The Essex Carers Hub
Essex County Council, the local government authority for Essex, is procuring a single countywide Essex Carers Hub service to support unpaid carers and improve their wellbeing, resilience, independence and quality of life. The provider, or lead provider working with delivery partners, will deliver specialist information, advice and guidance; coaching and counselling; peer support groups; wellbeing grants ordinarily up to £300; training and learning; a single point of contact; and a two-year employment-support pilot, while the Council retains responsibility for carers assessments and personal budgets. The service must identify and support adult carers aged 18 and over, and provide counselling for young carers and young adult carers under 18 referred by Essex Youth Service, using partnership working and a strengths-based, preventative approach. Delivery is required across Essex County Council’s administrative area, with potential expansion to Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; the contract value and overall duration are not specified, although around £500,000 per year is allocated to wellbeing grants. The key qualification is the ability to deliver a coordinated specialist carers support service for residents ordinarily living in the relevant council area.
Buyer: Essex County Council. Source: Find a Tender. Updated 6 Oct 2026.
Key facts
- Estimated value: £12.5m
- Bids close: 10 Nov 2026
- Location: Essex, Heart of Essex
- Procedure: Competitive flexible procedure
- Contract period: 4 May 2027 to 31 Mar 2030
- Category: Guidance and counselling services (85312300)
From the official notice
The Essex Carers Hub (formerly the Essex Carers Core Offer of Support (ECCOS)). Essex County Council ("the Council") is committed to delivering high-quality, sustainable and preventative services that improve outcomes for residents and reduce inequalities. The Essex Carers Hub ("the Service") will support these ambitions by ensuring unpaid carers are identified early, recognised, valued and able to access timely support that promotes their wellbeing, resilience and independence. Through partnership working and a strengths-based approach, the Service will help carers improve or maintain their quality of life and prevent the escalation of need wherever possible. The Council is seeking a Provider, or lead provider working with delivery partners, to deliver the Essex Carers Hub, a countywide carers specialist support service that improves the wellbeing, resilience and quality of life of unpaid carers aged 18 and over. The Service also includes a counselling offer for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers under the age of 18 who are referred by Essex Youth Service. For the purposes of this tender a Carer is defined as follows; "A person who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who could not manage without that support due to illness, frailty, disability, mental health need, substance misuse or other support needs. All the care they give is unpaid. A carer can be a young carer (under the age of 18) or an adult carer (over the age of 18). T...
View the official notice
Questions about this tender
When is the deadline?
Bids close on 10 Nov 2026.
What is it worth?
The estimated value is £12.5m.
Who can apply?
The buyer has marked it as suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
How do I bid?
Open the official notice, register on the buyer's portal and submit your bid before the deadline.
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