“Show You Understand the Person” — The Most Overlooked Section in Learning Disability Bids
Share
In learning disability tenders, the highest scoring bids don’t start with services — they start with people.
Commissioners aren’t just looking for what you do. They want to know how well you understand the people you're supporting. That means not just name-dropping person-centred care, but proving you know:
- What good support feels like to the person
- Why needs can present differently in learning disability
- How history of trauma, communication needs, or sensory issues affect your approach
If you skip this, your response can sound cold, rushed, or like a generic home care bid. Even strong services get marked down if they don't explain why their model fits.
💡 Real-world tips to improve this section:
- 🧩 Use method statements that break down support by theme — safeguarding, PBS, person-centred planning — to demonstrate tailored approaches.
- 📣 Include language or behaviours that people use to communicate distress, choice, or preference.
- 🛑 Don’t overuse clinical labels — show curiosity, empathy, and proactive support.
Even in highly structured tender formats, the way you describe the person behind the support tells commissioners everything about your service culture.
Need help crafting learning disability bids that speak the commissioner’s language?
You’ll win more points — and build more trust — when your bid starts with the person, not the service.