Independent Advocacy Services · UK public procurement notice

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will shortly be re-procuring their Independent Advocacy Services Contract, with a new Contract due to start on 1st April 2026.

Independent Advocacy means supporting a person to understand information, express their needs and wishes, secure their rights and represent their interests if they might have substantial difficulty doing so themselves. They help individuals understand their options, make informed decisions, and express their wishes, whether it's in relation to care planning, assessments, or challenging decisions.

The Service enables people with physical or learning disabilities, older people, Carers, those with mental health needs to make informed choices and decisions about their own wellbeing and social care. Independent advocates help people to access information and services and to explore their options.

Advocates deliver services independent of West Northamptonshire Council and on an impartial basis. The independent advocate aims to support people in a direct and empowering way by providing them with the necessary information to make their own informed decision. Advocacy promotes equality, social justice, social inclusion and human rights.

The advocacy service in WNC will require advocates to be trained in all the different types of advocacy, to enable a seamless advocacy service and prevent a person having to tell their story repetitively to different advocates, the same advocate should provide support in multiple advocate roles, provided they are trained and qualified to do so.

WNC commissions Independent Statutory Advocacy to deliver the following types of advocacy:

Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA) including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and Relevant Person's Paid Representatives (RPPR)

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Independent Health Complaints Advocacy (IHCA)

Independent Care Act Advocacy (ICAA)

Rule 1.2 Representative

At this stage, the Council is testing the market to get an indication of the potential number of providers who are able to deliver this service and may consider bidding when the full tender is published.

If your organisation would like to express an interest in this opportunity, please email procurement@westnorthants.gov.uk with the subject line: EOI Independent Advocacy Services FAO Kayley Lakin, and include details of your organisation and why you feel that you have the relevant experience and knowledge to be able to deliver this service. The deadline for expressions of interest is close of business, Friday 15th August 2025.

Please note that responding to this soft market test does not in any way give an advantage or disadvantage any Provider during the tender process. Providers who do not respond are also not disadvantaged and are still able to bid at tender stage. This soft market test is for information only to advise the Council of the current market conditions. Responding to this, or any other soft market test does not guarantee any Provider any work with the Council.