AwardedAwarded 8 May 2026

Provision of Residential and Nursing Care for Older People (Aged 65+)

Medway Council · Local authority

In brief

Medway Council awarded care and healthcare work to Shottendane N Home Limited, Songbird Hearing Limited and Ramsgate Care Limited and 16 others on 8 May 2026.

It is a framework worth up to £330,876,621 including VAT: the most the buyer expects to spend across all suppliers, not one contract.

The contract runs for 8 years, starting 1 June 2026.

It is split into 5 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

Medway Council ('The Council') is establishing an open framework for the delivery of Residential and Nursing Care Home Services for Older People aged 65 and over. The Council is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers of care homes in Medway and Kent to apply for admission to this framework. The Care Act requires local authorities to provide high quality care and support services to help vulnerable people to live their day-to-day life. A residential care home provides accommodation and 24-hour care and support to people who find it difficult to manage activities of daily living at home. The purpose of a residential care home is to ensure people who cannot live independently…Read the full description
Medway Council ('The Council') is establishing an open framework for the delivery of Residential and Nursing Care Home Services for Older People aged 65 and over. The Council is inviting suitably qualified and experienced providers of care homes in Medway and Kent to apply for admission to this framework. The Care Act requires local authorities to provide high quality care and support services to help vulnerable people to live their day-to-day life. A residential care home provides accommodation and 24-hour care and support to people who find it difficult to manage activities of daily living at home. The purpose of a residential care home is to ensure people who cannot live independently are well looked after and continue to lead meaningful lives. This typically includes help with washing, dressing, toileting, administering medication and mobility. In addition to the services offered at a residential care home, a nursing care home will provide 24-hour care and support to residents, plus additional support from a qualified nurse to support with more complex conditions and medical needs. Providers must demonstrate: •Person-centred care and support that promotes independence and holistic wellbeing – physical, emotional, and social •Skilled and suitably qualified staff to meet residents’ needs •Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration with robust evidence of quality assurance processes to maintain high standards of care •Well maintained living environments that support residents’ needs and provide comfort, safety, and dignity The services are divided into lots / sub-lots which are split between Residential Care and Nursing Care set out below: •Lot 1A: Residential Standard •Lot 1B: Residential Enhanced •Lot 2A: Nursing Standard •Lot 2B: Nursing Enhanced •Lot 3: Highly Specialised Care (Residential and Nursing Care) Providers can apply for one or more Lots. The Council is seeking to have multiple providers for each Lot on the framework. There is no limit on the number of providers who can participate on a Lot. The Services under this Medway Framework are 'Light Touch' and are governed by the rules relating to Light Touch Contracts under the Procurement Act 2023. The Council anticipates re-opening the Framework at the following points: • Once during the period of 3 years from award of the first Framework under this scheme (September 2027), and • Three times in the remaining 5-year framework term (April 2030, April 2032, May 2034) The Council reserves the right to adjust the indicative reopening schedule above in response to operational factors. Such factors may include but are not limited to: • Supply and demand changes • Allowing sufficient competition • Changes to pricing structures • Changes due to impact of Local Government Re-organisation Further details can be found in the tender documents available from https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk where applications to join the framework must be made.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Residential Standard
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2034
What this lot covers

Residential Care provides support with daily living tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, and mobility. It is suitable for individuals who do not require regular medical attention but need assistance with their overall wellbeing and safety. Residential care homes aim to create a homelike environment, offering communal living spaces, meals, and recreational activities to foster social interaction and a sense of community. The individual has been assessed as having care and support needs that cannot be met in their own home environment or other suitable alternative (such as Extra Care Housing or Supported Living). The individual will have some or many of the following needs, which are expected to be met in a residential care environment. The individual may be physically active with a level of predictability around day-to-day needs. Changes in needs are likely to be minimal and when they do change, needs will be expected to return to their usual pattern with standard care and support. The individual does not meet the criteria for Funded Nursing Care (FNC) and does not have Nursing needs that require the daily onsite supervision and oversight of a registered Nurse. The individual may have health needs that require support and supervision of external specialist services from the NHS, Integrated Care Board, or other agencies, such as community nursing support. These needs should be met and funded by the NHS. Any clinical nursing need is to be met by NHS services and not solely designated to care staff. Needs Profiles are intended to identify key characteristics of the type and level of support required for an individual who requires a care home placement. The needs profiles are not exhaustive and not everybody will require support in every level of need noted within them. Temporary fluctuations may occur within bands, for example a resident may have a care and support need from a higher needs profile for a temporary period. In the event this happens, and where the Provider feels able to safely meet the short-term higher care and support need, there may not be the need for the resident to be re-banded (i.e. there may be instances where temporary fluctuations can be managed within the same needs profile). Please see specification of requirement for full details.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services£44,228,939
Residential Enhanced
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2034
What this lot covers

