Member Article

Care Act 2014: How it Affects Your Tenders

The Care Act 2014 has resulted in significant changes in how care is delivered in England. The new law has already had an effect on how care is provided, but it has also has an effect on the tendering process, through changing the criteria evaluators will be using when assessing tender documentation.

Wellbeing

The provisions of the Care Act make it incumbent upon all providers to work to improve the wellbeing of Service Users. Included within the definition of overall wellbeing is promoting physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, personal dignity and helping the Service User have control over their day-to-day activities. This means that a coordinated and planned approach must be taken to improving overall Service User wellbeing. Incorporating family members, and helping Service Users to develop their capabilities, as well as promoting choice and control over their activities and care are major areas where providers can demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements laid out in the Care Act. This should be explicitly stated in any responses on the approach to providing care.

Reducing Service User Needs

There is a renewed focus in the Care Act on ensuring that Service Users do not become reliant upon paid care. Reducing the care needs of Service Users should be framed as using a reablement approach, to develop the skills of Service Users to a level where care can be safely withdrawn. Care providers should be able to demonstrate their familiarity with this approach, using examples, or future plans they have to work in this way with Service Users.

Assessments

The Care Act contains guidelines on how to assess and plan support by communicating with Service Users. This affects how evaluators assess tenders, as providers now have to demonstrate that they adhere to the approach set out in the act. All assessments undertaken must focus on being person-centred, as well as identifying the key outcomes Service Users want to achieve. To encourage person-centred plans, providers are encouraged to involve family members and external agencies to gather as much information about Service Users as possible. In turn, this allows highly tailored support plans to be developed. It will be particularly beneficial to highlight how person-centred support plans are developed, specifying how family members are encouraged to engage and which external agencies are involved.

A greater focus on the needs of carers – family members or friends who care informally for the Service User - is included in the Care Act, with a legal obligation for providers to perform carers’ assessments, and to take the requirements of carers into account when providing care. This is putting significantly more responsibility on providers when performing assessments. It is always a good idea to mention awareness of this requirement when completing tenders, to show knowledge of the Care Act. This provides contracting authorities with the confidence that a provider can deliver a service which meets their legal obligations to carers.

Partnership Working

To deliver high quality care and support, it is important to work in partnership with other locally based organisations to work in a joined-up way, reducing the instances of disjointed care. The requirement to work in this way is specified in the Act. This will include working with other providers of care and support to Service Users, as well as integrating with NHS services in the local area. It is important to include previous examples of collaboration with other providers, and the benefits it delivered to individual Service Users.

Training

The Care Certificate is currently being rolled out nationwide, replacing the National Minimum Training Standards (NMTS) and the Common Induction Standards (CIS). All Care Workers will have to undertake training on the certificate, and it is important to demonstrate to the evaluator your awareness of the requirements and that there are measures in place to train Care Workers up to the new standards. The more detailed and advanced are the preparations for meeting this requirement, the more providers will be able to demonstrate competency and quality. This will help the contracting authority to identify low risk bidders, who are able to provide high quality care over a significant period of time.

Although many care companies already provide high quality care, in line with the requirements of the Care Act, it is even more important to demonstrate this to evaluators when bidding for contracts. Executive Compass specialise in writing bids for the health and social care sector, having worked on hundreds of PQQ and tender submissions in areas such as: supported living, reablement, extra care, medical consumables, dental services and ophthalmology.

If you require any further assistance or advice, don’t hesitate to contact us on 020 3507 0314 to talk to one of our bid writers today.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Executive Compass .