Residential, Nursing and Extra Care Services

Buckinghamshire Council intends to procure a comprehensive range of Residential Care, Nursing Care, and Extra Care Services for adults with eligible health and social care needs. The procurement will focus on securing long‑term, high‑quality care and support delivered across multiple residential establishments, aligned with local commissioning priorities and the legal duties placed on authorities under adult social care legislation.

The scope of the provision is expected to include:

• Residential care services providing accommodation, personal care, daily living support, and wellbeing‑focused activities.
• Nursing care services delivering 24‑hour health‑related support by registered nurses, including complex needs management and clinical oversight.
• Extra Care services offering on‑site care and support within dedicated housing schemes that promote independence while ensuring access to responsive care.
• Integrated support that emphasises dignity, safety, personalisation, and co‑produced care planning.
• A service model that ensures continuity of care, increased placement stability, and improved outcomes for older adults and adults with complex needs.

This procurement will support the authority’s long‑term strategic aim of ensuring a sustainable, high‑quality care market that offers choice, specialist support, and resilience across health and social care.

Estimated Contract Value:

The authority anticipates the contract value will exceed the £2 million threshold required for an individual UK1 Pipeline Notice.

Planned Procurement Approach:

The procurement is expected to follow a Light Touch Regime approach.

The procurement will be structured to encourage:

• Market stability and long‑term partnership working.
• Participation from SMEs and diverse care providers.
• High‑quality, person‑centred delivery models.

Market Considerations:

Publication of this pipeline notice aims to:

• Provide early opportunity for providers, including SMEs and VCSE organisations, to prepare for tendering and capacity planning.
• Stimulate innovations in extra care and residential support, such as technology‑enabled care, outcome‑focused delivery, and enhanced independence‑promoting models.
• Strengthen market readiness in areas including workforce development, digital care management, and complex‑needs service capability.

Estimated Procurement Timeline:

Tender Notice (UK4): Expected within the forthcoming reporting cycle, consistent with UK1 requirements to provide 18‑month forward visibility.

Service Commencement:

To be confirmed as part of the Tender Notice.

Contract Length: Anticipated to be multi‑year.

Additional Context:

There will be an increased emphasis on:

• Integration of residential and extra care services with health partners.
• Strengthening placements for older adults and individuals with complex or long‑term conditions.
• Maintaining a resilient care market through block contracting, strategic partnerships, and outcome‑focused commissioning.

This future procurement forms part of the authority’s broader adult social care transformation ambitions, ensuring high‑quality provision that promotes independence, safety, and improved well-being outcomes.