--- title: "COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078816" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078816" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078816.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078816.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Cardiff and Vale University Health Board" published: "2026-10-15" --- # COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY SERVICE Buyer: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078816 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078816) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078816.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097266-2026 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 15 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £258,135 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Cardiff and Vale University Health Board | | Locality | CARDIFF | | Postcode area | Cardiff | | Postcode | CF14 4HH | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan | | Local authority | Cardiff | | Electoral ward | Heath | | Westminster constituency | Cardiff North | | Delivery location | TLL22 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services ## Release History - 15 Oct 2026 at 09:06 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097266-2026 ## Notice URLs - http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/ - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=171831 - https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221 ## 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-078816. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078816.json.