Care tender writing by someone who has run the service
Over £500,000 in care contracts won through tenders
Commissioners can tell the difference between a bid written from a template and one written by people who know how care is delivered. I help care and supported living providers bid for the right contracts and write tender responses that score well.
From the first read of the specification to contract start
- Bid or no-bid decisions, based on your capacity, margins and risk
- Local authority, NHS and framework tenders, across residential, supported living, home care, community and specialist services
- Quality and method statement responses
- Social value responses tied to real commitments
- Mobilisation and TUPE transition plans
- Independent review of bids you have drafted in-house
- Building a library of evidence and case studies for future bids
A clear process with no surprises close to the deadline
Bid or no-bid
We review the specification, scoring and pricing together and decide whether the contract is right for you.
Plan and gather evidence
A response plan, deadlines and the evidence each question needs, collected from your team.
Write and refine
Answers written against the scoring criteria, in your voice, reviewed with your leaders.
Review and submit
A final compliance check against the instructions, word counts and required documents.
Mobilise
If you win, support to start the contract safely and deliver what the bid promised.
Operational experience makes answers credible
I have led services through inspection and turned them around, so I know what good governance, safe staffing and person-centred care look like in practice. That is what commissioners are looking for when they score quality questions.
Because I also work on business planning, I make sure what you promise in a bid is affordable and deliverable. A contract you cannot staff or sustain is not a win.
For accommodation-based services, my property work with OwnSpace Developments means I can advise on the building as well as the care.
Preparing a bid now? Read seven things commissioners look for in supported living tenders.
A care bid writer who knows the service you are bidding for
Each type of care contract is scored on different things. I write from experience of running these services, not from a generic bid library.
Supported living tenders
Local authority supported living contracts and frameworks for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health and complex needs. Responses that show choice, control, positive risk-taking and a workforce plan commissioners can trust. Read seven things commissioners look for.
Home care (domiciliary care) tenders
Framework and zone-based home care contracts, where rota planning, rural coverage, recruitment and continuity of care decide the quality score.
Residential, nursing and extra care
Block and spot contracts, extra care schemes and new accommodation-based services, where the building, staffing model and mobilisation plan all have to add up.
NHS, community and specialist services
NHS and jointly commissioned contracts, day and community services, reablement and specialist support, including complex and forensic services.
Social value that scores
Social value is now a weighted part of most public sector tenders. I help you turn what you already do, such as local recruitment, training, volunteering and community partnerships, into specific, measurable commitments you can report on, rather than promises that are hard to keep.
Frequently asked questions
What types of care tenders do you support?
Local authority, NHS and framework tenders across residential care, supported living, home care, community and specialist services.
Can you review a bid we have written ourselves?
Yes. Caroline offers an independent review of bids drafted in-house, checking answers against the scoring criteria and the tender instructions.
When should we get in touch about a tender?
As early as possible. Send the opportunity and your deadline, and Caroline will tell you honestly whether and how she can support you, including whether the contract is right for you to bid for.
Will the bid sound like our organisation?
Yes. Answers are written in your voice and reviewed with your leaders, using evidence gathered from your own team.
Do you help once the contract is won?
Yes. Support continues into mobilisation and TUPE transition, so the contract starts safely and delivers what the bid promised.
What makes a strong supported living tender?
Commissioners look for a clear understanding of the local picture, evidence rather than assertions, people's rights and independence at the centre, a deliverable workforce plan and properly planned mobilisation and social value. Caroline's article on supported living tenders covers each in detail.
Do you write social value responses?
Yes. Caroline helps you turn local recruitment, training, volunteering and community partnerships into specific, measurable social value commitments that you can deliver and report on.
Have a tender coming up?
The earlier we talk, the more I can help. Send me the opportunity and your deadline, and I’ll tell you honestly whether and how I can support you.