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BHTA members involved in training, assistive technology, healthcare support, specialist equipment, and independence-focused services are encouraged to review a procurement opportunity from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The councils’ joint Workforce Development Team is seeking suitably qualified and experienced providers to deliver training across the social care sector in Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly. While the wider procurement opportunity covers a broad range of social care training requirements, several areas may be relevant to BHTA members and suppliers supporting health, care, accessibility, and independence services.
The procurement opportunity is divided into multiple lots. BHTA-relevant areas include specialist equipment training, promoting independence, health delivery, and health and safety training where these relate to care, support, accessibility, and assistive technology services.
Lot 15, specialist equipment training, includes examples such as wheelchair and passenger restraint training, alongside other practical equipment-related training.
Lot 12, promoting independence, includes training linked to brain injuries, active support, trusted assessor training, strength-based assessments, and drawing and reading plans for property alterations.
Lot 5, health delivery, includes training on conditions and care needs such as continence care, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s, stroke awareness, and nutrition training for older people.
Lot 4, health and safety, includes training examples such as paediatric moving and handling and the safe administration of medication.
This tender is suitable for training providers, specialist equipment organisations, healthcare training suppliers, and assistive technology firms able to deliver relevant social care, equipment, moving and handling, health, or independence-focused training.
Applications must be submitted electronically through eTenderWales.
The tender notice states that applications must be uploaded to the BravoSolution portal by 12pm on 31 March 2028. The eTender references are Project_33002 and ITT_54973.
The full award criteria are stated in the procurement documents.
Access the full tender documentation, including specifications and terms, through the portal link above.
A number of British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) members are giving positive feedback on a Level 3 Trusted Assessor qualification for retailers that raises standards in the independent living sector.
In 2024, the BHTA worked in partnership with Trusted Assessing and Care Training (TACT) to launch a new course designed for retailers of independent living equipment. Delivered by TACT, the ‘Trusted Assessors: Assessing in the Retail Environment’ course is designed to accredit retailers as Trusted Assessors.
The course enables customer-facing staff to learn the skills involved in assessing for suitable home adaptations equipment. This development has enabled organisations across the sector to upskill staff to a standardised, independent set of competencies long recognised within health and social care.
Trusted Assessor competencies, first defined in 2005, are now widely used across the UK by health, social care, housing, and care teams. The qualification teaches learners to adopt an occupational therapy–based approach to assessments, combining theory with hands-on practical skills. Crucially, trainees learn how to identify when a case is complex and requires referral to an occupational therapist (OT). Trusted Assessors are qualified to assess a person’s needs and identify the most suitable equipment and adaptations to support independent living.
TACT’s OTs deliver the teaching, support learners with their assignments, run free monthly top-up webinars, and make additional resources available for free on its website. Learners complete training modules and a homework assignment to demonstrate their understanding and practical application of the course content.
As more organisations adopt the Trusted Assessor model, the independent living sector is better positioned to meet growing demand, reduce pressure on overstretched OTs, and ensure people receive timely, accurate guidance on the equipment that supports independent living.
Many retailers have found that the qualification not only enhances internal skill levels but also improves collaboration with local equipment and assessment pathways.
TPG DisableAids, a BHTA member based in Hereford, offers a strong example. Director Alastair Gibbs explained: “For TPG DisableAids the Trusted Assessor scheme has been a real boost. We have various staff trained from level 2 to level 4, and it has given us real credibility with housing associations and local authorities. Those looking for a differentiator and an indicator of commitment to quality found it in our association with BHTA and Trusted Assessor.”
This credibility strengthens tender opportunities for providers supplying independent living equipment, as the qualification offers a clear benchmark of assessment quality.
Recognition is growing within the OT profession as well. Brett Gilham from BHTA member company Laybrook noted: “We know how busy many OTs are, so the fact that we can demonstrate we have been trained and can provide assistance in the assessment process benefits all parties. It also means our staff across all levels have been trained to a set standard for assessing.”
Retailers are also seeing value in highlighting the qualification to the public. Dolphin South West, a BHTA member based in Devon, newly qualified, has launched a communications campaign to promote its enhanced capabilities.
Antonia Nixon, from Dolphin South West, said: “The Dolphin team enjoyed the training—learning and reinforcing what they know—and now we’re keen to let people know what this means when they deal with us.”
Some providers are taking the Trusted Assessor approach even further.
On 10 and 11 December 2025, BHTA member Wenman Healthcare hosted two free training workshops for organisations across the region that provide advice to the public on independent living. Twenty-four learners attended the two, one-day Level 2 accredited courses, delivered by TACT.
Attendees importantly represented a broad spectrum of local services, including NHS social prescribers, district housing teams, regional disability and carer charities, and homecare providers, who also benefited from the opportunity to network with peers.
