Invitation to a Preliminary Market Engagement Event - Enhanced Assessment Beds Service

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) is currently exploring options for the future procurement of the Enhanced Assessment Beds Service. The primary objective of this Service is to reduce hospital delays, prevent unnecessary long term care placements, improve independence outcomes, and provide a controlled, safe setting for multidisciplinary assessment to take place. The service will provide 24-hour nursing care and agreed multidisciplinary team support to individuals awaiting Continuing Health Care assessment and long-term care provision.

The Service will be provided for people whose assessment level of need can be safely and effectively provided outside of an acute hospital, and which may not be appropriately met within a person’s own home/ usual place of residence.

The Service will allow for the continuation of capacity within the Borough of Sandwell for short term, multidisciplinary assessment following hospital discharge, as well as supporting hospital avoidance for individuals in the community. The beds will support people who are medically stable but require further assessment before a long term care decision is made.

Eligibility for the Service will include adults aged 18 years and over who are residents of Sandwell.

This preliminary market engagement seeks to understand supplier capabilities, gather feedback, and inform the development of a potential future procurement strategy.

This will take place on Thursday 12 February 2026 from 10.00-11.00 for all interested organisations.

Please email by 12.00 on Tuesday 10 February 2026 rupi_deo@sandwell.gov.uk your full name, job title, organisation, email address and telephone no. if you would like to receive an online MS Teams invitation to this event.

Thank you for your interest.