York’s care and support sectors adapt to meet changing needs and challenges

The provision of care for residents in York has been considered carefully with providers and residents to shape future care support to address the needs of residents and providers.

Their views have been collated in a report which will be considered by Executive. The report identifies and addresses the city’s challenges as well as its opportunities to ensure that there is sufficient and good quality care available to meet the needs of residents.

This all-age Market Position Statement has, at its core, what residents tell us are their priorities: to remain as independent as they can, for as long as possible and to have choice and control over how they live their lives. It outlines how the home-first approach can be met alongside community-based services which all help people live independently - and which improve health outcomes.

Dependence on residential care is changing. The care market recognises this and is developing ways of working and technologies to prevent or delay people needing support. Particular challenges include increasing workforce numbers and addressing what options are best to ensure people don’t stay in hospital longer than needed. A wider range of accommodation options are also required to suit a variety of needs, and the report acknowledges that working within communities and empowering people to help to facilitate solutions is the way forward.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social care, said: “With partners across the city, we aim to support residents’ wish to remain well and as independent as possible in their own homes, for as long as they can. This improves their health and well-being by focusing on what matters most to them.

“Together with our valued care and support providers in York, we aim to ensure that sufficient and diverse, high-quality and accessible care is available to match their present and future needs.

“This report is an essential evidence base for our commissioners, people who use services, carers and provider organisations to work together. This will shape provision and ensure that the right variety of services are available.”

Jamaila Hussain Corporate Director of Adults and Integration (DASS) said: “This Market Position Statement supports the future direction of the Council, focussing on early intervention and a community-based approach. We aim to work with providers across health and social care to deliver excellent safe, good quality care.”

The full Market Position Statement will be submitted to the Executive for consideration on 16 March, and is at Agenda for Executive on Thursday, 16 March 2023, 5.30 pm (york.gov.uk)