Evidencing Social Value in Domiciliary Care Tenders


When commissioners ask about social value in domiciliary care tenders, they want more than warm words. They expect credible, measurable evidence that your service delivers wider benefits to individuals, families, and the community. This is now a 10% minimum scoring requirement in NHS and local authority procurements โ€” and itโ€™s only becoming more important.

Working with a specialist domiciliary care bid writer helps ensure your social value response is not only compliant, but also compelling and tailored to commissioner expectations.


๐ŸŒ What Does Social Value Look Like in Domiciliary Care?

For domiciliary care providers, social value often falls into three key areas:

  • Workforce: Local recruitment, apprenticeships, fair pay, and career progression opportunities.
  • Community: Volunteering, partnerships with local charities, and tackling isolation through inclusion initiatives.
  • Sustainability: Reducing travel emissions, adopting assistive technology to cut paper, and aligning with Net Zero commitments.

๐Ÿ“Š How to Evidence Social Value in Tenders

Commissioners look for evidence, not just statements of intent. That means including:

  • Metrics: โ€œ80% of our care workers live within 5 miles of the people they support.โ€
  • Case Studies: Real stories that show reduced loneliness or improved independence.
  • Commitments: Measurable pledges, e.g. โ€œWe will recruit 10 apprentices over the contract term.โ€

This transforms social value from a vague promise into a clear, contract-ready offer.


๐Ÿ” Practical Examples You Can Use

  • Partnering with local colleges to offer health and social care placements.
  • Launching โ€œcare ambassadorโ€ roles where experienced carers support new starters.
  • Switching to electric vehicles for care visits where feasible.
  • Offering family workshops on digital inclusion and safe use of care planning apps.

These examples show commissioners that you understand both people and place in your tender responses. If your service also covers broader outreach, working with a home care bid writer can help frame your approach in a way that highlights inclusion across different service types.


โœ๏ธ Why a Bid Writer Helps

A specialist writer ensures your social value section is specific, measurable, and clearly aligned with commissioning priorities. Weak responses often read as generic; strong ones show measurable local impact and a joined-up approach across your whole bid.


๐Ÿ”Ž Proofreading to Strengthen Clarity

Even the strongest social value commitments can lose marks if poorly written. Thatโ€™s why many providers also use our bid proofreading services for social care providers to ensure responses are clear, concise, and error-free before submission.


Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd โ€” specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers

Visit impact-guru.co.ukย to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.

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