Purpose

Approval is required to hold an open
procurement for an Independent Advocacy Provider.
The service is required to meet our legislative duties.

Decision

Approval has been given to procure an
independent advocacy provider from April 2026.

The service will have the following elements:
Care Act Statutory Advocacy;
1.2 Representative Advocacy;
Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy (IMCA);
Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) Safeguard
Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR);
Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA

Reasons for the decision

The Care Act 2014 has consolidated the duty
for Local Authorities to provide Independent Advocacy for
individuals who would experience substantial difficulty in being
involved with the care and support process, or safeguarding, or
Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR); and does not have an appropriate
individual to support them. Where someone is unable to fully
participate in these conversations and has no one to help them,
local authorities must arrange for an Independent Advocate.

The Service provides Care Act 2014 (Care Act) and specialist
advocates, and Relevant Person’s Representative (RPRs) to
work as required within national guidelines and recognised good
practice, to support and represent people who have substantial
difficulty or lack capacity as defined in the relevant legislation
including the Care Act, Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA), Mental
Capacity Act and DoLS Codes of Practice.

Alternative options considered

Local Authorities have a legal duty under the
Care Act (2014) to provide people with independent advocacy
services that have no connection to the Local Authority or
alternative statutory organisations to ensure impartiality. As a
result, we have no other options available to us other than
undertake a procurement exercise