The NHS Capacity Tracker is a web-based digital insight tool which allows Government and the NHS England to have detailed insight across the sector. It is like Essex Care Search in that it collects information regarding care home vacancies.
However, the NHS Capacity Tracker only collects high level information from providers about vacancies and is mainly used to help manage broader challenges in infection monitoring, audit and compliance. In addition, unlike Essex Care Search, the NHS Capacity Tracker is not a 'real time' system and does not allow access for the members of the public to search for a vacancy.
Essex Care Search is used by Essex County Council and Healthcare Partners to quickly identify vacancies within care homes and manage a booking request for a room. Members of the public are also able to use the system to search for care home information and available beds. Essex Care Search allows Providers to submit more detailed information about their home, for example, the types of people they can care for and the facilities offered by the care home. Essex Care Search allows Providers to advertise their home to members of the pubic, including the opportunity to upload pictures and link to the Care Homes website.