---
title: "Shared Lives Incentive Referral Programme Framework"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Sheffield City Council"
published: "2026-08-12"
---

# Shared Lives Incentive Referral Programme Framework

Buyer: Sheffield City Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f

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## Summary

Sheffield City Council is procuring a framework for an incentive-based referral programme to recruit Shared Lives Carers through Independent Fostering Agencies. The service will identify and refer suitable applicants into the Shared Lives recruitment pathway, improve the quality of applications, and provide consistent information and triage before referral. It is intended to help the council recruit additional Shared Lives households and support growing demand for community-based, adult social care. The work covers social work and related services, with delivery supporting Sheffield’s Shared Lives service. The programme is aligned with promoting independence, community connection and cost-effective care, and is designed to widen the potential pool of applicants while maintaining a high-quality referral process.

The procurement has reached tender: Sheffield City Council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. It is a single framework requirement under the light-touch services regime. Bids and enquiries were due by 11 September 2026 at 11:00 UK time, with electronic submission allowed. The contract period is from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029. The estimated value is £73,500 excluding VAT, or £88,200 including VAT. Tenders will be evaluated using the most advantageous tender approach, balancing quality and price. Quality assessment covers the approach to identifying and referring suitable applicants, understanding of the Shared Lives model, referral and quality assurance processes, safeguarding arrangements, and ability to deliver the required outcomes. Price will be assessed against the submitted pricing schedule.

This opportunity suits Independent Fostering Agencies and other organisations experienced in recruitment, assessment, triage and referral for community-based care services. Strong candidates will be able to identify suitable potential Shared Lives Carers, support applicants towards a high-quality application, and make well-informed referrals into a council recruitment pathway. Relevant operational capability includes understanding the Shared Lives model, applying consistent information and quality assurance processes, and maintaining effective safeguarding arrangements. Suppliers should be able to help increase the number and suitability of applicants while supporting the recruitment of additional Shared Lives households. The requirement is particularly relevant to providers with adult social care, fostering, referral, applicant screening or related social work experience and the capacity to deliver consistent outcomes for a local authority service.

## Notice

Sheffield City Council (SCC) is implementing an incentive based referral programme to support the recruitment of Shared Lives Carers through Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs). The incentive approach aims to widen the potential pool of applicants. The aim of this commission is to: * Increase the number of suitable applicants referred into the Shared Lives recruitment pathway. * Improve the quality of Shared Lives applications. * Support the Shared Lives service to meet growing demand for community-based care by recruiting additional Shared Lives households. * Provide a consistent, high quality, information and triage process before referral. These aims align with SCC's strategic priority of promoting independence, community connection, and cost-effective adult social care.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076764-2026 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £73,500 |
| Lots value | £73,500 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Sheffield City Council |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| Postcode area | Sheffield |
| Postcode | S1 2HH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | City |
| Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85300000 - Social work and related services

## Release History

- 12 Aug 2026 at 13:01 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076764-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076764-2026
  12th August 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://sheffield.gov.uk
- https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=108144&TID100113211&B=
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-06e28f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e28f.json.