TACT estimates that the programme will help more than 100 residents every day who receive advice from these organisations all year round, demonstrating the potential significant regional impact this training would have if rolled out more widely.
Participants reported a clear increase in their confidence when supporting older and disabled people. The course covered common health conditions, how local health and social care systems operate, communication skills, and key risk factors. Learners also explored a wide range of independent living equipment and typical solutions used across the region.
Confidence in the topic of independent living equipment rose from 52 percent being fairly or very confident pre-course to 100 percent afterwards. Both Wenman Healthcare and TACT were delighted with the outcomes.
Clare Barber, Director and OT at TACT, enthused: “We are passionate about improving access to much-needed equipment, and upskilling people working locally is one of the best ways to ensure residents get timely, accurate advice. Navigating the regional landscape of aids, equipment, and adaptations can be challenging, and understanding what’s available and how to access it can speed things up immeasurably.”
Ian Wenman, Managing Director at Wenman Healthcare, added: “People often aren’t aware of their entitlement to a needs-based assessment for equipment and home adaptations. This can ensure essential equipment is delivered to their home. They often struggle to know what equipment is relevant and helpful to a particular health condition.
“Families frequently want to explore additional items, and they can try a wide range—without obligation—by visiting our showroom. Our Trusted Assessors identify what’s needed and provide impartial advice, as well as providing a free home visit when required.”
The initiative demonstrates how retailers can act as local hubs for information, training, and support. By engaging organisations across their community, Wenman Healthcare aims to speed up access to essential equipment and strengthen cross-sector relationships.
BHTA members can choose from either a one-day in-person course run at their premises or opt for the live webinar version delivered over a series of three dates.
In 2026, the webinar version involves studying for three three-hour live webinars running on:
Alternatively, members opt to join one of the main Trusted Assessor courses that include practical workshops, and these can be directly commissioned or accessed through TACT’s open courses running regionally.
All versions of accredited courses require learners to complete and pass a homework assignment, and, once qualified, Trusted Assessors can join the monthly webinar top-ups for 12 months.
Trusted Assessing and Care Training (TACT) has announced that its accredited Trusted Assessor course for retailers, which launched in February 2024 in collaboration with the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), will be available online this autumn.
Approved by OCN London at level three, the ‘Trusted Assessor: Assessing in a Retail Environment’ course is designed to enable retail staff selling daily living equipment to become certified Trusted Assessors to provide ethical and reliable advice.
For BHTA members, the course is an excellent opportunity for retail staff to become knowledgeable and qualified Trusted Assessors to handle simple daily living equipment assessments and to know when to refer more complex cases to an occupational therapist (OT).
Many retailers are used to undertaking in-home visits to identify suitable equipment and adaptations, and TACT’s dedicated Trusted Assessor course recognises that work by adding new skills in line with a recognised quality standard.
Once qualified as Trusted Assessors, retail staff can be formally integrated into local health and social care pathways, growing the network of people qualified to support older and disabled people to live independently in the community.
Brett Gilham, from BHTA member Laybrook, commented: “We know how busy many OTs are and therefore the fact that we can demonstrate we have been trained and can provide assistance in the assessment process will benefit all parties. It also means that our staff across all levels have been trained to a set standard for assessing.”
For members of the public, the Trusted Assessor qualification conveys an independent quality standard. Older and disabled people, their friends, and families can be confident that a person’s needs are being fully understood and that appropriate equipment and adaptations are being identified to help promote greater independence.
Alastair Gibbs, the director of TPG DisableAids, which is a BHTA member, said: “For TPG DisableAids the Trusted Assessor scheme has been a real boost. We have various staff trained from Level 2 to Level 4 and it has given us some real credibility with a number of housing associations and local authorities.
“Those that were looking for a differentiator and an indicator of commitment to quality found it in our association to BHTA and Trusted Assessor.”
Learners are on-boarded onto TACT’s learning management system where they complete the pre-course modules. A series of three OT-led two-hour webinars must be attended in order; learners then complete a post-course homework assignment to demonstrate what they have learned.
TACT’s OT Trainers are on-hand for support throughout, and TACT’s monthly webinar programme tops up knowledge for newly qualified Trusted Assessors for 12 months after qualification.
From autumn 2025, there are a range of available dates for retail staff to take the Trusted Assessor course online.
The first set of dates is Wednesday 10 September, Thursday 25 September, and Wednesday 8 October.
The second set of dates is Wednesday 22 October, Thursday 6 November, and Friday 21 November.
Places on these open courses cost £245 + VAT. Retailers should contact TACT if they have a larger group for a bespoke quotation.
The course can also be delivered as a one-day course face-to-face on a date of the retailers’ choice. All TACT’s trainers are OTs.
To find out more or to book a place on the Trusted Assessor course online or in person, call TACT on 01626 879528 or email info@trustedassessing.com