Social Care Procurement Guidance

This guidance is designed to support commissioning officers, procurement officers, and contract managers to embed sustainability into social care procurement in a way that is lawful, proportionate, and grounded in delivery reality.

It provides practical tools to help organisations translate policy ambitions into daily procurement decisions. The guidance recognises the complexity of social care markets and supports a balanced approach, one that promotes the environmental responsibility, social value, and economic resilience while maintaining quality of care and market stability. By aligning procurement processes with long-term sustainability goals, it aims to enable better outcomes for people, communities, and providers alike.