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COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Oct 2026 at 09:06

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board intends to procure a community mental health advocacy service for adults aged 18 and over who live in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The service will provide independent, confidential, rights-based advocacy to help people understand their options and rights, communicate their views, take part in decisions about care and treatment, raise concerns and access appropriate support. It will serve people using community mental health services, including those receiving aftercare, care programme, community team, outreach or crisis support, as well as former service users seeking to reconnect with mental health services. The work forms part of a wider system of mental health support and must be delivered across Cardiff and the Vale, serving urban, rural and diverse communities.

This is at the planning stage: the Health Board is undertaking early market engagement to understand provider interest, capability and capacity. It is not an invitation to tender or a commitment to proceed with a formal competition. The intended approach is the Most Suitable Provider Process under the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025. The buyer expects a further notice on 16 November 2026. The stated procurement value is £258,135. The service is presented as one lot. The Health Board says its relevant mental health care managers will make the award decision. The future service must comply with applicable mental health, equality and human rights legislation, including the Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010.

This service is likely to suit providers with established experience delivering independent advocacy in community mental health settings, particularly for adults who may struggle to represent themselves in decisions about care. The provider will need appropriately trained and experienced advocates who can support communication, participation in care planning, informed decision-making and access to services. Suppliers should be equipped to work collaboratively with the Health Board, local authorities, mental health teams and other advocacy organisations, coordinating pathways and avoiding duplication. The specification points to the need for responsive, accessible delivery across urban and rural communities, with provision for communication, cultural and equality needs and reasonable adjustments. Strong safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, workforce competence, quality assurance, performance monitoring and service-user involvement will be important capabilities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE

Notice Description

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking market engagement in relation to the future provision of a Community Mental Health Advocacy Service for adults aged 18 and over residing in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The service will provide independent, confidential, rights-based advocacy to support individuals accessing mental health services, ensuring their views, wishes and rights are effectively represented. The service must be delivered across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan and operate in accordance with relevant mental health, equality and human rights legislation.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking to engage with suitably qualified and experienced providers regarding the future provision of a Community Mental Health Advocacy Service for adults aged 18 years and over who reside within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The service will form part of a wider, whole-system approach to supporting individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. Its purpose will be to ensure that service users can participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their care and treatment, have their views and wishes appropriately represented, and understand and exercise their rights, particularly when they may be unable or find it difficult to advocate effectively for themselves. The successful provider will be expected to deliver an independent, confidential and rights-based advocacy service through appropriately trained and experienced advocates. Support may include helping individuals to understand available information and options, communicate their views, participate in meetings and care-planning processes, access appropriate services, raise concerns and make informed decisions regarding their care and support. The service will support eligible individuals accessing community-based mental health services, including those subject to Section 117 aftercare arrangements, individuals supported through the Care Programme Approach, Community Mental Health Teams, Assertive Outreach Teams, Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams, and former service users seeking to re-engage with mental health services under the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010. Service delivery will be required across both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, providing equitable and accessible support for individuals living within urban, rural and diverse communities. The provider will be expected to work collaboratively with the Health Board, local authorities, mental health teams and existing advocacy and support services to promote coordinated pathways, avoid duplication and ensure that service users are directed to the most appropriate source of advocacy support. The service must be responsive to the communication, accessibility, cultural and equality needs of the local population. Delivery arrangements should support fair access to advocacy and provide reasonable adjustments where required. The provider will be required to maintain appropriate standards of safeguarding, confidentiality, information governance, workforce competence, quality assurance, performance monitoring and service-user involvement. The service must operate in accordance with all relevant legislation, statutory guidance and professional standards, including the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Health (Wales) Measure 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010. This Prior Information Notice is intended to support early market engagement and assist the Health Board in understanding provider interest, capability and capacity to deliver the proposed service. It does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment by the Health Board to commence a formal procurement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078816
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097266-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning 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

85312300 - Guidance and counselling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£258,135 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF14 4HH
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
TLL22 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Heath
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff North

Further Information

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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