The Most Important Section in Your Domiciliary Care Tender (And It’s Not What You Think)
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🧠 Blog 5 of 7 in our ‘Bid Writing for Domiciliary Care Providers’ Series
The highest-scoring answers often begin with a strong ‘Understanding of the Service’ — not a summary of your organisation. This is where you show commissioners that you genuinely grasp their priorities, local context, and the people who use services.
Here’s what commissioners want to see in a strong ‘Understanding of the Service’ section:
- 📍 Local knowledge — demonstrate awareness of local demographics, priorities, and challenges.
- 💬 Commissioning drivers — refer to relevant strategies (e.g. reablement, strengths-based support, market sustainability).
- 👥 People focus — show you understand the lived experience of people receiving support and their families.
This isn’t a chance to promote your organisation — it’s a chance to show insight, empathy, and alignment.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- 🚫 Generic content — avoid using copy that could be dropped into any tender.
- 🚫 Repetition — don’t just summarise the service spec; show how you interpret and respond to it.
- 🚫 Overclaiming — if you promise the world here, you’ll need to back it up later.
Instead of trying to impress, aim to connect. Let commissioners feel confident that you’ll deliver care that reflects their goals and the needs of their communities.
🧠 Explore our 7-part series on Bid Writing for Domiciliary Care Providers:
Each blog is designed to help you improve your home care tenders — from avoiding common pitfalls to answering complex questions with confidence.
- 1️⃣ 💡 Why You Need a Bid Writer Who Understands Domiciliary Care
- 2️⃣ 🖋️ How to Write Winning Home Care Bids (Without Overclaiming)
- 3️⃣ ❌ Avoid These Common Mistakes in Home Care Tender Responses
- 4️⃣ 🚫 Why Commissioners Reject Home Care Bids (Even from Good Providers)
- 5️⃣ 🧠 The Most Important Section in Your Tender (And It’s Not What You Think)
- 6️⃣ 🌟 How to Showcase Your Domiciliary Care Service (Without Overclaiming)
- 7️⃣ ✅ How to Answer Home Care Tender Questions with Confidence (Even When They’re Complex)