Lived Experience Recovery Service (LERS)

Portsmouth City Council ('the Council') is inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified lived experience recovery organisations for the provision of a Lived Experience Recovery Service. The Council wishes to award a contract via the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulation 2023, Most Suitable Provider Process.

This notice is to enable providers to approach the Council and express their interest in being considered as the most suitable provider. This will be published for 14 days as per the requirements of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulation 2023.

The Council is envisaging awarding on 30/12/2025 with a contract commencing on on 1st April 2026. The contract term will be for 2 months and 3 years, which includes a mobilisation period of 2 months, and the possibility to extend for a further 3 years.

The lifetime value of the contract is £1,815,900, including any possible extension. We are procuring an independent lived experience recovery service to promote and provide lived experience involvement, and co-production, throughout our drug and alcohol treatment system.

The Service will provide both harm reduction and recovery support. They will be trauma informed, evidence-based and tailored to meet the needs of individuals and communities in order to empower people to lead drug / alcohol free lives, where possible.

The service will deliver independent advocacy, peer mentoring, peer support groups, recovery check-ins and training and support for volunteers. The provider will work closely with our main drug and alcohol treatment provider to co-deliver some specific service provision, such as Project W, our women only service. The service will be a key delivery partner in making Portsmouth an Inclusive Recovery City.