What Commissioners Look For in Social Value Evidence
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What Commissioners Look For in Social Value Evidence
“Social value” is no longer just a buzzword — it’s a scored part of most public sector contracts. But for many social care providers, it remains one of the most misunderstood and underperforming areas of tender submissions.
In this article, we break down what commissioners really want to see when they ask for social value — and how you can evidence it in a way that wins marks and reflects your genuine contribution to the community.
📜 What Is Social Value in Tendering?
Under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, commissioners must consider how the services they procure improve economic, social, and environmental wellbeing.
This goes beyond just delivering good care. It’s about the additional impact your organisation brings to the table — like creating jobs, supporting local communities, reducing carbon footprints, or tackling inequality.
✅ What Commissioners Actually Want
When they assess your social value response, commissioners are looking for:
- Specific commitments: How exactly will you create social value? Vague statements don’t score well.
- Local relevance: Are your plans tailored to the needs of the area?
- Evidence of delivery: Have you done this before? Do you have examples, data, or partnerships to support your claims?
- Monitoring and reporting: How will you track progress and report outcomes?
It’s not just what you say — it’s how you prove it.
🧠 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌ Repeating your service model instead of showing additional value
- ❌ Copy-pasting generic CSR policies with no link to the contract
- ❌ Failing to show measurable outcomes (e.g. “We will reduce loneliness” — how?)
- ❌ Forgetting to mention co-production or community partners
Think “proof, not promise.”
📈 Strong Examples to Include
- Hiring and training local people — especially from underrepresented groups
- Offering volunteering opportunities or work placements
- Partnering with community organisations to extend impact
- Supporting family carers or running wellbeing initiatives
- Using eco-friendly practices and reducing emissions
These examples should be specific, locally relevant, and — where possible — backed by real data or outcomes.
📥 Support Available
Struggling to articulate your social value offer in a way that ticks commissioner boxes?
Impact Guru Ltd offers downloadable, editable Social Value Method Statements tailored for learning disability, domiciliary care, and mental health providers. Perfect for tenders, CQC submissions, and strategy documents.
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.