National Framework Agreement for Falls Prevention, Rehabilitation and Recovery Services
Framework Description
F/096 is a national framework for falls prevention, rehabilitation and recovery services, set up under the Provider Selection Regime by Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It gives integrated care boards, community services and acute trusts a compliant route to services that reduce falls and help people recover after them, especially frail older adults. The framework is live and runs to 14 January 2030.
Context & Use Case
Falls are a major cause of hospital admission among older people. ICBs and trusts use F/096 to commission community prevention programmes, risk assessments, strength and balance classes, and rehabilitation after a fall. It supports improvements to older adult and frailty pathways, helping reduce repeat falls and hospital stays. Services can be delivered in people's homes or community settings.
Scope of Services
Community falls prevention programmes Multi-factorial falls risk assessment Post-fall rehabilitation and recovery Strength and balance exercise programmes Falls clinics and specialist services
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
Suits community rehabilitation providers, physiotherapy-led services, falls prevention programme providers and specialist frailty services. Expect to evidence an HCPC-registered workforce, clinical governance and outcomes. F/096 is closed to new applications, so those not already appointed should prepare for the re-tender, likely around 14 January 2030.
Buyer Benefits
Preventing falls saves NHS money and keeps older people independent. F/096 gives commissioners pre-qualified providers and a compliant way to buy services under the Provider Selection Regime. Buyers value clear outcome data, such as fewer repeat falls and admissions, qualified staff, and services that reach people at home or in the community.
Next Steps
Appointed providers should talk to local ICBs about frailty priorities, so they can respond quickly when commissioners use the framework. Others should build outcome data, HCPC registration evidence and a clear description of their falls pathway ahead of the re-tender, and look for ICB and trust tenders for falls services in the meantime.
How Athena Can Help
Falls prevention providers often have strong outcomes but find NHS bidding unfamiliar. Athena's help with NHS bids explains how the Provider Selection Regime evaluates services and how to present your evidence.
For appointed providers, our bid writers for health services build responses for ICB call-offs that show impact on admissions and independence. If you are not on F/096, our framework pipeline planning prepares you for its re-tender and finds other routes open sooner, with HCPC and governance evidence checked before you submit.
