--- title: "Aftercare Services for Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault - CPA/SPU/2961P" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire" published: "2026-10-29" --- # Aftercare Services for Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault - CPA/SPU/2961P Buyer: Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef.json) ## Summary The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire intends to commission an aftercare service for people of all ages affected by rape or sexual assault in the Cheshire Constabulary policing area, including non-recent cases and people whose cases are outside the criminal justice system. The service is to combine independent sexual violence adviser support, initial counselling, community counselling and therapeutic care, with specialist provision for children. It will also provide advice, family mediation, signposting to other services and support through court proceedings where relevant. The provider is expected to work with local authorities, NHS England, police and other partners in a multi-agency setting. The scope also includes training and awareness-raising for professionals and the public, contributing to prevention work across Cheshire. This is at the planning stage: the buyer has signalled its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. An open procedure is expected. The procurement is planned as a single lot, with an anticipated contract period from 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2031 and an option to extend to 31 March 2033. The buyer’s current estimated value is £2.625 million excluding VAT, or £3.15 million including VAT. A future tender notice is expected on 16 November 2026. The service is intended to replace an earlier one-year contract; the buyer says funding matters affected the original timetable. No award criteria or participation requirements are set out at this planning stage. The service is marked as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises, so specialist charities and smaller providers may be well placed to prepare, as well as established support organisations. Strong capability in trauma-informed counselling and therapeutic support, independent sexual violence advice, and safeguarding for adults and children will be central to the work. Providers should be ready to support victims across the full age range, including through criminal justice proceedings, and to develop person-centred support that addresses safety, wellbeing and mental health. The buyer also expects partnership working with safeguarding boards, MARAC where appropriate, health services, police, local charities and other support providers. Experience delivering practitioner training, public awareness and prevention activity, alongside staff training, supervision and continuing professional development, will be relevant. ## Notice UK1 Pipeline Notice in respect of new arrangements for Aftercare Services for Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault to commence 1st April 2027. UK 1 Pipeline Notice ref 2025/S 000-021969 and UK7 Contract Details Notice ref 2025/S 000-073402 refer. Funding matters have impacted on the original timetable. The intention is to replace contract CPA/SPU/2624P which was awarded on a one-year period under the Light Touch Regime. The service description based on the current requirements is: On behalf of the Local Authorities, NHS England, the Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire (PCC) and the Chief Constable (CC); the PCC is looking to put in place an aftercare service for victims of rape or sexual assault in the Cheshire Constabulary policing area. The minimum requirements of the PCC, NHS England and Local Authorities are for a supplier to provide a solution for all ages incorporating a full time independent sexual violence advisor and initial counselling service within a multi-agency setting for those in the Cheshire constabulary policing area who have suffered sexual violence both within and outside of the criminal justice system, including non-recent cases. The service will need to incorporate: * An ageless community counselling and therapeutic service for those suffering rape and sexual abuse. * Specialist provision to meet the needs of children. * Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) Service (conventional and specialist) * Delivery of training and awareness raising The requirements include but are not restricted to the following: * Safeguard individuals in Cheshire from sexual violence through minimising risks. * Enable service users to address the effects of sexual assault/rape and reduce repeat incidents/victimisation. * Provide a support service for anyone who has issues surrounding sexual assault or rape; to offer advice, counselling, family mediation and sign posting to other specific support services. * Support the service user though the criminal justice system, if court proceedings are involved. * To develop a person centred plan to address the needs of the individual to reduce service user's risk and improve their mental health, safety, well-being and independence for service users when identified as need. * To allow service users to provide feedback that is used to influence future service delivery. * To help enable individual service users to access their rights. The Provider must: * Participate in MARAC as appropriate. * Work in partnership with other service providers in the area (IDVA, Drug and Alcohol services etc.) * Work in close partnership with local safeguarding boards (adult and child). * Develop and work in partnership with CCG's. * Develop effective relationships with other local charities operating in this sector to ensure the offer for service users is consistent. * Work within a multi-agency setting to provide a pro-active holistic service to all victims of sexual assault or violence who have been referred or self-referred to the aftercare service. * Work in partnership with the provider of forensic examination services and crisis care for Cheshire enabling a timely and seamless provision of care for victims and the sharing of information and good practice. * Deliver training and awareness raising to professionals and the public which contribute to local and sub-regional prevention work * Be an active part of the multi-agency safeguarding arena. * Deliver basic training on sexual assault and violence to practitioners in Cheshire (and refresh as required) * Undergo training and supervision to ensure specialist knowledge and continued professional development of staff. * Work within local guidance and information sharing arrangements. This is a UK1 Pipeline Notice - and is for information only. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102803-2026 | | Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 29 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 16 Nov 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,625,000 | | 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 | Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire | | Locality | WINSFORD | | Postcode area | Crewe | | Postcode | CW7 2UA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire | | ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester | | Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester | | Electoral ward | Winsford Over & Verdin | | Westminster constituency | Mid Cheshire | | Delivery location | TLD6 Cheshire | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85000000 - Health and social work services - 85312300 - Guidance and counselling services - 85312310 - Guidance services - 85312320 - Counselling services ## Release History - 29 Oct 2026 at 15:58 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102803-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102803-2026 29th October 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://atamis-7459.my.site.com/s/Welcome - 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-0793ef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0793ef.json.