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Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Sep 2026 at 14:22

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council intends to commission a combined Children’s Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service for children and young people. Advocacy must be independent of the council to avoid perceived conflicts of interest, and support must be delivered by staff trained across advocacy needs with strong legal knowledge. The service is intended to address needs up to age 18, or age 25 for care leavers. The Independent Visiting element is for looked-after children and young people who want a visitor, with particular attention to those who may be isolated, living away from their local area or have limited or no family contact. The council wants both services brought together under one arrangement to support positive outcomes. Delivery is in Bolton, in the North West of England.

This is at the planning stage: the council has set out its intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It plans to combine the two services in one arrangement. The intended initial contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with up to two 12-month extensions, potentially extending to 31 March 2032. The council plans a provider webinar on 19 October 2026, from 15:00 to 16:00, using Microsoft Teams; interested providers can email the council for the joining link. A future notice is expected on 26 October 2026. The procurement is classified as health and social work services and is under the light-touch regime. No estimated contract value or evaluation criteria are stated in the available planning information.

This will suit providers able to deliver both independent advocacy and an Independent Visiting Service for children and young people, rather than a single service in isolation. Strong candidates are likely to have advocacy staff trained to address a range of needs and able to work with legal frameworks, while maintaining independence from the council. Providers should also be equipped to recruit, support and match independent visitors with looked-after children and young people, including those who are isolated, placed away from their home area or have limited family contact. Experience supporting children through care and safeguarding contexts, and the ability to serve young people up to 18 and care leavers up to 25, are relevant to the intended scope. The provider webinar offers an early chance to understand the council’s plans and inform preparation.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service

Notice Description

Bolton Council (The Authority) is running a provider webinar for TC054 - Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service at 15:00-16:00 on 19 October 2026 via Microsoft Teams. Please email corporate.procurement@bolton.gov.uk if you are interested and they will provide the webinar link. The authority has the statutory function under the Care Act 2014, the Child Protection Children's Act 1989, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 2007 to provide: Advocacy: Independent of the council to avoid perceived conflict of interest, with staff trained in all aspects of advocacy with high levels of legal literacy. Independent advocacy needs to account for all types need up to 18 (25 care leavers) Independent Visiting Service: Children Act 1989 (Schedule 2 Paragraph 17) and the Children and Young Person's Act (2008). Bolton Council have fulfilled this duty since 2019 by commissioning a service for all children and young people looked after who wish to have an Independent Visitor, promoted particularly for those who may be isolated, live outside of their local home area, or who have limited, or no, family contact. The authority wishes to combine these under one arrangement to provide positive outcomes. The intended contract duration will be 1 April 2027 until 31 March 2030 with up to 2 x 12 month extensions.

Planning Information

Bolton Council (The Authority) is running a provider webinar for TC054 - Children's Advocacy and Independent Visitors Service at 15:00-16:00 on 19 October 2026 via Microsoft Teams. Please email corporate.procurement@bolton.gov.uk if you are interested and they will provide the webinar link. ⁠

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0778ad
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090172-2026
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
Not specified
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Oct 20263 weeks to go
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
Bolton Metropolitan 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
BOLTON
Postcode
BL1 1RU
Postcode Area
Bolton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD36 Greater Manchester North West
Delivery Location
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Local Authority
Bolton
Electoral Ward
Queens Park & Central
Westminster Constituency
Bolton North East

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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