Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) engage Valuing Care to undertake their Extra Care Housing Financial Review

BCP have worked with Valuing Care since June 2022, with the company completing their residential and domiciliary Fair Cost of Care reviews to provide the foundation for the Market Sustainability Programme.

Valuing Care are now supporting the Council in completing its Working Age Adults review as part of the phase 2 cost of care programme. The Working Age Adults Review includes:

Supporting Living
Complex Residential and Nursing Placements
Specialist domiciliary support
24-hour live-in carers

An additional element for Phase 2 has now been agreed, with BCP commissioning Valuing Care to review the current Extra Care Housing provision.

In common with most councils, BCP currently provide support for a range of ECH schemes which differ in size and needs levels. In addition, the merger of the two Councils in 2019 resulted in differences contract and charging approaches across the newly formed Council. This has resulted in inequality, both to the council on what they are paying for the services and the level of income service users contribute to the services.

To create a standard approach, BCP Council have commissioned support in the following areas:

- - A cost of care review of the current portfolio to regularise the current financial support.
  - A review of current client charging to create a more equitable income policy
  - A strategic financial business model template to inform future ECH commissioning and/or reviewing of current provision

The survey collection will complete by the end of 2022 with report writing due to start in January 2023. Once completed, the final proposed model rates for 2023/24 will be recommended to the Council.

By conducting the exercise in this way, BCP can be reassured that their market is equitable for Extra Care Housing providers and creates a level playing field for a range of community providers across the local authority area.

If you are interested in knowing more about the project or Valuing Care’s Cost of Care reviews including Extra Care Housing reviews, please click here