The individual has been assessed as having care and support needs that cannot be met in their own home environment or other suitable alternative (such as Extra Care Housing or Supported Living). The individual will have some or many of the following needs, which are expected to be met in a residential care environment. These needs generally require a higher level of residential care due to a significant and ongoing progression or deterioration in an existing condition, which is ordinarily manageable within a residential care environment, and usually follows an expected pattern. The individual may require a higher frequency of interventions and possibly increased risk management support. The individual has needs which require a range of care and support due to their variability. They may require the ongoing input of a staff team with a broad range of skills and training to manage risks. The individual does not meet the criteria for Funded Nursing Care (FNC) and does not have Nursing needs that require the daily onsite supervision and oversight of a registered Nurse. The individual may have health needs that require support and supervision of external specialist services from the NHS, Integrated Care Board, or other agencies, such as community nursing support. These needs should be met and funded by the NHS. Any clinical nursing need is to be met by NHS services and not solely designated to care staff. Residential enhanced is need specific, not diagnosis-led, and requires specialist interventions due to the intensity of care needs. A diagnosis of dementia does not automatically mean the person needs this level of care. Needs Profiles are intended to identify key characteristics of the type and level of support required for an individual who requires a care home placement. The needs profiles are not exhaustive and not everybody will require support in every level of need noted within them. Temporary fluctuations may occur within bands, for example a resident may have a care and support need from a higher needs profile for a temporary period. In the event this happens, and where the Provider feels able to safely meet the short-term higher care and support need, there may not be the need for the resident to be re-banded (i.e. there may be instances where temporary fluctuations can be managed within the same needs profile). Please see specification of requirement for full details.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services£148,811,099
Nursing Standard
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2034
What this lot covers

The individual has been assessed as having care and support needs that cannot be met in their own home environment or other suitable alternative (such as Extra Care Housing or Supported Living). The individual will have some or many of the following needs, which are expected to be met in a Nursing home environment. The individual has needs which can only be met with the on-site supervision of a registered Nurse. This care is required in a home registered to provide care with Nursing. Health needs may be able to be commissioned by the Local Authority (LA) under the incidental and ancillary rule or be met by Funded Nursing Care (FNC), however these could be needs that are stand alone. If the needs are multiple, then this cumulative effect may be outside of the rules or FNC coverage and mean that the individual services outside those that should be met by the LA. In these situations, Continuing Healthcare (CHC) must be considered and, if appropriate, assessed for. Prior to funding request, social care staff should have considered CHC. If nursing care is required, when applying for FNC, an NHS CHC checklist must be completed and submitted to the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Needs Profiles are intended to identify key characteristics of the type and level of support required for an individual who requires a care home placement. The needs profiles are not exhaustive and not everybody will require support in every level of need noted within them. Temporary fluctuations may occur within bands, for example a resident may have a care and support need from a higher needs profile for a temporary period. In the event this happens, and where the Provider feels able to safely meet the short-term higher care and support need, there may not be the need for the resident to be re-banded (i.e. there may be instances where temporary fluctuations can be managed within the same needs profile). Please see specification of requirement for full details.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services£56,328,436
Nursing Enhanced
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2034
What this lot covers

The individual has been assessed as having care and support needs that cannot be met in their own home environment or other suitable alternative (such as Extra Care Housing or Supported Living). The individual will have some or many of the following needs, which are expected to be met in a Nursing home environment. The individual has needs which can only be met with the on-site supervision of a registered Nurse. This care is required in a home registered to provide care with Nursing. Health needs may be able to be commissioned by the Local Authority (LA) under the incidental and ancillary rule or be met by Funded Nursing Care (FNC), however these could be needs that are stand alone. If the needs are multiple, then this cumulative effect may be outside of the rules or FNC coverage and mean that the individual services outside those that should be met by the LA. In these situations, Continuing Healthcare (CHC) must be considered and, if appropriate, assessed for. Prior to funding request, social care staff should have considered CHC. If nursing care is required, when applying for FNC, an NHS CHC checklist must be completed and submitted to the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Needs Profiles are intended to identify key characteristics of the type and level of support required for an individual who requires a care home placement. The needs profiles are not exhaustive and not everybody will require support in every level of need noted within them. Temporary fluctuations may occur within bands, for example a resident may have a care and support need from a higher needs profile for a temporary period. In the event this happens, and where the Provider feels able to safely meet the short-term higher care and support need, there may not be the need for the resident to be re-banded (i.e. there may be instances where temporary fluctuations can be managed within the same needs profile). Please see specification of requirement for full details.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services£49,790,314
Highly Specialised Care
1 June 2026 to 31 May 2034
What this lot covers

