Market position statement for adult social care services - Enhanced residential services for younger adults (aged 18 to 64 years)

We commission enhanced residential services for adults with a learning disability, mental health needs, autism or a physical and/or sensory disability.

These services are generally for younger adults aged 18 to 64 years, although some adults continue to live in these homes after the age of 64. We commission 22 providers to deliver enhanced residential services, both within Cumberland and out of area.

The maximum capacity of care homes providing enhanced services is 195 beds with a reported occupancy of 81%.

Due to the complexity of enhanced residential services, it is difficult to determine how many of the vacant beds are admittable to meet the needs of Cumberland residents.

Enhanced residential services tend to require more specialised care, such as specific equipment, staff training and resources.

The provision of these services has been more focused within the large key service centres of Carlisle and Workington.

This reflects both workforce availability and existing infrastructure, but results in uneven geographic distribution of provision.

Market strengths:
Ability to tailor support to individual needs.
Strong relationships with local providers, providing a range of commissioned services.

Market pressures and opportunities:
Capability opportunity in specialist provision to meet more complex and diverse needs.
Local sufficiency pressure, with some individuals supported outside Cumberland.
Complexity and diversity of need creating pricing challenges.
Physical limitations of existing buildings.
We are interested in providers who can develop specialist, high-acuity provision locally, support repatriation of out of area placements, and who can deliver flexible and bespoke care models.