GMCA1401 Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Service – Market Engagement Event

Invite to GMCA1401 Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services – Market Engagement Event

Date and Time: Wednesday 4th February 2026, 1.30 – 3pm

Location: This event will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Event registration: Please register for this event via https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/bcc5670f-13b1-4f1d-9814-753a6a975f26@e8d8036a-b5f9-4f3f-9d36-d7cd740299bb

Overview of Procurement
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) intends to procure a Lead Provider to deliver the Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services from 1st October 2027, operating under a prime commissioner model. We anticipate that this service will be delivered through a prime commissioner model and that the prime will sub-commission services from a diverse, skilled supply chain connected to our local communities in order to deliver a sequenced comprehensive support package.

The Greater Manchester Rehabilitation Services form a core part of the wider Whole System Approach to Diversion, which aims to help people in contact with the justice system to comply with requirements, move away from offending behaviour, and successfully exit the system.

The service will support men and women aged 18+ in both custodial and community settings, with the aim to:
• Provide tailored support for individuals on the Greater Manchester probation caseload or within Greater Manchester prison establishments. Support will also extend to women at risk of entering the justice system, and may continue beyond contact with probation services.
• Enable individuals to achieve and sustain improvements in areas such as housing, employment, financial stability, and wellbeing.
• Develop supportive relationships, networks, and social connections—including family, friends, community groups, and peer support networks.
• Build links to meaningful community-based opportunities including education, employment, volunteering, and constructive leisure activities.
• Support recovery from drug or alcohol misuse (non-clinical) and gambling where relevant.

The Lead Provider will act as a single point of assessment, delivering a needs-led, comprehensive service that ensures people receive the right support at the right time. The model is designed to address a wide range of interdependent rehabilitative needs while helping individuals build the skills, confidence, and resilience needed for long-term change.

Support will be available from the point of prison reception to aid successful transition into the community, and for individuals in the community seeking to live crime-free lives and reduce harmful or addictive behaviours.

This will include a Community Links support offer, focused on strengths-based and community-centred approaches to promote social integration. Practical and emotional support will help individuals develop and sustain positive relationships and lifestyles that offer meaningful alternatives to offending, substance use, gambling, and other harmful behaviours.

Specialist sequenced support will also be provided in areas such as housing, adult skills and employment, finance/benefits/debt, and other identified needs. Peer support from individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system and/or addiction is expected to be an integral component of the service.

Overview of Market Engagement
This session will give interested providers the opportunity to understand the service specification and procurement process in more detail. Further information on the strategic and operational context, expected outcomes, and estimated contract value will be shared during the session.

The session is intended to be interactive, providing space for providers to share feedback and contribute to shaping the development of the procurement. A follow-up, in-person engagement event is planned for late February 2026.

GMCA anticipates that the tender opportunity will be published in June 2026, with all procurement documentation available via The Chest.

GMCA Privacy Statement
When registering for this event, GMCA will receive your name, email address, organisation, and job role. This information will be used to record attendance and send communications regarding any future events or updates relevant to this procurement exercise.

Should you wish to ‘opt out’ of receiving any future communications from GMCA regarding this procurement opportunity, please email eleanor.walsh@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk.

Please note that this will be a virtual Microsoft Teams event. Contact details associated with your registration may be visible to other attendees as part of the meeting invitation and during the event.