The individual has been assessed as having care and support needs that cannot be met in their own home environment or other suitable alternative (such as Extra Care Housing or Supported Living). The individual has needs which may be able to be met either in a specialist residential home or in a home registered to provide care with nursing. The individual requires a highly specialist level of social care due to the complete and unpredictability of their needs or the impact of interacting health and social care needs. The individual will have some or many of the following needs. Health needs may be able to be commissioned by the Local Authority (LA) under the incidental and ancillary rule or be met by Funded Nursing Care (FNC), however these could be needs that are stand alone. If the needs are multiple, then this cumulative effect may be outside of the above rules or FNC coverage and mean that the individual services are outside those that should be met by the LA. In these situations, Continuing Healthcare (CHC) must be considered and, if appropriate, assessed for. This profile is not intended for those individuals who require interim placements. The individual will have been assessed under a Care Act Assessment (2014) and accepted as having eligible Care Act needs. The individual may a require a CHC Assessment and receive CHC funding. Any cost differential incurred by a nursing home for nursing needs should be met through FNC. Prior to funding request, Social Care staff should have considered CHC. If nursing care is required, when applying for FNC, an NHS CHC checklist must be completed and submitted to the Integrated Care Board (ICB). Individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis that is managed, and their assessed needs meet social care eligibility criteria under the Care Act (2014) would be considered under the Medway Council needs profiles, a diagnosis alone is not indicative of the need to proceed under a specialist profile.

Social and domiciliary care, Healthcare services£31,717,833

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
Shottendane N Home Limited (SME)
Songbird Hearing Limited (SME)
Ramsgate Care Limited (SME)
Admiralty Care Home Limited
Avante Care Services Ltd
Charing Gardens Ltd
Wantsum Lodge Ltd (SME)
Watts Healthcare Ltd (SME)
8 bids received
Residential Standard£44,228,939
Awarded 8 May 2026
Shottendane N Home Limited (SME)
Songbird Hearing Limited (SME)
Ramsgate Care Limited (SME)
Admiralty Care Home Limited
Avante Care Services Ltd
Charing Gardens Ltd
Wantsum Lodge Ltd (SME)
Watts Healthcare Ltd (SME)
8 bids received
Residential Enhanced£148,811,099
Awarded 8 May 2026
Akari Care Limited
Shottendane N Home Limited (SME)
Cornford House Limited (SME)
Hawkhurst House Limited (SME)
Hawkinge House Limited (SME)
Woodchurch House Limited (SME)
Avante Care Services Ltd
Charing Gardens Ltd
Byron Lodge Care Home Ltd (SME)
Fort Horsted Care Home Ltd (SME)
10 bids received
Nursing Standard£56,328,436
Awarded 8 May 2026
Akari Care Limited
Shottendane N Home Limited (SME)
Cornford House Limited (SME)
Hawkhurst House Limited (SME)
Hawkinge House Limited (SME)
Woodchurch House Limited (SME)
Charing Gardens Ltd
Byron Lodge Care Home Ltd (SME)
Fort Horsted Care Home Ltd (SME)
9 bids received
Nursing Enhanced£49,790,314
Awarded 8 May 2026
Dover House (GC) Limited (SME)
Shottendane N Home Limited (SME)
Songbird Hearing Limited (SME)
Cornford House Limited (SME)
Harmonia Care Village Limited (SME)
Harpwood House Limited (SME)
Hawkhurst House Limited (SME)
Hawkinge House Limited (SME)
Ramsgate Care Limited (SME)
Whitstable House Limited (SME)
Woodchurch House Limited (SME)
Admiralty Care Home Limited
Charing Gardens Ltd
Wantsum Lodge Ltd (SME)
Watts Healthcare Ltd (SME)
Byron Lodge Care Home Ltd (SME)
Fort Horsted Care Home Ltd (SME)
19 bids received
Highly Specialised Care£31,717,833
Awarded 8 May 2026

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 003924-2026
  2. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 042493-2026

About the buyer

Medway CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

92

Awards

45

Suppliers it has used most for care

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From notice 003924-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 16 January 2026, last updated 8 May 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.