Older People’s Exception Reviews

A transparent, evidence-based framework for reviewing placements outside standard rates — ensuring funding decisions are fair, proportionate and defensible.

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Average Spot Rate difference above the Fair Cost of Care Banded Rate on Exception Review cases analysed

Valuing Care delivers a two-stage framework that supports both market stability and operational control.

Stage 1: Market Modelling & Base Rate Support

Valuing Care supports councils to establish or validate fair residential care base rates. This stage can be delivered flexibly, depending on local priorities, timescales and budget.

Options include:

· Model-led rate setting, using Valuing Care’s national datasets with locally flexed assumptions (a lower-cost, accelerated approach)

· Cost of care surveys and provider data collection, where councils wish to engage the market more directly

· Validation and assurance of existing base rates, benchmarking current rates against market and cost models

Stage 2: Exception Review Process

When base rates are agreed, Valuing Care supports councils to manage placements that fall outside standard rates through an annual Exception Review Process, typically undertaken in the spring.

For each exception case, Valuing Care:

· Collects and quality-assures provider cost information

· Benchmarks individual placements against agreed base rates and Valuing Care cost models

· Produces clear, auditable case-level comparisons

· Supports commissioners with evidence-based decision making