KMPT, KCHFT & DGT Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom To Speak Up Service - Pre-Market Engagement

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
South East
Open procedure
9 June 2026 to 30 June 2029

Provision of confidential, impartial Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) services for NHS staff, addressing concerns regarding patient safety, bullying, and organisational culture. Services must be delivered by accredited FTSU Guardians registered on the National Guardian’s Office Directory. The contract currently operates on a 24/7/365 availability model, with potential for future transition to core business hours (08:00–18:00, Monday to Friday) subject to change control processes.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £505k; As published
Published: 28 August 2025
Awarded: 20 May 2026; The Guardian Service
Contract length: 37 months; Ends 30 June 2029

What the contract covers

One contract per lot

Provision of independent Freedom to Speak Up guardian services to support staff wellbeing and organisational culture within NHS trusts.

Provide staff with a confidential, impartial, and accessible mechanism for raising concerns relating to workplace issues, behaviour, service quality, safety and/or organisational culture
Empower staff to speak up safely and confidently through impartial support
Strengthen leadership behaviours and approaches
Enhance organisational responsiveness
Promote innovation, learning, and continuous improvement through a transparent and responsive organisational culture

Lot	Estimated value	SMEs
Lot 1	Not stated	Not stated
Lot 2	Not stated	Not stated
Lot 3	Not stated	Not stated

Terms and requirements

Contract type: One contract per lot
Procedure: Open procedure
Initial term: 36 months
Extensions: 24 months
Longest it can run: 60 months
Contract dates: 9 June 2026 to 30 June 2029
Certifications asked for: National Guardian’s Office Directory registration
Lots: 3
Suitable for SMEs: Yes
Suitable for charities and social enterprises: Yes
Category: Services
CPV codes: 79400000, 85312300, 85312310, 79633000

Services in this contract

Whistleblowing and speak-up servicesMain service£210k typicalFreedom to Speak Up guardian services for three NHS trusts

Lifecycle

Published
28 August 2025
Contract awardedto The Guardian Service
20 May 2026
Contract starts
9 June 2026
Contract ends
30 June 2029

The buyer

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

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The supplier

The Guardian Service

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Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/326417/kmpt-kchft-and-dgt-confidential-staff-liaison-and-freedom-to-speak-up-service-pr
Buyer reference: C385777
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-058fbe
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. KMPT, KCHFT & DGT Confidential Staff Liaison and Freedom To Speak Up Service - Pre-Market Engagement. Contract award, 28 August 2025. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/326417/kmpt-kchft-and-dgt-confidential-staff-liaison-and-freedom-to-speak-up-service-pr (accessed 5 November 2026).