This blog is part of a series on how to win more council tenders in partnership with tender writing specialist Insequa Ltd.
In this article, we’ll share the steps to take once you’ve won a council tender, what councils expect from home care providers, and how Birdie can support you along the way.
What will the council expect?
When you secure your new council contract, you’ll be expected to provide ongoing evidence that you’re meeting the necessary KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) set by councils. KPIs show that you have the systems and capacity to prioritise care delivery and safeguarding to the highest level.
For the duration of the contract, council representatives can carry out spot-checks on your business and will ask to see evidence that you are delivering the service as expected.
Putting systems in place to help you do this will also help you improve overall care standards and give you a better chance of achieving a Good or Outstanding rating at your next CQC inspection.
Do you have the technology in place to succeed?
The right care management software tool can help you collect and organise evidence so it’s on hand when it’s needed. Digital tools remove the need for paper records and automatically sync information across all devices, so everyone who needs to can instantly access up-to-date information.
Streamlining your internal processes with software frees up time, so you can focus on what’s really important - delivering the best possible care for your clients, improving recruitment and retention and driving business growth.
A recent survey indicated that home care technology like Birdie could save home care providers up to seven hours per week, which is equivalent to 30 hours per month.
What could you achieve in your business with that extra time?
Here’s how Birdie can help you meet council KPIs
Safeguarding
With Birdie, you can demonstrate safeguarding across multiple areas of your business.
- Birdie Analytics allows you to report staff numbers, sickness and training records to show that you provide adequate staffing to meet the needs of your service users.
- The Birdie best-in-class eMAR system maintains accurate, transparent medication records, so you quickly identify and address issues like missed doses.
- Birdie Call Monitoring allows carers to check in to their calls, so you can show that clients are receiving care visits as planned.
Reporting
Birdie allows you to keep accurate digital records of every part of your business, including medications administration, care planning, risk assessment, time spent on visits, staffing numbers and more, all in one place.
The system logically organises your information and enables you to produce reports to share with councils digitally, saving you time and money.
Transparency
By digitally tracking all aspects of your business, you can easily demonstrate current care delivery and your capacity for taking on new care recipients. Birdie Analytics allows you to share data like staffing levels, client caseloads and time spent at visits, all at the click of a button.
This information can also help you secure funding. For example, if carers are frequently overrunning with a client, you can put together a case for the council funding a more extensive care package.
Risk management
Clear risk profiles for each service user and a traffic light system for allocating visits demonstrate that you can prioritise care in case of emergency.
Birdie’s eMAR allows you to closely track medications management and provide evidence of how you minimise the risk of medication errors. Councils may also ask to see risk assessments for emergencies, like heavy snow, a local power cut or sudden staff shortages.
Are you ready to succeed?
Applying for a council tender is just the first step. By implementing the right software and systems, you can successfully deliver on a council contract and see your business reach its full potential.
The process might seem a bit daunting at first, but don’t worry, we’re here to support you. Book a free demo to discover how Birdie can take your home care business to the next level.
If you'd like more information on how to win council tenders, as well as how to set yourself up for success, you can watch our webinar 'How to win council tenders in 2022', in partnership with Insequa Ltd on-demand here.
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