How to Encourage Honest Feedback from People Using Your Service
Most social care providers *ask* for feedback — but fewer create the conditions where people feel truly safe to give it. Fear of consequences, unclear processes, or past experiences of being ignored can all silence vital voices.
🛑 Why People Don’t Always Speak Up
Even with surveys and suggestion boxes in place, service users and families may hold back because:
- They worry it could affect their care or relationships
- They feel their input won’t lead to real change
- They don’t understand how to give feedback or who hears it
Honest feedback depends on safety, trust and clarity.
🔑 Make Feedback Easy and Safe
To encourage real feedback, show you mean it. That means:
- Offering multiple formats — verbal, written, digital, anonymous
- Clearly displaying how to raise concerns in accessible ways
- Training staff to respond supportively and without defensiveness
People are more likely to speak up when they believe their voice matters and their concerns will be heard without judgment.
📈 Show You Act on Feedback
Make it visible that feedback leads to change. That could include:
- ‘You Said, We Did’ boards
- Annual feedback summaries in accessible formats
- Regular staff briefings that include key themes raised
People will only keep giving feedback if they see it makes a difference.
🎯 In Tenders, Go Beyond “We Gather Feedback”
Commissioners want to see *how* your service enables honest input, *what* feedback you've received, and *what* you did about it. That means examples, not empty statements.
Build your bids around real voices — not just policies.
💼 Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)
- ⚡ 48-Hour Tender Triage
- 🆘 Bid Rescue Session – 60 minutes
- ✍️ Score Booster – Tender Answer Rewrite
- 🧩 Tender Answer Blueprint
- 📝 Tender Proofreading & Light Editing
- 🔍 Pre-Tender Readiness Audit
- 📁 Tender Document Review
🚀 Need a Bid Writing Quote?
If you’re exploring support for an upcoming tender or framework, request a quick, no-obligation quote. I’ll review your documents and respond with:
- A clear scope of work
- Estimated days required
- A fixed fee quote
- Any risks, considerations or quick wins
🔁 Prefer Flexible Monthly Support?
If you regularly handle tenders, frameworks or call-offs, a Monthly Bid Support Retainer may be a better fit.
- Guaranteed hours each month (1, 2, 4 or 8 days)
- Discounted day rates vs ad-hoc consultancy
- Use time flexibly across bids, triage, library updates, renewals
- One-month rollover (fair-use rules applied)
- Cancel anytime before next billing date
🚀 Ready to Win Your Next Bid?
Chat on WhatsApp or email Mike.Harrison@impact-guru.co.uk
Updated for Procurement Act 2023 • CQC-aligned • BASE-aligned (where relevant)