Advocacy Services for Children, Young People & Adults

Plymouth City Council is seeking a provider or providers to deliver an integrated Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for children, young people, adults and families across Plymouth, with an estimated total contract value of £7,160,000 excluding VAT.

The service will bring together statutory and non-statutory advocacy, independent visiting and related support functions under one integrated delivery model. The procurement is divided into three lots covering children’s advocacy, adult advocacy and services for children and young people placed outside Plymouth.

Service Lots

The contract is divided into three lots:

• Lot 1 – Children’s Advocacy and Independent Visiting Services: £2,400,000. Advocacy and independent visiting for children and young people involved with children’s social care, including looked-after children, care leavers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, young people with SEND, young carers and those in residential or secure settings. The service also covers eligible young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and those requiring support during the transition to adulthood.
• Lot 2 – Adult Advocacy Services: £4,560,000. Statutory and non-statutory advocacy, including Care Act Advocacy, Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA), Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA), NHS Complaints Advocacy, relevant Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards representation and advocacy for parents navigating children’s social care and child protection processes.
• Lot 3 – Out-of-Area Advocacy Services for children and young people placed outside Plymouth: £200,000. Advocacy and independent visiting for eligible children and young people placed outside the city, including looked-after children, care leavers, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, young people with SEND and those in residential or secure settings.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Plymouth City Council
• Submission Deadline: 13 November 2026, 12:00pm
• Enquiry Deadline: 2 November 2026, 11:59pm
• Contract Value: £7,160,000 excluding VAT
• Delivery Length: Five-year initial contract, with possible extensions of 1+1+1 years, giving a potential total duration of eight years
• Contract Start: 1 April 2027
• Contract End: 31 March 2032, with possible extension to 31 March 2035
• Tender Reference: PEO/25030
• Procurement Opportunity Reference: DN834021
• Award Decision Date: 29 January 2027 (estimated)
• Procedure: Open procedure
• Tender Link: Supplying the South West – Procurement Portal

Tenders may be submitted electronically in English. The procurement notice directs suppliers to the portal for further details on lot constraints and submission requirements.

Supplier Requirements

The opportunity is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

Providers must demonstrate their ability to deliver the relevant advocacy and independent visiting services within their chosen lot. The published award criteria highlight child-centred advocacy, statutory advocacy delivery, accessibility, safeguarding, empowerment, partnership working, quality assurance and service outcomes, depending on the lot.

Further participation requirements and procurement instructions are available through the Supplying the South West portal under opportunity reference DN834021.

Evaluation Criteria

The published award criteria differ by lot.

Lot 1 – Children’s Advocacy and Independent Visiting Services

• Delivering Child-Centred Advocacy – 30%
• Accessibility and Safeguarding – 20%
• Price – 20%
• Quality and Outcomes – 15%
• Collaboration, Partnerships and Sub-Contracting – 10%
• Social Value – 5%

Lot 2 – Adult Advocacy Services

• Statutory Advocacy Delivery – 30%
• Empowerment and Independence – 20%
• Price – 20%
• Accessibility, Equality and Safeguarding – 15%
• Collaboration, Partnerships and Sub-Contracting – 10%
• Social Value – 5%

Lot 3 – Out-of-Area Advocacy Services

• Service Delivery Model – 30%
• Partnership Working and Local Knowledge – 20%
• Price – 20%
• Quality Assurance, Outcomes and Performance – 15%
• Collaboration, Partnerships and Sub-Contracting – 10%
• Social Value – 5%

The notice lists the final criterion for Lot 3 as type “Price”, although its name is Collaboration, Partnerships and Sub-Contracting. This should be clarified against the procurement documents.

This opportunity may be relevant to organisations delivering advocacy, independent visiting and specialist support services. The three lots provide distinct routes for providers working with children and young people, adults requiring advocacy, and children placed outside Plymouth.

Never Miss a Care Sector Opportunity

From contract opportunities and framework launches to sector news and procurement updates, The Daily Round delivers daily insights designed for care providers, suppliers, and sector leaders.

Sign up to The Daily Round Daily Bulletin to receive the latest opportunities and healthcare procurement news directly to your inbox.

If you want to advertise your opportunity, please contact Jamie Peacock, Tender Specialist at advertising@dailyround.news