Appropriate Adults DPS - 1015
Framework Description
YPO's Appropriate Adults DPS (reference 1015) is a Dynamic Purchasing System for buying Appropriate Adult services. It was developed with the National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN). Appropriate Adults support children and vulnerable adults when they are interviewed or detained by police. It is a single-lot DPS that runs until 7 December 2028, with no extension option.
Context & Use Case
The main buyers are Police and Crime Commissioners, youth offending teams, adult social care departments and local authorities, which have duties to make sure an Appropriate Adult is available. They use the DPS to contract for a local service, often covering custody suites around the clock, by running a competition among the providers admitted to it.
Scope of Services
Appropriate Adult services for children and young people Appropriate Adult services for vulnerable adults, including those with mental health conditions Support during police interviews and legal processes
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Charities, social enterprises and private providers that run Appropriate Adult schemes with trained staff or volunteers, as well as youth justice and mental health organisations. The DPS is live, so new providers can apply to join now and then bid when a commissioner in their area runs a competition.
Buyer Benefits
Commissioners get a procurement route designed with NAAN, so the specification reflects national practice for this statutory role. They can contract quickly when a local service is due for renewal, and every admitted provider has already passed YPO's checks, which reduces risk for a service that affects people's rights in custody.
Next Steps
Go to the 1015 page on YPO's website and follow its link to apply. Prepare evidence of how you recruit, train and supervise Appropriate Adults, your response times to custody suites, safeguarding policies and any NAAN membership or quality standards. Once admitted, watch for competitions from Police and Crime Commissioners and councils in your area.
How Athena Can Help
Athena's help joining this DPS covers the whole application, setting out your training, supervision and safeguarding arrangements clearly and checking every answer before submission.
When a commissioner runs a competition, our care and justice bid writers develop win themes around availability, volunteer quality and outcomes, and price the service so it stays sustainable over the contract. Smaller charities can also use our bid/no-bid guidance to decide which police force areas are worth bidding for.
