Statutory Independent Advocacy - 2025

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking one organisation to provide Statutory Independent Advocacy services on its behalf across West Northamptonshire. Local Authorities have a duty to involve people in decisions made about them and their care and support.

No matter how complex a person’s needs, Local Authorities are required to help people express their wishes and feelings, support them in weighing up their options, and assist them in making their own decisions during the assessment, care planning, review processes, and also including safeguarding enquiries. This service will assist in the delivery of, and compliance with, the following relevant legislation and guidance: Care Act 2014; Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice; Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice; The Care and Support (Independent Advocacy) Regulations 2014 Care and Support Statutory Guidance (Issued under the Care Act 2014); Equality Act 2010; Advocacy Code of Practice (Revised Edition 2014).

The Mental Capacity (Deprivation of Liberty: Appointment of Relevant Person’s Representative) Regulations 2008 Health and Social Care Act (2012) The service will enable people who have substantial difficulty being involved in the key processes and interactions with the local authority to be supported in that involvement as fully as possible, and where necessary be represented by an advocate who speaks on their behalf. It will ensure that people’s wishes, feelings and needs are at the heart of the assessment, care planning and review processes and will focus on the presenting issue, be person-centered, delivered in line with relevant legislation and guidance and be resource and cost effective.

The Authority’s procurement process is set out in the Invitation to Tender documents The Authority proposes to enter into one (1) contract for an initial period of 36 months with the preferred Potential Provider, with an option to extend for a further two individual periods of 12 months each making 60 months in total. The estimated value of the contract is £3,122,240 * * The value is estimated for an increase requirement for IMHAs as the Mental Health Act 1983 is amended by the Mental Health Bill 2025 and is currently based on an anticipated implementation date of 2027.

If the IMHA changes are delayed, the overall contract value will reduce by £337,060 for every year it is delayed as the additional hours will not be required. There is no price evaluation in this tender and bidders are to submit a tender with the understanding that the value listed above is final and fixed.

If your organisation wishes to participate in this process, you need to register with In-Tend Portal. You will be unable to take part if you do not register.

The tender return date is midday on Wednesday 5th November 2025. Tenders received after this time and date will not be accepted.