New report: Rethinking how homecare is commissioned

The Homecare Association has published a new paper examining how commissioning decisions can support better quality care, fairer employment and more sustainable homecare services.

Homecare: commissioning is the key to quality, fair work and better outcomes argues that sustainable commissioning depends on four interconnected areas:

• Price – fees covering the lawful and efficient cost of delivering the required service
• Allocation – providers having sufficient and reasonably predictable work within manageable geographical areas
• Payment – moving away from retrospective payment for isolated contact minutes towards approaches based on assessed need, planned capacity or agreed outcomes
• Assurance – contracts supporting safe, good-quality care alongside lawful and fair treatment of the workforce

The paper proposes a longer-term shift away from fragmented, minute-by-minute purchasing towards neighbourhood-based and outcomes-focused commissioning.

It also considers what different approaches to commissioning could mean for workforce security, the Fair Pay Agreement, employment rights, neighbourhood health, prevention, consumer choice and the sustainability of local authority and NHS-funded homecare.

The Homecare Association has shared the report with ministers and officials and hopes it will contribute to wider discussions about how commissioning can deliver better outcomes for people, the workforce and public services.

Read Homecare: commissioning is the key to quality, fair work and better outcomes