All-Age Carers Service
Scope
Reference
DN812999
Description
Liverpool City Council will shortly be going to market to recommission our All-Age Carers Service for Liverpool.
The All-Carers Service provides a citywide offer of information, advice, assessment and practical support for unpaid carers of all ages in Liverpool, including adult carers, young carers and parent carers. The service aims to identify carers early, assess needs, promote wellbeing, improve access to services and community support, and enable carers to sustain their caring role, including support with breaks, peer support, training and signposting, in line with statutory duties and local priorities.
There will be 5 Lots in this procurement as follows:
Lot 1 – Digital Carer Platform, and Information, Advice and Guidance
Lot 2 – Adult Carers and Parent Carers
Lot 3 – Young Carers, Young Adult Carers and Sibling Carers
Lot 4 – Carers Advocacy
Lot 5 – Carers Opportunities
Total value (estimated)
- £5,355,785 excluding VAT
- £6,426,942 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2031
- Possible extension to 30 April 2032
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
A period of up to 12 months, subject to the provider satisfactory meeting contract performance measures within the contract.
Main procurement category
Services
Contract locations
- UKD72 – Liverpool
Not the same for all lots
CPV classifications are shown in Lot sections, because they are not the same for all lots.
Lot 1. Digital Carer Platform and Information, Advice and Guidance service
Description
A streamlined and simplified Information, Advice and Guidance platform for carers, with onward referral routes into carers support services.
The provision of a citywide, streamlined and simplified access point for carers of all ages through a digital platform, Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service.
Its core functions include:
o High quality, accurate, Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) for carers
o Initial triage and navigation to the right service, pathway or support – complementing and aligning with existing mechanisms such as Adults and Children’s Liquid Logic Case Management System, and consistent with existing pathways and service areas.
o Supporting consistent data collection, performance reporting and outcomes tracking
o Improving the overall carer journey by reducing duplication and confusion
o Providing opportunities for online peer support and connection
Lot value (estimated)
- £460,000 excluding VAT
- £552,000 including VAT
CPV classifications
- 72212190 – Educational software development services
- 72222300 – Information technology services
- 72416000 – Application service providers
- 85312300 – Guidance and counselling services
- 85323000 – Community health services
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Adult Carers Service (Including Parent Carers)
Description
Holistic support for carers aged 18+
The provision of a single, integrated adult carers offer, including parent carers. It will provide:
o Referral management to support the digital platform and triage system
o Undertaking statutory carers assessments in line with the Care Act 2014 and support planning on behalf of the Council which meet statutory duties
o Advice on carers’ rights, signposting and holistic approaches to support
o Wellbeing support and activities
o Effective joint working with the provider of Lot 3 to ensure an appropriate transition between the age of 18 and 25, supporting the change of statutory duty from the Children and Families Act 2014 to the Care Act 2014.
o Delivery of both Adult Carers (18+) and Young Adult Carers (18-25) provision simultaneously. Where an individual aged 18-25 presents to the Lot 2, they must be offered the choice to remain within that service or be referred to Lot 3. This supports both best practice and a no wrong door approach.
o Alignment with the principles and delivery of the Neighbourhood Model
o Targeted outreach to diverse and under‑represented communities
o Collaboration with local systems partners to strengthen the local offer for carers, improve awareness and understanding of the carer population
o Ongoing support to build resilience and independence
o Appropriate co-location with other elements of the service to provide a seamless service offer whilst facilitating outreach to support the neighbourhood model
o Tailored support which enhances outcomes during transition of life stages, particularly between young carers and adult carers services
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,801,760 excluding VAT
- £3,362,112 including VAT
CPV classifications
- 85312300 – Guidance and counselling services
- 85323000 – Community health services
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Young Carers, Young Adult Carers and Sibling Carers
Description
Age‑appropriate, tailored support for children and young people
The provision of support for Young Carers (up to age 18) and Young Adult Carers (up to Age 25). It includes support for sibling carers, recognising their distinct legal, developmental and safeguarding needs. Core features include:
o Referral management to support the digital platform and Information, Advice and Guidance service
o Undertaking statutory, holistic, age-appropriate carers assessments and support planning on behalf of the Council which meet statutory duties
o Tailored breaks, activities and peer support opportunities
o Support that minimises the impact of caring responsibilities on education, attendance, attainment and participation in school life, alongside the promotion of wellbeing and family life
o Alignment with Children’s Services and Education pathways
o Effective joint working with the provider of Lot 2 to ensure an appropriate transition between the age of 18 and 25, supporting the change of statutory duty from the Children and Families Act 2014 to the Care Act 2014.
