---
title: "Provision of an independent Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NHS HIGHLAND"
published: "2021-05-10"
---

# Provision of an independent Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service

Buyer: NHS HIGHLAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326.json)

## Summary

The procurement process involves NHS Highland seeking to establish an independent Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service aimed at enhancing staff communication within the healthcare framework. This tender is categorised under the health services industry and is located in Inverness, UK. The procurement stage has reached completion following a limited procurement method, which did not involve prior publication of a call for competition. The contract was awarded to The Guardian Service Ltd. on 6th March 2020, with a total contract value of £351,400.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in healthcare support services, particularly those with expertise in independent advocacy and whistleblower protection. Companies that can offer similar technical solutions, as evidenced by The Guardian Service Ltd.'s experience in the NHS, would be well-suited to compete for future contracts in this domain. With NHS Highland's urgent need for these services, potential suppliers should focus on demonstrating their relevant experience and capacity to effectively manage such critical services.

## Notice

Guardian service for NHS Highland staff

### Lot Information

Lot 1

NHS Highland have a critical and urgent need to establish a Guardian / Speak up service by July 2020, as recommended in the Sturrock review, to provide an independent channel for colleague concerns to be raised where other channels have not worked or cannot be used. This is also aligned to how we wil implement the revised National Whistleblowing standards in Highland in July 2020. NHS Highland do not have the capacity, time or skills to set up an internal speak up service, and the culture issues experienced mean that an externally hosted service is critical at this time to built trust of the service. We have reviewed the market and the only established provider of this service that we have identified with appropriate and relevant NHS specific experience is The Guardian Service. The Guardian Service have extensive experience in setting up and running this service across many years and we have testimony from other NHS trusts in England and Wales who already work with them. Their approach of working in partnership with the organisation and key stakeholders is essential to the service working effectively and learning from the issues which are raised.

Options: NHS Highland might increase the number of Guardians provided to staff as part of this service dependent on the uptake of the service by staff, something which is currently unknown.

### Procurement Information

This procurement is unique in that the provider is offering a technical solution, based on it's specific positioning and experience, the likes of which is not available elsewhere in exactly the form that we desire to employ.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY414124 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 May 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 6 Mar 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £351,400 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NHS HIGHLAND |
| Locality | INVERNESS |
| Post town | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV2 3BW |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Inverness South |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | THE GUARDIAN SERVICE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79633000 - Staff development services

## Release History

- 10 May 2021 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY414124
- 6 Mar 2020 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F15 - Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR383008

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR383008
  Provision of an independent Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service - Guardian service for NHS Highland staff
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY414124
  Provision of an independent Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Service - Guardian service for NHS Highland staff

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.nhshighland.scot.nhs.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326
- https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court

## 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-r6ebe6-0000617326. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000617326.json.