Major shake-up of adult social care proposed in North Yorkshire
Four new arrangements would replace the current approved provider list
Adult social care in North Yorkshire could be overhauled under proposals for four new ways of buying care, estimated to be worth £3.5 billion over seven years.
North Yorkshire Council's executive will meet on Tuesday 27th October to consider the plans.
They would replace the current approved provider list, which is due to expire in 2027.
If the proposals are approved, a procurement programme will be launched.
The first new arrangements are expected to go live during next year.
What is being proposed
The council currently buys adult social care services through an approved provider list, introduced in November 2022.
Under the proposals, it would be replaced by four separate frameworks.
They would cover community support, skills and independence, care homes, home-based support and supported living.
The council says the new approach would allow it to tailor arrangements to the needs of each service area.
It says that would reflect the different delivery models, workforce, regulatory requirements and market conditions involved.
The cost
The combined estimated value of the proposed arrangements over seven years is £3.5 billion.
That figure includes services commissioned on behalf of NHS partners, which are then recharged to the health service.
Adult social care already accounts for 34 per cent of the council's £1.4 billion annual budget.
The council says there is a growing need for care support for working-age adults in North Yorkshire.
It also says the county's older population is placing services under increasing pressure.
The council says the proposed frameworks are aimed at delivering clearer service standards and expectations.
It says they would support personalised care and improve quality, accountability and safeguarding.
They are also aimed at strengthening oversight of providers' performance and supporting sustainable care markets across North Yorkshire.
The council says they would encourage opportunities for local, specialist and voluntary sector providers.
The proposals follow a review of the current arrangements.
It found they had successfully improved market oversight, provider accountability 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.
Cllr 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."
How it would be introduced
The four frameworks would be introduced in phases.
Community support, skills and independence is expected to launch first, followed by care homes and home-based support.
Further work is planned on the proposed supported living model, so the council can test new approaches, engage with providers and respond to emerging regulations.
If the plans are approved, existing supported living arrangements would continue during that period to ensure continuity of care.
The council says it has spoken to care providers, people who use services, carers, NHS partners and representative organisations to help shape the proposals.