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All Age Carers Service

Cheshire West and Chester Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 16:41

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 15:58

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cheshire West and Chester Council intends to commission one integrated, all-age service for unpaid carers across Cheshire West and Chester. It will bring together support currently provided through separate adult, parent and young-carer services. The service is intended to offer a single point of access, information and advice, early identification and outreach, help with carers’ rights and assessments, wellbeing and peer support, and opportunities for breaks from caring. Delivery is expected to combine digital, community-based and face-to-face support, working with social care, education, health, community and voluntary-sector partners. The purpose is to help carers be recognised and supported, improve wellbeing and resilience, reduce isolation, and enable earlier, coordinated support that can prevent needs escalating. This is a health and social care service.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Council has set out its intention to buy the service, but has not yet invited tenders. It expects to publish a further notice by December 2027. The expected contract runs from July 2028 to June 2033, with a possible extension to June 2035. The estimated value is £3.15 million excluding VAT (£3.78 million including VAT). The requirement is planned as a single lot, with no division into smaller lots indicated. The Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement, including two in-person events: one in Chester on 2 November and one in Northwich on 30 November; potential providers need attend only one. It wants to discuss service models, delivery, route to market and pricing. These dates describe the Council’s plans, not tender deadlines.

The service is suited to providers able to deliver coordinated, community-led support to carers across all ages and circumstances, rather than a narrow service for one age group. Useful strengths include identifying and reaching carers early; providing accessible information, advice and practical support; and delivering digital, face-to-face and community-based provision. Providers should be ready to work closely with health, care, education, voluntary and community partners, coordinate access to specialist services, and build on local assets and peer networks. The Council is looking for inclusive, preventative and flexible approaches that respond to diverse caring roles, promote co-production and show measurable improvements in outcomes. Organisations with the capacity to integrate existing forms of support into a single service and demonstrate effective partnership working are likely to be well placed. SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises are identified as suitable participants. There is no stated accreditation requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

All Age Carers Service

Notice Description

Unpaid Carers in Cheshire West and Chester Unpaid carers make a vital contribution to families, communities and the wider health and care system across Cheshire West and Chester. Census 2021 recorded 32,638 unpaid carers aged five and over, representing 9.5% of the borough's population, which is higher than the England average of 8.9%. Around 10,000 carers provide more than 50 hours of care each week, highlighting the significant contribution unpaid carers make to supporting people to remain independent and reducing demand on formal health and care services. Demographic Profile Unpaid carers in Cheshire West and Chester are a diverse population with varying needs and experiences. Census data shows that carers are more likely to be aged 50 and over, with women accounting for around 59% of carers. More than half of carers aged 16+ are in employment, balancing caring responsibilities alongside work, while around 28% identify as disabled themselves. Caring is experienced across all communities and age groups, including young carers, working-age adults and older carers, although higher levels of caring and caring intensity are evident in some of the borough's more deprived communities. The caring population is also expected to grow as the population ages and demand for informal care increases. Current Unpaid Carer Services Cheshire West and Chester council currently commissions separate services for adult carers, parent carers and young carers, alongside a wider network of statutory, voluntary, community and health services that support unpaid carers. As of June 2026, over 9,600 adult carers were registered with the commissioned adult carers service and 1,695 young carers were registered with the commissioned young carers service. Support is delivered through a range of services including information and advice, carer identification, assessments, wellbeing support, carers' breaks, peer support, training, community-based provision and specialist support. The current model also works closely with local partners to help carers access wider support available across the health, care and voluntary sector. Service Aims The Council is seeking a community-led, preventative and inclusive All-Age Carers Service that supports carers of all ages to be recognised, valued and supported. The service will focus on: * Earlier identification and support for carers. * Improving wellbeing, resilience and independence. * Empowering carers through information, advice and support. * Strengthening community and peer support networks. * Delivering accessible support through digital, community and face-to-face approaches. * Working collaboratively with partners to improve outcomes for carers. Outcomes The service will help ensure that: * Unpaid carers are recognised, valued and supported. * Earlier access to information, advice and support enables carers to understand their rights and available options. * Carers are empowered to navigate services and make informed choices. * Health, wellbeing and quality of life are improved or maintained. * Loneliness and social isolation are reduced through stronger community and peer connections. * Carers are better able to balance caring responsibilities with other aspects of their lives * Improved coordination across services, resulting in more seamless and person-centred support. * Prevention and community-based support help reduce escalating need and reliance on crisis interventions. High-Level Contract Information The Council is seeking a provider to deliver a single integrated All-Age Carers Service across Cheshire West and Chester. The service is expected to provide: * A single point of access for carers. * Information, advice, guidance and support. * Early identification, outreach and engagement. * Support to access carers' rights, assessments and available services. * Wellbeing support, peer support and opportunities for breaks from caring. * A blended digital, community-based and face-to-face offer. * Strong partnership working across social care, education, health, community and voluntary sector organisations. * Coordination of support pathways, community assets and specialist provision. * A focus on co-production, continuous improvement and measurable outcomes. Market Engagement Focus We are keen to explore approaches that: * Build on community strengths, local assets and support networks. * Proactively identify and reach carers. * Demonstrate strong collaborative partnership working across the area. * Provide digitally enabled, accessible and inclusive support. * Deliver innovative, flexible and responsive services. * Demonstrate measurable impact and improved outcomes for carers of all ages. * Provide inclusive and preventative support that reflects the diverse needs, circumstances and caring roles of unpaid carers. * Delivery model, route to market and pricing

Planning Information

There are 2 face to face events - potential bidders need only attend one. These will be held 2nd November in Chester and 30th November in Northwich. To register a place and obtain further timings and details please email - engagement@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk The format of the event will include table-based activities designed to encourage joint discussion and the sharing of ideas relating to the service aims and intended outcomes. We will also provide a feedback survey for attendees who may wish to share ideas they did not have the opportunity to raise during the event, express an interest in a follow-up conversation, or submit any additional questions. The activities will provide opportunities for providers to share best practice, discuss service models and lessons learned, as well as network with other organisations and partners. We are keen to explore approaches that: • Build on community strengths, local assets and support networks. • Proactively identify and reach carers. • Demonstrate strong collaborative partnership working across the area. • Provide digitally enabled, accessible and inclusive support. • Deliver innovative, flexible and responsive services. • Demonstrate measurable impact and improved outcomes for carers of all ages. • Provide inclusive and preventative support that reflects the diverse needs, circumstances and caring roles of unpaid carers. • Delivery model, route to market and pricing

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07841b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095399-2026
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

85000000 - Health and social work services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,150,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 20272 years to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2028 - 1 Jul 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Cheshire West and Chester 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
ELLESMERE PORT
Postcode
CH65 0BA
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Central & Grange
Westminster Constituency
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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