MH Act Code of Practice – Lived Experience Advisory Groups 2026

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will enter into a contract to deliver a programme of engagement with people who have lived experience of the Mental Health Act, ensuring their perspectives meaningfully inform the drafting of the updated Code of Practice. This includes recruiting a diverse cohort of participants, co‑producing engagement methods, delivering structured and ad hoc engagement activities, safeguarding participant wellbeing, and providing high‑quality report that include summary of engagement, feedback and views.

The service is divided into 4 different lots. Values are exclusive of VAT:

Lot 1: Group 1 - General lived experience

Lot 2: Group 2 - Children and young people

Lot 3: Group 3 – People with a learning disability and autistic people

Lot 4: Group 4 - Ethnic minority and racialised communities

The value of contracts (all lots) £299,680+ options £80,000 total £379,680 excluding vat.

The option relates to the possibility to add additional hours of engagement if needed.

Term of the contract: An initial term of twenty-one (21) months, with the option to extend for one or more further periods up to a maximum of six (6) months.