---
title: "Solo Overnight Respite Solution"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Durham County Council"
published: "2026-09-09"
---

# Solo Overnight Respite Solution

Buyer: Durham County Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6

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## Summary

Durham County Council commissioned a solo overnight respite service for families whose children have autism, learning disabilities or other neurodiverse needs and cannot use traditional shared respite because of complex needs or behaviours. Social workers will assess each family and determine the required frequency and duration. The service is intended to provide safe, individual overnight care for children and young people who need a dedicated arrangement. It will operate from a purpose-adapted building and must be registered with Ofsted to provide overnight respite for children. The work is a health and social care service, classified under CPV 85000000, serving families in the North East. The council is the commissioning public authority and buyer.

This procurement has been awarded through a completed single-lot process. Durham County Council used a direct award under the light-touch regime, relying on technical reasons and the absence of an alternative provider able to meet the specialist requirement. The award date was 9 September 2026 and the selected supplier is WE CARE BESPOKE LTD. The award value is £1,033,682 excluding VAT, or £1,240,418.40 including VAT. The contract period runs from 28 September 2026 to 27 September 2028. A contract signature was scheduled for 22 September 2026, following a standstill period ending on 21 September 2026. The arrangement is intended to maintain continuity while the council develops its in-house overnight respite provision, expected to be operational in mid-2028.

This requirement shows demand for specialist solo overnight respite rather than standard shared provision. A credible future competitor would need an Ofsted-registered, purpose-adapted setting suitable for children and young people with autism, learning disabilities and other neurodiverse needs. The service model must support children whose behaviour or presentation cannot be safely managed in shared respite, with staffing able to provide individualised care and maintain safety overnight. Relevant providers would need demonstrable experience of supporting this complex cohort, a specialist workforce, and the operational capacity to mobilise from an established facility. The council’s rationale indicates that continuity, rapid mobilisation and value for money matter alongside clinical and social care capability. Providers able to evidence these factors would be well placed when this type of requirement is next reviewed.

## Notice

The service will provide a solo overnight respite solution for families whose children have autism and / neuro diversity and who cannot access traditional respite services on account of the complexity of the children's needs and presentation. The need for a solo respite solution and the frequency / duration will be identified by DCC Social Workers following assessment of the families needs. The service will be registered with Ofsted to supply overnight respite for children.

### Procurement Information

There is a significant shortfall in overnight respite provision for children and young people with Autism, learning disabilities, and other neurodiverse needs who require solo arrangements due to behaviours that cannot be safely supported within traditional shared respite settings. Existing providers within the North East are unable to meet these needs, resulting in Durham County Council incurring high-cost bed-blocking arrangements. The proposed provider is able to deliver a dedicated solo overnight respite service from a purpose-adapted building that is already OFSTED registered. The provider has the specialist staffing model, environment, and experience required to safely support this complex cohort. No alternative provider available through existing arrangements can meet the Council's requirements to the same level and within the required timescales. A direct award under PA23 is considered appropriate as it will ensure continuity of provision, minimise mobilisation time, and provide value for money by utilising an existing specialist facility rather than developing a new service. This arrangement will bridge the gap until Durham County Council's in-house overnight respite provision becomes operational, which is currently expected in mid-2028.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085421-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Contract period | 28 Sep 2026 - 27 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,033,682 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Durham County Council |
| Locality | DURHAM |
| Postcode area | Durham |
| Postcode | DH1 5WB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC41 Durham |
| Local authority | County Durham |
| Electoral ward | Framwellgate & Newton Hall |
| Westminster constituency | City of Durham |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | We Care Bespoke Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85000000 - Health and social work services

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2026 at 14:12 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085421-2026
- 9 Sep 2026 at 14:06 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085412-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085421-2026
  9th September 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085412-2026
  9th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.durham.gov.uk/
- http://www.wecarebespoke.co.uk
- 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-06f5b6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f5b6.json.