct peer support and a volunteer ambassador programme.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Carer's Peer Support and Ambassador Service

Notice Description

Lot 1 Carer Peer Support Service: A community-based support service that enables unpaid carers to connect with and support one another through a range of peer-led opportunities. The service aims to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and resilience, facilitate the sharing of experience and knowledge, and help carers access emotional, practical and social support throughout their caring journey. Key Functions: * Facilitate and sustain peer support opportunities for carers. * Reduce social isolation and improve emotional wellbeing. * Promote mutual support, learning and sharing of lived experience between carers. * Support the development of carer-led groups, buddying arrangements and online communities. * Provide access to both general and condition-specific peer support. * Encourage self-sustaining, carer-led networks and community connections. * Ensure support is accessible to carers across different localities, including rural communities and carers with specialist needs. Lot 2 Carer Ambassadors: A programme of trained volunteers with lived experience of caring who acts as a link between carers, communities, service providers and commissioners. Carer Ambassadors promote carer awareness, share information and support, gather and represent carers' views, and help develop peer support opportunities across Devon. They act as advocates for carers' experiences, contribute to service improvement activities, and support engagement with local organisations and communities. Key Functions: * Provide information, signposting and informal support to carers. * Represent carers' views and feedback to service providers and commissioners. * Promote carer awareness within local communities and organisations. * Support the development and promotion of peer support groups and activities. * Participate in service evaluation, mystery shopping and quality assurance. * Maintain knowledge of local services, support pathways and carer issues. * Act as a specialist ambassador where appropriate (e.g. mental health, autism, learning disability).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0774e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092706-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£663,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£663,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Devon 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
EXETER,
Postcode
EX2 4QD
Postcode Area
Exeter
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Newtown and St Leonard's
Westminster Constituency
Exeter

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Age UK Devon

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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