Our Response: NCC Adult Social Care Fee Uplift 2026/27

Norfolk Care Association has responded to Norfolk County Council’s proposed 3.2% adult social care fee uplift for 2026/27, setting out why it falls short of the real cost pressures facing care providers. While we recognise the financial constraints on local authorities, continued inadequate uplifts risk undermining provider sustainability, workforce stability and the quality of care for Norfolk’s residents.

Our response

Norfolk County Council’s proposed fee uplift for care provision in Norfolk for the year 2026/27 of 3.2% is inadequate to meet the cost pressures provider organisations face.

Norfolk County Council’s own estimates of cost pressures are 3.53% for non-home care providers and 3.63% for home care providers. The proposed increase is therefore inadequate against Norfolk County Council’s own measure.

However, Norfolk County Council’s calculation fails to acknowledge the cumulative effect of multiple years where fee increases have not kept pace with cost rises. Furthermore, it fails to account for increases to the cost base for providers through changes in regulatory requirements, adoption of digital systems, increased mandatory training requirements and other factors. Finally, a general estimate of inflation fails to recognise specific cost pressures such as energy prices, staff sponsorship costs and higher interest rates, which are felt particularly by certain provider types.

Norfolk Care Association has estimated increases in fees depending on provider type of between 13% and 36% are needed to ensure provider cost pressures are met and providers receive a fair cost of care.

Full details can be found here.

Whilst we acknowledge Norfolk Care Association’s estimates do not account for the increases in the cost base and specific inflation increases we regard them as a sounder calculation of the cost pressures faced by providers than Norfolk County Council’s single year model. We acknowledge Norfolk County Council’s financial position, but Norfolk County Council must also acknowledge that through providing inadequate fee uplifts they are putting the survival of care providers, the quality of care, resident jobs and ultimately and most importantly the wellbeing of residents in jeopardy.

Norfolk Care Careers Investment

Provider feedback is positive about Norfolk Care Careers, and recruitment remains a critical issue for the Norfolk care sector. We are therefore supportive of continued investment in Norfolk Care Careers.

It is important to recognise, however, that effective recruitment and retention are dependent on providers’ ability to offer competitive salaries, support staff wellbeing and development, and provide meaningful career pathways. This is ultimately driven by the income providers receive, and therefore by the fee rates Norfolk County Council pays. As Norfolk County Council does not currently pay fair or sustainable rates, this continued investment, though welcome, will not in itself address the recruitment challenges the sector faces.

We would welcome the opportunity to collectively look more closely at how this continued investment can be used to best support providers in a changing climate.

If you’re an adult social care provider in Norfolk, and you haven’t yet responded to the proposed fee uplift, we encourage you to do so before the survey closes at 9:00am on Monday the 12th of January 2026.

Complete the survey here