o Delivery of both Adult Carers (18+) and Young Adult Carers (18-25) provision simultaneously. Where an individual aged 18-25 presents to the Lot 3, they must be offered the choice to remain within that service or be referred to Lot 2. This supports both best practice and a no wrong door approach.
o Targeted outreach to diverse and under-represented children and young people
o Collaboration with local systems partners to strengthen the local offer for carers, improve awareness and understanding of the carer population
o Ongoing support to build resilience and independence
o Appropriate co-location with other elements of the service to provide a seamless service offer whilst facilitating outreach to support the neighbourhood model
o Tailored support which enhances outcomes during transition of life stages, particularly between young carers and adult carers services
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,319,145 excluding VAT
- £1,582,974 including VAT
CPV classifications
- 85311300 – Welfare services for children and young people
- 85312300 – Guidance and counselling services
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 4. Carer Advocacy
Description
Independent advocacy for adult carers
The provision of free, independent, professional issue-based advocacy for carers aged 18+:
o Referral management to support the digital platform Information, Advice and Guidance service
o Supporting carers to understand their rights and options
o Ensuring carers are heard in assessments, reviews and decision making
o Supporting carers to navigate complex health, social care and wider systems
o Offering professional and competent issue-based advocacy for carers regarding issues that impact them, e.g., housing, finance and debt
o Promotion of self-advocacy to enable carers to advocate on their own behalf
o Onward support to access specialist legal advice, where required
o Appropriate co-location with other elements of the service to provide a seamless service offer whilst facilitating outreach to support the neighbourhood model
Lot value (estimated)
- £521,015 excluding VAT
- £625,218 including VAT
CPV classifications
- 85312300 – Guidance and counselling services
- 85312400 – Welfare services not delivered through residential institutions
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 5. Carers Opportunities
Description
Flexible breaks and community‑based opportunities
The identification, sourcing and offers / allocation of flexible, creative carer opportunities outside of traditional short breaks alone, by:
o Engaging local businesses, community organisations and partners to provide free or subsidised breaks, activities and practical support for carers of all ages
o Promoting wellbeing, social connection and prevention
o Supporting carers to access the right opportunities that meets their needs and interests
o Promoting opportunities for business to deliver social value to the city and local communities
o Ensuring equality of access to appropriate opportunities across all age groups
o Developing, utilising and interfacing with technology/systems to source, register and advertise opportunities including the Digital Platform that will be delivered through Lot 1 of this contract
Lot value (estimated)
- £253,865 excluding VAT
- £304,638 including VAT
CPV classifications
- 85320000 – Social services
Same for all lots
Contract locations and contract dates are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Particular suitability
Lot 1. Digital Carer Platform and Information, Advice and Guidance service
Lot 2. Adult Carers Service (Including Parent Carers)
Lot 3. Young Carers, Young Adult Carers and Sibling Carers
Lot 4. Carer Advocacy
Lot 5. Carers Opportunities
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
20 October 2026, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
28 October 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
8 February 2027
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 70% |
| Price | Price | 20% |
| Social Value | Quality | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Contracting authority
Liverpool City Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRVY-7813-WLPG
Cunard Building
Liverpool
L3 1DS
United Kingdom
Email: commercialprocurement@liverpool.gov.uk
Region: UKD72 – Liverpool
Organisation type: Public authority – sub-central governmentgovernment
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