About this strategy

This is the Essex care market strategy for adult social care, covering the period 2023-30.

It has been developed over the past 12 months and reflects workshops and input from providers, Adults with Lived Experience, the NHS, Adult Social Care Operations and Commissioning, Procurement, Data & Insight and Finance. 

In this strategy we cover:

1. Why we need a strategy 
2. Overview of the Essex care market and how it is already changing 
3. Future vision for social care in Essex, and what this means for how the market needs to change 
4. Key strategic challenges and market gaps, and the associated actions to address them

Why have a market shaping strategy 

We want to make a positive difference every day to people living with care and support needs, enabling them to live their lives to the fullest. 

Essex County Council (ECC) has a market shaping duty to:

• Understand the local market of care provision.
• Stimulate a diverse range of care and support services to meet needs and ensure that people, and their carers are able to achieve things that matter to them.
• Ensure that the care market as a whole is sustainable and fostering continuous improvement.
• Prepare for any provider failure to ensure that people continue to receive the care and support they need in the event that a care provider ceases to be able to provide services.

In Essex there is a wide range of  care providers and voluntary & community organisations that supports and provides care to frail older people, adults with learning disabilities or autism, those with mental health support needs, and those living with physical and sensory impairments.  

The care sector performs some of the most vital services in our society and is one of the largest employers in Essex, but it also faces significant challenges. 

This strategy sets out ECC’s approach to shaping and supporting the care market in meeting the needs of our residents.