Last Updated on August 15, 2018
The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has produced a report looking at the risks to the stability of the state-funded homecare market.
Concerns have been growing over the stability of the state-funded homecare sector, with reports of providers handing back contracts to local authorities.
UKHCA's report lays out the findings of its detailed research project, aiming to identify and prioritise the biggest risks to the financial failure of provider organisations, or the risk to planned withdrawal from the provider market.
The analysis has been collected based on the views of providers delivering homecare services. These providers spanned more than 500 locations across the UK, with views from providers in almost 300 further locations that provide services either entirely or mainly to state-funded services.
The report into the stability of the state-funded homecare market includes detailed recommendations by UKHCA. It is calling for statutory sector commissioners to consider these findings carefully, encouraging them to act on any areas that have been highlighted which may place their own markets at a high level of risk.
A risk-register for state-funded homecare proposes a prioritised risk register, including concerns around:
- Fee levels.
- Engagement between providers and local authorities.
- Late payments.
- Length of homecare visits.
- Length of contracts.
- Use of unregulated services.
The full report is available on the UKHCA website, including a summary of recommendations and detailed information on all 15 risks identified in priority order.