Procurement

Procurement of Legal Investigation and Advocacy Service in Fitness to Practise

Social Work England

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05d84e

Description

The Authority is looking for two 2 Suppliers to deliver the following as part of the Service:

a. conduct further investigation and prepare cases for Fitness to Practise hearings or meetings;

b. undertake pre-hearing case management procedures in accordance with agreed performance targets and in collaboration with other parties to the hearing; and

c. ensure the presentation of cases before adjudicators at hearings (those hearings are predominantly carried out remotely using video conferencing software but can, on occasion, be in-person at our offices in Sheffield).

Over a period of 3 - 5 years, the Authority aims to work with the Suppliers to eliminate the current backlog of circa 400 cases awaiting a final hearing. By the end of this period, the intention is to have worked successfully in partnership with the Suppliers to both eliminate the backlog and to be managing a 'steady state' of circa 150 cases being processed per annum.

This contract has a maximum value of £40.9 million. Contract 1 and Contact 2 notice values of £20.45 million, represents an estimated allocation and is provided for indicative purposes only.

Notices

UK6: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-048162
Published: 22 May 2026, 3:52pm

UK4: Tender notice

Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-017653
Published: 27 February 2026, 8:47am

UK3: Planned procurement notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-080027
Published: 5 December 2025, 10:38am

Show all versions

UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-070197
Published: 31 October 2025, 3:43pm