--- title: "Independent Children's Advocacy Service" ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940.json" source: "Public Contracts Scotland" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-18" --- # Independent Children's Advocacy Service Buyer: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940.json) ## Summary Dumfries and Galloway Council is progressing with the commissioning of an Independent Children's Advocacy Service. Classified under 'General public services', this procurement is in its planning stage as of 18 March 2026 with a future notice set for 17 April 2026. The council aims to establish services in Dumfries (region UKM92) to ensure advocacy for children and young people under various statutory requirements and priorities from the Scottish Executive. The service targets those who are looked after or on the Child Protection Register, or in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. This tender presents substantial prospects for businesses specialising in advocacy services. Suitable candidates include organisations with expertise in independent and professional advocacy, particularly those equipped to provide one-to-one support and handle complex statutory requirements. Companies aiming to work with young populations with diverse needs, including those with communication or capacity challenges, will find this opportunity aligns well with their expertise. It also offers a platform for growth through collaboration with Dumfries and Galloway Council and exploration of innovative service delivery models benefitting children and young people in the region. ## Notice Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. ### Lot Information Lot 1 This procurement is to obtain a suitable advocacy service provider for children's advocacy services. The service objectives are as follows: To provide an independent and confidential advocacy service to include information, support and advice for Dumfries and Galloway children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region. To provide access to an advocacy service for children & young people regardless of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, faith/religion, or social background. To match service users and advocates appropriate to each situation's needs, seeking specialist support where indicated and ensuring service users comfort at all times. To ensure that children & young people's own views are heard and adequately represented. To provide advocacy, related support and information in an age-appropriate and child/young person-centred manner. To help children and young people to access and understand information relevant to them and make appropriate choices or decisions which give them fuller control of their lives. To promote choices to young people. To support children & young people who, because of incapacity or communication difficulties, may not be able to express their needs or views. To provide advocacy for children and young people who have a mental disorder in compliance with the Mental Health Act. To guide children and young people towards self-advocacy and avoid creation of dependency. To develop links with service providers, professionals and relevant support organisations to ensure clear understanding of the role of advocacy. To develop and promote children and young people's involvement in service planning. Further information will be provided in the service specification documents when the tender process goes live. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland | | Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987 | | Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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 | 18 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 17 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | 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 | DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL | | Locality | DUMFRIES | | Post town | Dumfries and Galloway | | Postcode | DG1 2HP | | Country | Scotland | | ITL 1 | TLM Scotland | | ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland | | ITL 3 | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway | | Local authority | Dumfries and Galloway | | Electoral ward | Nith | | Westminster constituency | Dumfries and Galloway | | Delivery location | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 85 - Health and social work services ### Codes - 85310000 - Social work services ## Release History - 18 Mar 2026 at 00:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987 ## Documents - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR551987 Independent Children's Advocacy Service - Dumfries and Galloway Council (the Purchaser) wishes to commission children's advocacy services that: - are independent and professional; - provide individual (one-to-one) advocacy that is issue focused; and - meet statutory requirements and Scottish Executive priorities. The service will covers such services under the following categories: - Advocacy services for children and young people who are or have been looked after and accommodated within or outwith the region (excluding those who are placed locally by another Local Authority) up until the age of 26. - Advocacy for children and young people on the Child Protection Register. - Advocacy for children and young people in terms of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. ## Notice URLs - http:// - http://www.dumgal.gov.uk - http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=826940 - https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940 ## 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-r6ebe6-0000826940. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000826940.json.