A report to consider the Market Position Statement 2024 – 2027. 

The Committee received a report which introduced the Market Position Statement 2024 – 2027.   The Statement was for the People of Reading, as well as existing or potential care Providers in Reading, to help them understand the Council’s demographics, current position and future direction for Adult Social Care in achieving the vision of “Supporting the Life that Matters to You”. The Market Position Statement was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report explained that the Market Position Statement included information on the Council’s strategic and financial context, the Council’s priorities for Adult Social Care and ambitions for working with Providers, and information on local needs and demand for services across different service user groups. It provided detail on the care and support market for different types of service (residential and nursing care, for example), including the current provision of care and support, trends that are informed by data and service user feedback, and the future direction of travel. Where the detail was available, this included any commissioning intentions that the Council (on its own or in partnership with health or other local authorities) would take forward.

Engagement sessions were undertaken throughout the year with providers to discuss the care market in Reading, gaps in the markets, quality of care and how this was monitored by the Council.  Discussions were also held with carers and people with lived experience to evaluate how the Council was performing, what could be improved, what people want from Council services and how to support people better.

There would be continued opportunities for further engagement with people with lived experience, Providers and the wider public, which would allow the document to be updated over the next few years. The Market Position Statement was driven and underpinned by a robust understanding of the wishes and needs of the local population.

Resolved –   That the Market Position Statement attached at Appendix 1 to the report be noted and endorsed.