How to apply for a supported living framework
Supported living is usually bought through a framework or a dynamic purchasing system, often split into lots by need such as learning disability, mental health or complex care. You pass a selection stage, then score on outcomes-focused questions about tenancy rights, person-centred support, positive behaviour support and how you keep people safe and independent. We confirm you fit the lots for free before you start.
Lots and how referrals flow
Supported living frameworks and DPS arrangements are commonly divided into lots by client group and sometimes by geography. Get on the right lot and the council can refer placements to you; pick the wrong one and the work never reaches you. Many are run as a dynamic purchasing system, so providers can join at set windows rather than only at launch. Being on the list early matters because referrals follow the framework, and a placement officer can only approach providers who are already listed for that need and area.
Choosing the right lots to bid for
Bid only for the lots you can genuinely evidence. If you have a strong track record in learning disability support, lead with that lot and bring real examples; do not stretch into complex mental health or forensic placements you cannot back up. Commissioners score the fit between the lot and your evidence, so a focused, well-evidenced application to two lots beats a thin application to six. We help you map your experience, staffing and registration to the lots where you are most likely to score and least likely to be tripped up at selection.
Separating care from the tenancy
Supported living rests on the person holding their own tenancy, separate from the support they receive. Commissioners look closely at how you protect tenancy rights, avoid creating a care-home-by-the-back-door, and make sure support can flex up or down without threatening the person's home. Expect questions on how the tenancy works, how you handle voids and changes, and how you keep the line between landlord and provider clear. Blurring housing and care is a frequent reason a residential-minded provider scores poorly on a supported living bid.
What the quality questions reward
Commissioners score outcomes and rights, not bed numbers. Expect questions on how support is genuinely person-centred, how you use positive behaviour support, how you help people build independence and community links, and how you involve families and advocates. Safeguarding, voids and how you manage a new placement from referral to settled are recurring scored themes. Evidence beats intention every time, so use real examples of someone gaining a skill, a job or more independence, and show how you measured the change rather than just asserting it.
Submitting and evidencing social value
Social value is scored and contractual in most supported living tenders, often weighted 10 to 30% and mapped to the National TOMs framework. Commit to specific, local, deliverable actions such as community inclusion, local employment for the people you support, and real Living Wage roles, then say how you will measure them. Submit through the council portal, often ProContract or Due North, in the exact format requested and well before the deadline. Attach every policy named in the checklist, since a missing positive behaviour support or safeguarding policy can cost marks the answers had already earned.
Common pitfalls
The frequent misses are bidding for a lot you cannot evidence, blurring the line between housing and care, and writing a residential-style answer for a supported living question. Thin outcome evidence and a generic social value section also cost marks. Our supported living tender writing page shows how we keep the bid anchored to outcomes and tenancy rights, and how we mirror the scoring so the evaluator finds your strongest evidence first.
Common supported living lots and what they expect
Lots vary by council, but these are the usual divisions and the evidence each tends to reward.
| Lot | Who it serves | Evidence that scores |
|---|---|---|
| Learning disability | Adults with a learning disability | Skills-building, community inclusion, person-centred outcomes |
| Mental health | Adults with mental health needs | Recovery focus, crisis support, coordination with mental health teams |
| Complex or behaviours of concern | People with complex needs or behaviours that challenge | Positive behaviour support, staff competence, safeguarding |
| Transitions or 16+ | Young people moving to adult services | Note: 16-plus accommodation is Ofsted-regulated, not CQC |
Not sure if you qualify for a tender? We check it for free, before you pay anything, and we only take bids we believe you can win. See our supported living tender writing or text TENDER to get started.
Common questions
What is the difference between a supported living framework and a DPS?
A framework is a closed list for a fixed period; a dynamic purchasing system stays open so new providers can join at intervals. Supported living is often run as a DPS to keep adding capacity. We explain which your target uses in your free eligibility check.
Do I need housing or property to apply?
Not always. Many supported living frameworks buy the care and support only, with housing held separately, while some lots expect you to bring or source accommodation. We check what the specific lot requires before you write.
How many lots should I apply for?
Only the ones you can evidence well. A focused application to the lots that match your track record scores better than a thin spread across every lot. We help you choose where you are strongest.
Is supported living regulated by CQC or Ofsted?
Adult supported living that includes personal care is regulated by CQC. Accommodation for 16 and 17 year olds is supported accommodation under the Supported Accommodation (England) Regulations 2023 and is regulated by Ofsted, not CQC. We confirm which applies to your target.
How are answers scored?
On outcomes and rights rather than capacity. Commissioners reward person-centred support, positive behaviour support, tenancy protection and real examples of independence gained. Under the Procurement Act 2023 the award is the most advantageous tender, weighing quality, price and social value.
What does the first bid cost?
£795 for your first tender. We only take bids we believe you can win, our win rate is 96%, and we rewrite free if a loss is clearly down to our writing error.
Keep reading
Service
Supported living tender writing
Learning disability framework application
What is a DPS in care
Extra care housing tender
Browse all care tender guides, or see care tender writing by service.
Got a tender to check?
Text TENDER to +44 7822 030677and we'll tell you free whether you'd qualify, before you spend a penny.