---
title: "Local Healthwatch Service and Independent Complaints Advocacy (NHS Services)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-042928"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-042928"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042928.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042928.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DORSET COUNCIL"
published: "2024-04-09"
---

# Local Healthwatch Service and Independent Complaints Advocacy (NHS Services)

Buyer: DORSET COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-042928

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## Summary

The Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council have jointly tendered a contract for Local Healthwatch Service and Independent Complaints Advocacy (NHS Services). The procurement, open for submission until 26th January 2024, falls under the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The contract, valued at £1,548,880, is for an initial three-year period starting on 1st April 2024, with potential extensions up to 31st March 2029.

This tender opportunity presents a chance for businesses in the social work services sector without accommodation to compete for contracts supporting health and social care services. Businesses experienced in advocacy services, particularly those working with diverse populations, including children, people with disabilities, and those from different cultural backgrounds, would be well-suited for this tender. The procurement method is an open procedure with electronic submissions, providing an accessible entry point for businesses aiming to grow through public sector contracts.

## Notice

This tender is being published under the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The Social Care and Health Act 2012 makes provision for a consumer champion for health and social care called Healthwatch. The Local Healthwatch is funded through the Department of Health Community Voices grant which is channelled through each Local Authority. The Act also makes provision for local authorities to make arrangements for the delivery of an Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) in relation to their area for complaints relating to the provision of NHS health services. This service is also funded from the Department of Health's Community Voices grant. ICAS may be provided by the same provider as Local Healthwatch or by a different provider. In either situation Local Healthwatch will have to support individuals in accessing information and independent advocacy if they need to complain about NHS services. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and Dorset Council have pooled their funding, and are jointly tendering to commission the Local Healthwatch contract and the ICAS contract. It is expected that the contracts will commence on 01 April 2024 for an initial period of 3 years to 31 March 2027 and may be subsequently extended by a further 2 years to 31 March 2029 subject to satisfactory performance.

### Lot Information

Local Healthwatch Service

Local Healthwatch is an organisation giving a stronger voice to people in influencing the health and wellbeing agenda and local service provision; providing signposting, supporting individuals with information and advice about access to services and NHS complaints advocacy. Local Healthwatch has to be provided at all times by an organisation that is a social enterprise. The Vision for the Dorset Local Healthwatch is to be the "voice of the people" coordinating and bringing people's views and experiences to improve health and social care and to be: * A well led, high quality organisation that is effectively managed and organised with clear and transparent priorities. * Well known, independent, trusted and accessible to everyone. * Operating seamlessly across the two areas. * Influential and respected by decision makers and service providers.

Renewal: At the end of the initial three years, there will be two options to extend of 12 months each, making a possible contract period of five years.

Independent Complaints Advocacy (NHS Services)

The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (NHS Services) will ensure that independent advocacy skills are used to provide practical support and direction to people to assist them finding a resolution to their complaint about NHS services in the local authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Council. The service must be fully compliant with all relevant regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The service provider for this contract needs to have at least two years' experience of the provision of advocacy including experience of working with children and young people, people with mental health problems, learning disabilities, challenging behaviours, sensory disabilities, little or no English, differing cultural backgrounds, bereavement issues and those in distress. It is recognised that many advocacy groups do not work with both adults and children and young people and therefore would welcome a consortium or other types of multi-agency bid, as well as bids from single organisations with the relevant experience.

Renewal: At the end of the initial three years, there will be two options to extend of 12 months each, making a possible contract period of five years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011460-2024 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Apr 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 26 Jan 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Apr 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,548,880 |
| Lots value | £1,548,880 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,548,880 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DORSET COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE (BCP) COUNCIL; BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE COUNCIL (BCP) |
| Locality | DORCHESTER |
| Post town | Dorchester |
| Postcode | DT1 1XJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK63 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Local authority | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole |
| Electoral ward | Bournemouth Central |
| Westminster constituency | Bournemouth West |
| Delivery location | TLK24 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, TLK25 Dorset |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | EVOLVING COMMUNITIES; THE ADVOCACY PEOPLE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85312000 - Social work services without accommodation

## Release History

- 9 Apr 2024 at 13:09 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011460-2024
- 9 Jan 2024 at 08:29 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/000587-2024
- 21 Dec 2023 at 12:15 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037664-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk
- https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/
- https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
- https://www.supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-042928. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-042928.json.