“We Know Our Service Is Good” Isn’t Enough — Prove It in Your Learning Disability Tender


“We know our service is good.”

We hear this all the time. And in most cases, it’s true — the team is skilled, the people supported are safe and happy, and the CQC rating backs it up.

But in a tender, none of that matters unless you prove it.


✅ Describe less. Evidence more.

Many providers lose marks because they describe what they do, but not what it achieves:

  • ❌ “We provide tailored support plans.”
  • ✅ “Each support plan includes specific communication preferences and ‘what a good day looks like’ for the person, reviewed every 8 weeks and co-signed by their circle of support.”

That’s the shift from assertion to evidence.


🧠 In learning disability tenders, this matters even more.

Why? Because commissioners aren’t just buying support — they’re investing in people’s lives.

So show them:

  • 📊 What data you collect — and what it tells you
  • 👥 How people with learning disabilities are involved in shaping their support
  • 🎯 How your approach leads to greater independence, safety, or wellbeing
  • 📉 How your service reduces incidents, complaints, or risks over time

🔍 Ask yourself:

  • Can we evidence outcomes in a measurable way?
  • Do we explain the “why” behind our model?
  • Are we writing with a commissioner in mind — or just talking to ourselves?

If not, you’re leaving marks on the table.


Written by Mike Harrison, Founder of Impact Guru Ltd — specialists in bid writing and strategy for social care providers

Visit impact-guru.co.uk to browse downloadable strategies, method statements, or get in touch about tender support.

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