Wales Social Services Tenders & Contracts

Gwent Warm and Well Programme within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB)

Gwent Warm and Well Programme within Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB)

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are seeking a contract for ophthalmic services within the central and West integrated health community, including all ophthalmology patients, service users and families/carers.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are seeking a contract for ophthalmic services within the central and West integrated health community, including all ophthalmology patients, service users and families/carers.

Provide a pilot service during the summer school holidays to assess and allocate additional support for children of full-time school age with emerging or identified Additional Learning Needs (ALN) to enable their attendance at childcare. Enabling parent/carers to work, attend education or participate in training.

Provide a pilot service during the summer school holidays to assess and allocate additional support for children of full-time school age with emerging or identified Additional Learning Needs (ALN) to enable their attendance at childcare. Enabling parent/carers to work, attend education or participate in training.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the ‘Act’), and provides protection for vulnerable people, in care homes or hospitals who lack capacity to consent to the care or treatment they need. In 2014, following a Supreme Court ruling, the law in relation to DoLS changed, meaning the Act applied to far more people than it had previously, with the number of people subject to DoLS increasing significantly. In 2019 the law was changed with an amended Mental Capacity Act (2019) (MCA). The MCA (amendment) 2019 was to put in place new legislation, the publication of a new code, and regulations under Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). These changes were originally scheduled to replace the DoLS legislation and procedures from 1 October 2020. However, in April 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care announced the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, would be delayed “beyond the life of this Parliament” (therefore beyond Autumn 2024). As such, the existing DoLS policies, rules and regulations are still extant. The DoLS Team provide the service in line with statutory requirements from Mental Capacity Act 2005 (as amended, 2009) and therefore, it must be provided by a statutory body. As a ‘Managing Authority’, Cardiff and Vale UHB have responsibility for applying to the relevant Supervisory Body for authorisation of a deprivation of liberty for any person who may come within the scope of the Safeguards. Cardiff and Vale UHB have a long-standing tripartite agreement, with both Cardiff and the Vale Local Authorities, which provides that the Vale LA will act as the ‘Supervisory Body’ for our geographical area in the form of the DoLS Team. Under this agreement the UHB contributes funds on a proportional basis (45%) for the provision of this service. As the Supervisory Body, the DoLS team receive requests for authorisations and arrange for the relevant assessments to be completed to establish whether it would be appropriate and lawful to deprive the person of their liberty in hospital, in order to provide care and treatment. Without this authorisation, the UHB is in breach of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires that ‘no one shall be deprived of his or her liberty [unless] in accordance with a procedure prescribed in law]’. This contract in an exemption under Schedule 2.2.3 of the 2023 Procurement Act which states a contract is exempt from a formal procurement process if it is a horizontal arrangement. A “horizontal arrangement” means an arrangement— (a) entered into— (i) with the aim of achieving objectives the authorities have in common in connection with the exercise of their public functions; (ii) solely in the public interest;

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (the ‘Act’), and provides protection for vulnerable people, in care homes or hospitals who lack capacity to consent to the care or treatment they need. In 2014, following a Supreme Court ruling, the law in relation to DoLS changed, meaning the Act applied to far more people than it had previously, with the number of people subject to DoLS increasing significantly. In 2019 the law was changed with an amended Mental Capacity Act (2019) (MCA). The MCA (amendment) 2019 was to put in place new legislation, the publication of a new code, and regulations under Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). These changes were originally scheduled to replace the DoLS legislation and procedures from 1 October 2020. However, in April 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care announced the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, would be delayed “beyond the life of this Parliament” (therefore beyond Autumn 2024). As such, the existing DoLS policies, rules and regulations are still extant. The DoLS Team provide the service in line with statutory requirements from Mental Capacity Act 2005 (as amended, 2009) and therefore, it must be provided by a statutory body. As a ‘Managing Authority’, Cardiff and Vale UHB have responsibility for applying to the relevant Supervisory Body for authorisation of a deprivation of liberty for any person who may come within the scope of the Safeguards. Cardiff and Vale UHB have a long-standing tripartite agreement, with both Cardiff and the Vale Local Authorities, which provides that the Vale LA will act as the ‘Supervisory Body’ for our geographical area in the form of the DoLS Team. Under this agreement the UHB contributes funds on a proportional basis (45%) for the provision of this service. As the Supervisory Body, the DoLS team receive requests for authorisations and arrange for the relevant assessments to be completed to establish whether it would be appropriate and lawful to deprive the person of their liberty in hospital, in order to provide care and treatment. Without this authorisation, the UHB is in breach of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires that ‘no one shall be deprived of his or her liberty [unless] in accordance with a procedure prescribed in law]’. This contract in an exemption under Schedule 2.2.3 of the 2023 Procurement Act which states a contract is exempt from a formal procurement process if it is a horizontal arrangement. A “horizontal arrangement” means an arrangement— (a) entered into— (i) with the aim of achieving objectives the authorities have in common in connection with the exercise of their public functions; (ii) solely in the public interest;

