North Yorkshire Council is considering plans for new adult social care arrangements estimated to be worth £3.5 billion over seven years, as demand for support continues to grow across the county.
The proposals would replace the council’s existing approved provider list with four separate care and support frameworks, covering community support, skills and independence, care homes, home-based support and supported living.
The council’s executive is due to consider the plans on Tuesday, October 27. The current arrangements, introduced in November 2022, are scheduled to expire in 2027.
The estimated £3.5 billion value covers the proposed arrangements over seven years, including services commissioned by the council on behalf of NHS partners and subsequently recharged to the health service. It is not a new funding allocation.
Four proposed care frameworks
The council says the new arrangements would allow it to tailor commissioning to the different requirements of each service area, while improving oversight of providers, quality standards and safeguarding.
Community support, skills and independence services are expected to be introduced first, followed by care homes and home-based support.
Further work is planned on the proposed supported living model, including testing approaches, consulting providers and responding to emerging regulations. Existing supported living arrangements would continue during this period if the proposals are approved, to maintain continuity of care.
The council says a review of the current system found it had improved market oversight, provider accountability and financial control. However, the review also identified scope to improve service design, pricing and contract monitoring.
Growing demand for adult social care
Adult social care accounts for 34 per cent of North Yorkshire Council’s £1.4 billion annual budget, making it one of the authority’s biggest financial pressures.
The council says demand is increasing among working-age adults as well as older people. North Yorkshire has one of the oldest populations in the country, with projections suggesting one in three residents will be aged over 65 by 2043.
The ageing population is expected to bring increased demand associated with conditions including dementia, falls and long-term health problems.
Councillor Michael Harrison, the council’s executive member for health and adult services, said:
Our current arrangements have provided a strong foundation for commissioning adult social care services across North Yorkshire. However, the needs of people who rely on these services continue to evolve, as do the challenges facing the care sector.
The proposed new frameworks will allow us to work more closely with providers, support innovation and ensure we continue to deliver high-quality care centred on the person receiving it that promotes independence and choice for our residents.
The council says the new arrangements are intended to strengthen performance monitoring, support sustainable care provision and create opportunities for local, specialist and voluntary sector organisations.
If the executive approves the proposals, a procurement programme will follow, with the first new arrangements expected to begin operating during 2027.
The full report is available through North Yorkshire Council’s executive papers.