The NHS Social Value Model: What Providers Must Know
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📘 Blog 2 of 7 in our Social Value & Net Zero Series
The NHS Social Value Model: What Providers Must Know
Links to all 7 blogs in this series are at the bottom of this post.
🧭 Why the Social Value Model Matters
The NHS and wider public sector increasingly require bidders to demonstrate specific, measurable social value commitments. For social care providers, this shifts social value from “nice narrative” to scored criteria that can decide outcomes. The Social Value Model typically anchors commitments around clear themes (e.g., jobs, skills, wellbeing, environment) and expects delivery plans, baselines, metrics, and reporting.
High-scoring bidders connect social value to service aims and local need, not just corporate CSR. They also ensure consistency between the narrative in method statements, organisational strategies, and operational practice.
🔑 What Commissioners Expect
- Local relevance: commitments tied to the local authority/ICS priorities (employment, inequalities, prevention, carbon reduction).
- Clear baselines & targets: start point, trajectory, and time-bound goals.
- Delivery detail: who is responsible, how you’ll deliver, partners involved, and how you’ll report.
- Measurement framework: mapping to TOMs/SROI or equivalent with quarterly reporting.
🏗️ Turning the Model into Your Plan
Use a simple mapping table during bid development:
- Theme: e.g., “Local Jobs & Skills”
- Commitment: “2 apprentices per year; 10% interview guarantee for care leavers.”
- How: Partner with college; funded assessor; peer mentor scheme.
- Measure: # apprentices started/completed; % retained into permanent roles.
- Report: Quarterly dashboard, added to governance pack and family forum update (“you said, we did”).
Stress-test this mapping in bid strategy training and polish with independent proofreading before submission.
💡 Example Commitments (Care-Relevant)
- Employment & skills: 2 apprenticeships/year; paid work trials for disabled applicants; guaranteed interview scheme.
- Health & wellbeing: carers’ workshop series co-delivered with VCSE partners; digital inclusion sessions for older adults.
- Net Zero: transition 40% of fleet to low-emission; reduce paper by 80% via e-rostering & eMAR; supplier codes on packaging waste.
- Inclusive procurement: 20% of non-clinical spend with local SMEs/VCSEs.
🧰 Tender-Ready Checklist
- Map each commitment to a theme, measure, and owner.
- Set baselines and time-bound targets.
- Show governance: monthly data ➜ quarterly board; publish public “you said, we did.”
- Align narrative with method statements and strategies.
📚 Catch up on the full Social Value & Net Zero Series:
- 📘 Why Social Value Matters in Social Care Tenders
- 🧭 The NHS Social Value Model: What Providers Must Know
- 🌱 Net Zero in Practice: Turning Promises into Action
- 👥 Community Benefits: Employment, Volunteering, and Skills
- 📊 Measuring and Reporting Social Value: Tools and Frameworks
- 🏛️ Embedding Social Value in Everyday Service Delivery
- 📄 Evidencing Social Value and Net Zero in Tenders & Inspections