To improve ECC's communication and to be open and transparent the Council set up this hub to provide you with latest news, details of events, our latest vision (direction, market shaping etc), details of the teams you need to know, and provide information and advice. It is ECC's dynamic Market Position Statement allowing us to provide you with the most up to date information. We always welcome feedback and you can email us at MarketPortal@essex.gov.uk

The Council has built a relationship with the Essex Care Association (ECA) with ECC directors and senior officers attending the quarterly breakfast events. These events are a chance for providers to listen to updates from the Council, ask questions and meet senior management. Details of these events will be published on our Events page.

ECC is funding a Director of Development position (as reported in June 2018's provider newsletter) as well as membership fees for its framework providers for 12 months. We have also asked ECA to lead provider input into the next contract model for Older People (OP) domiciliary care (Live at Home). 

Each year, since the relationship management report was published, ECC has committed to conduct an annual survey of it providers and officers to measure the development of the relationships. 

The Care Market Strategy 2017-21 has been developed to detail ECC's future direction for adult social care setting out how the health and social care market in Essex needs to develop over the next 4 years.

A number of workforce initiatives have been developed to help alleviate the issues of recruitment and retention within the adult social care market. This includes a newspaper supplement, funded by ECC, which promoted careers in care in Essex.

ECC has created a new Forum which is designed to complement the existing engagement networks which we have in place.  It will provide advice and guidance to senior decision makers in the Council around how demographic and financial challenges can be met in ways which are more achievable for our providers whilst also better meeting the needs to our residents.  The Forum will therefore focus on key strategic matters rather than operational issues. For more information including terms of reference and meeting notes visit our forums page

ECC has set up a Live at Home strategic provider group for the domiciliary market to discuss issues with senior Council officers and look at ways of being more collaborative in the way we work. 

Forums focusing specifically on LD and complex needs have taken place in 2018 to listen to provider views and discuss future direction.

Quadrant-based (Mid, North, South and West) forums, which give providers a chance to discuss local-level issues with senior ECC officers and Health colleagues, are being being held regularly and details will be published on the Events page. 

We recognise that due to a number of ECC departments being involved in the adult social care market there is a need to clearly define our roles and responsibilities. You can find contact details for ECC officers in the Meet the Teams section of the site. department, what they do, and give you access to structure charts and contact details. 

These forums focused on service delivery and current/future demands of the services and were held at various locations across Essex in 2018. Details of future forums will be published on our Events page as well as communicated to appropriate providers via email. You can also find out more about Supported Living on our dedicated Hub page.

A Payment Project team has successfully delivered a large reduction in aged debt and have moved dozens of providers onto Extranet for easier invoicing and faster payments. A 2018 survey suggests the majority of providers are now happy with the service they are getting.

Listening and working with providers and partners in Health we have co-produced a new model for OP Residential and Nursing. The treatment of third party top-ups and contract length in the new Integrated Residential and Nursing (IRN) contract have been directly influenced by provider feedback.