Knowsley Council’s commitment to providing a sustainable, high-quality market of care services in the community has been reviewed by members of the council’s Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny committee.
Committee members heard that under the Care Act 2014, the Council has a duty to maintain a sufficient and sustainable care market. A key element is the publication of a ‘Market Position Statement’ – information on its local market for care, which reflects work undertaken with care providers to understand the issues affecting market sustainability. It also includes the Council’s forecast for future demand for care in the community.
The council’s recent inspection and ‘Good’ rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, highlighted the Council’s significant efforts in ensuring a robust and sufficient care market that effectively meets the needs of its community.
The CQC report praised the Council’s approach, stating that it “made significant efforts to ensure care and support were available to meet demand, allowing people to access services when and where needed.”
Key initiatives driving success
The Council has implemented several strategic initiatives including:
- Investment in the Workforce: The Council has consistently prioritized paying care staff at least the Real Living Wage for the past three years. This investment, positively received by the local care market, has been crucial in addressing workforce pressures and ensuring care workers are fairly compensated for their vital work.
- Strong Provider Engagement: Knowsley has fostered strong relationships with care providers through well-established forums. The Council’s recent fee rate consultation saw a high participation rate of 70%. This collaborative approach ensures that the Council remains responsive to the needs of the care market.
- Quality Assurance and Improvement: The Council works closely with its partners to monitor and improve the quality of care. Performance data for 2024/25 shows that 85.4% of care homes and 87.5% of community-based providers in the borough are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC. This is the highest proportion in Knowsley’s in recent years and exceeds the regional average.
Knowsley Council is also advancing several key strategic plans to further enhance its care services. The Adult Social Care Transformation Plan (2024-2027) and the Strategic Commissioning Plan (2024-2027) set a clear vision for the future, with a focus on delivering innovative and person-centred care.
Additionally, the Council is committed to developing new housing models, such as the upcoming developments at Thursby Walk and Dinas Lane Apartments, which will offer individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health the opportunity to live more independently.