Advocacy Services for Children, Young People & Adults

Provision of integrated advocacy and independent visiting services for adults, children, young people and families in Plymouth.

• For advocacy and Independent Visiting services for children and young people in Plymouth, this includes those involved with children's social care services, children in need, children subject to child protection processes, looked after children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, care leavers, children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), young carers, young people in residential settings, young people in secure environments, those accessing health services who wish to make complaints, and young people who may require continued support during transition to adulthood. Also, providing advocacy for 16-17 young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• For adults, the service will provide both statutory and non-statutory advocacy. Non-statutory advocacy supports adults and young people transitioning to adult social care who require assistance with social care, health and wellbeing matters. Statutory advocacy responsibilities include NHS Complaints Advocacy; Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) representation under the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) under the Mental Health Act 1983; and advocacy duties arising from the Care Act 2014, including support for individuals who experience substantial difficulty in participating in assessment, care planning or safeguarding processes and have no appropriate person to represent them. Also, providing advocacy for parents navigating children's social care and child protection processes.
• For advocacy and Independent Visiting services for children and young people placed outside of Plymouth, this includes those involved with children's social care services, children in need, children subject to child protection processes, looked after children, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, care leavers, children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), young people in residential settings, young people in secure environments, those accessing health services who wish to make complaints, and young people who may require continued support during transition to adulthood.

Terms and requirements

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure

Open procedure

Initial term

60 months

Extensions

12 months + 12 months + 12 months

Longest it can run

96 months

Contract dates

1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032

Certifications asked for

None stated

Lots

3

Suitable for SMEs

Yes

Suitable for charities and social enterprises

Yes

Category

Services

CPV codes

85300000

Services in this tender

• Independent advocacy for adults (IMCA, IMHA, Care Act, NHS complaints and community advocacy)Main service£550k typicalIntegrated all-age advocacy service with adult statutory advocacy
• Children's advocacy and independent visitors£375k typicalChildren's advocacy and independent visiting lots

Lifecycle

1. Published
   4 September 2026
2. Deadline for bids8 days left
   13 November 2026
3. Contract awardedUsually published within a few months
4. Contract starts
   1 April 2027