Residential Care
Residential Care services are commissioned by local authorities to support older adults who require accommodation within a CQC Registered setting.
This includes both Residential Care and Nursing Care, supporting individuals with varying levels of need -including Dementia, Frailty, and complex health conditions.
These services are commissioned by local authorities and the NHS through Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and Frameworks.
Is this right for you?
Key Requirements
You will typically need to demonstrate the following before applying.
CQC registration
Active CQC registration as a residential care home is required for all local authority frameworks.
Registered Manager
A named Registered Manager must be in post or nominated, registered with CQC.
Suitable premises
The property must meet CQC environmental and safety standards for a residential care setting.
Staffing and training
Appropriate staff ratios with evidenced mandatory training, including safeguarding, medication management, and moving and handling.
How the process works
1. Eligibility & Compliance Audit – We identify the right DPS, Framework, or tender for your location, capacity, and service type.
2. Opportunity Matching – We review your CQC status, policies, and operational readiness against the requirements of your target local authority.
3. End-to-End Submission – We manage the full application — portal registration, policy alignment, and expert narrative writing. You review and approve. We submit.
How we’ll support you
Ready to apply?
Every Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) application follows a structured process — from eligibility check through to submission and post-submission monitoring.
Costs
Fees: Our fees are scoped individually based on the nature and complexity of each submission. Pricing is provided following an initial consultation.
Take the next step
We’ll check your eligibility, identify the right opportunities, and manage the full submission process.
Book a free discovery call to get started.
FAQ’s
Most local authority frameworks require a minimum CQC rating of Good. A rating of Requires Improvement or Inadequate will significantly weaken any application, regardless of the quality of the written submission. We confirm the specific rating requirements for each opportunity as part of our eligibility review.
It depends on the specific tender. CQC registration is mandatory before operating a residential care home and before applying for most contracts. Some commissioners will accept providers with a pending CQC application where the contract start date allows enough time for registration to be confirmed. Others require confirmed registration and an existing rating as a condition of bidding. We check this as part of our eligibility review and can advise on which opportunities are realistic for your current position.
Yes — capacity requirements are often specified in the tender documentation. We go through these requirements with you at the consultation call so you have a clear picture of whether your home meets the criteria before any work begins.
Yes — specialisms are actively sought by commissioners. Homes with expertise in Dementia, frailty, high-dependency care, or complex needs are in strong demand across both local authority and NHS commissioning. If your home has a defined specialism, this should be evidenced clearly throughout your submission.
Residential care is commissioned by both local authorities and NHS integrated care boards. Opportunities are typically advertised through Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS).
It depends on the tender. Some set a fixed rate which you accept or decline. Others ask you to submit your own rates. We cover the commercial section in detail at the kickoff call. You can also read more on our Tender Commercials page.