Care services to help people to live independently in their communities could be transformed under proposals for new multi-billion pound frameworks to deliver support across North Yorkshire amid dramatic increases in demand.
The planned overhaul would involve introducing four new care and support frameworks to help to provide high quality and sustainable adult social care services.
Among the greatest pressures on our budget is the need to provide vital support for people across the county, with 34 per cent of the authority’s £1.4 billion annual budget being spent on adult social care.
The combined estimated value of the proposed new arrangements over a seven-year period would be £3.5 billion, including services commissioned on behalf of NHS partners and then recharged to the health service.
Members of our executive will meet on Tuesday next week (27 October) to consider the plans to replace the current adult social care approved provider list, which is due to expire in 2027, with the four separate frameworks.
We currently commissions adult social care services through the approved provider list which was introduced in November 2022.
Under the proposals, the new frameworks would cover community support, skills and independence as well as care homes, home-based support and supported living.
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 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.”
There is a growing need for care support for working age adults in North Yorkshire, although the county’s older demographic is also placing services under increasing pressure.
North Yorkshire has one of the oldest populations in the country, and one in three people will be aged over 65 by 2043. More age-related health issues such as dementia, falls, and long-term conditions are expected to emerge as the county’s population lives longer.
The proposed changes follow a review of the current arrangements, which found they had successfully improved market oversight, the accountability of providers and financial control since being introduced in 2022.
The review also identified opportunities to improve the design of the support on offer, pricing arrangements and oversight of contracts to ensure services remain responsive to changing needs, market conditions and future demand.
The new approach would allow us to tailor commissioning arrangements to the specific needs of each service area, recognising the different delivery models, workforce and regulatory requirements and market conditions involved across adult social care.
The four frameworks would be introduced through a phased programme, with community support, skills and independence expected to launch first, followed by care homes and home-based support.
Further work is planned on the proposed supported living model, allowing the council to test new approaches, engage with providers and respond to emerging regulations. If the plans are approved by the executive, existing supported living arrangements would continue during this period to ensure continuity of care.
The proposed new frameworks are aimed at helping to deliver clearer service standards and expectations, while supporting personalised care and improving quality, accountability and safeguarding.
They are also aimed at strengthening oversight of performance of providers, supporting sustainable care markets across North Yorkshire and encouraging opportunities for local, specialist and voluntary sector providers.
The plans support our ambitions to help people live longer, healthier and more independent lives, while ensuring public resources are used effectively and sustainably.
If the proposals are approved by executive, a procurement programme will be launched and the first new arrangements are expected to go live during next year.
We have engaged with care providers, people who use services, carers, NHS partners and representative organisations to help shape the proposals for the new arrangements.
The report to the executive can be viewed or downloaded as a PDF.