Independent Learning Responses

This procurement is required to modernise and strengthen the independent investigations supply market, to align with national expectations for learning responses. The proposed framework will be used by NHS England independent investigation teams, national commissioning teams and other authorised NHS commissioners who require independent, system‑based investigations or assurance/learning reviews.

The framework will be divided into Lots: Lot 1. This lot is suitable for individuals who are able to lead high profile and complex investigations from a wide range of healthcare settings often at regional or national level.

This lot is suitable for those who have a thorough understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and treatment options related to their specialty or field of review. This lot is aimed at those who are experts in systems-based analysis and development of areas for system wide improvement.

Demonstrates compassionate, trauma-informed engagement and the ability to support complex or sensitive patient and family liaison. Able to support complex patient and family liaison, including engagement across sensitive, high-profile or contentious cases involving multiple stakeholders.

This lot is intended to explore broader concerns relating to culture, competence, workforce capability, leadership, risk assessment and continuous improvement. This lot provides end-to-end, expertly led, systems-based learning response.

It is particularly suited to complex or high-profile cases with significant learning potential across multiple providers, organisations or systems. This lot supports understanding of common links, themes or issues across a cluster of investigations, incidents, concerns or learning responses.

This lot supports proactive or reactive review of pathway or service design in response to identified safety concerns, emerging hazards, service redesign or planned transformation activity. This lot is intended to assess whether actions taken in response to patient safety incidents, investigations or learning responses have improved safety, reduced risk and led to meaningful, sustainable change.