This contract represents a new commissioning arrangement for the continuation of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) enhancement work, building on the existing service currently delivered through the Move More Programme, which is due to end in March 2026. Delivered in partnership with Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the programme has enhanced the national NERS model locally to improve uptake, retention and long term engagement in physical activity, particularly for people living in areas of greatest need. The overarching aim across both Local Authorities remains the same: to better support individuals referred into NERS by making the service more responsive, informed and better connected to wider community based physical activity provision. This new contract ensures continuity of the successful enhancement approach while enabling further development and embedding of improvements identified through delivery to date. The Move More Programme has provided tailored local enhancements to NERS within both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, responding to specific local contexts while contributing to the shared objective of increasing physical activity among less active populations. This requirement is not subject to competitive tender due to the exempted contracts section paragraph 3 where (a) (b) and (c) apply (Procurement act 2023). Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils have been selected as the sole providers due to their unique position as existing NERS delivery partners, their proven capability to deliver localised enhancements, and the nature of the grant funding arrangement under public sector legislation. Delivering both programmes in tandem enables a coordinated approach across the region, while still allowing each Council to tailor delivery to the specific needs of their respective communities. This structure supports the sharing of best practice and facilitates a more consistent yet responsive service model. Both Councils are already established delivery partners of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) and have demonstrated the capacity and local insight necessary to enhance the scheme through the Move More Programme. This enhancement focuses on increasing physical activity uptake, retention, and long-term engagement among populations with the highest levels of inactivity and health inequalities.

This contract represents a new commissioning arrangement for the continuation of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) enhancement work, building on the existing service currently delivered through the Move More Programme, which is due to end in March 2026. Delivered in partnership with Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, the programme has enhanced the national NERS model locally to improve uptake, retention and long term engagement in physical activity, particularly for people living in areas of greatest need. The overarching aim across both Local Authorities remains the same: to better support individuals referred into NERS by making the service more responsive, informed and better connected to wider community based physical activity provision. This new contract ensures continuity of the successful enhancement approach while enabling further development and embedding of improvements identified through delivery to date. The Move More Programme has provided tailored local enhancements to NERS within both Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, responding to specific local contexts while contributing to the shared objective of increasing physical activity among less active populations. This requirement is not subject to competitive tender due to the exempted contracts section paragraph 3 where (a) (b) and (c) apply (Procurement act 2023). Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils have been selected as the sole providers due to their unique position as existing NERS delivery partners, their proven capability to deliver localised enhancements, and the nature of the grant funding arrangement under public sector legislation. Delivering both programmes in tandem enables a coordinated approach across the region, while still allowing each Council to tailor delivery to the specific needs of their respective communities. This structure supports the sharing of best practice and facilitates a more consistent yet responsive service model. Both Councils are already established delivery partners of the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) and have demonstrated the capacity and local insight necessary to enhance the scheme through the Move More Programme. This enhancement focuses on increasing physical activity uptake, retention, and long-term engagement among populations with the highest levels of inactivity and health inequalities.

Cardiff and Vale UHB intends to commission a community-based service providing specialist welfare benefits and debt advice to adults with mental health problems. The service will support individuals to maximise income, reduce or manage debt, and improve overall health and wellbeing.