Levelling Up and Social Care: What’s Happening — and What’s Not
The government’s Levelling Up agenda promised to tackle regional inequalities and improve access to public services, including social care. But for many providers, the practical impact so far feels limited — especially against the backdrop of workforce shortages and funding pressures.
📍 What Was Promised?
Levelling Up aimed to ensure that no area of the country was “left behind.” In social care, this was supposed to mean:
- Improved access to care in under-served areas
- Investment in workforce training and development
- Integration of health and care through ICSs
- Targeted funding to reduce postcode lotteries
Some funding has been released through specific initiatives, but the reality on the ground often falls short of the rhetoric.
🚨 The Reality for Providers
Social care remains under intense pressure, with local authorities struggling to meet demand and workforce gaps widening. Levelling Up hasn’t fixed core issues like:
- Underfunding in local authority budgets
- Workforce pay and conditions disparities
- Inconsistent commissioning approaches
For providers, this means continued competition for contracts, regional variation in expectations, and little consistency in how commissioning aligns with national goals.
🔑 How to Stay Prepared
- Monitor your local authority’s strategic plans — they’ll often reflect government priorities before funding reaches you.
- Review ICS developments in your area to anticipate changes in commissioning approaches.
- Keep your bid library up to date with method statements aligned to government goals like integration, inclusion, and workforce development.
💼 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)