North Yorkshire Council plans £3.5bn overhaul of care services
North Yorkshire Council is preparing to overhaul how it hires care providers in a £3.5 billion plan designed to meet the growing demand for adult social care across the county.
Members of the council's executive will meet on Tuesday, October 27, to consider replacing the current adult social care ‘approved provider list’, which will expire in 2027, with the four separate, specialised panels of vetted care providers.
This proposed overhaul comes as adult social care places unprecedented pressure on North Yorkshire Council’s finances, with 34 per cent of the authority’s £1.4 billion annual budget being spent on supporting adults who need extra care to live safely and independently.
That demand is projected to continue, with the region having one of the oldest populations in the country, where one in three residents will be aged over 65 by 2043.
Under the proposals, rather than treating all social care under one broad arrangement, the council plans to split contracts into four clear areas:
- community support, skills and independence: Day opportunities, community activities, and employment training to build independence.
- care homes: Residential and nursing home places for people who need round-the-clock support.
- home-based support: Supporting people with daily visits so they can stay living in their own homes.
- supported living: Housing combined with specialist care for adults with long-term or complex needs.
The council say this new system would allow it to set specific standards and control rising costs through fixed rates across different services.
The council's executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said: “Our current arrangements have provided a strong foundation for commissioning adult social care services.
“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.”
The total estimated value of the proposed new arrangements over seven years is £3.5 billion, which includes care commissioned on behalf of NHS partners and then recharged to the health service.
If approved, the new care panels will roll out in phases starting next year, beginning with community support and skills, followed by care homes and home care.
The supported living model will be extended under current rules to allow further testing and consultation with service users and carers before launching in 2028.
Council officials say current care arrangements will continue uninterrupted as the new system is phased in.
The report to the executive can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF here: Care and Support Frameworks report