Interim Deprivation of Liberty Practice Guidance (AGNI Judgment 2026)

New interim guidance has been published following the AGNI 2026 Supreme Court judgment. Adult Social Care providers are encouraged to review the guidance to understand Essex County Council's current interim approach while further national guidance is awaited.

Read the guidance

Essex County Council - Provider Hub
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Market Vision

For a vibrant and sustainable domiciliary care market with sufficient capacity to support more people in their own home for longer in life, with diverse and complex needs.

A workforce that is stable and valued, with good career options.

Joined up support available in coordination with the NHS, other social care services and housing.

Key aims are:

  • Support people to remain independent
  • Good quality care
  • Sustainable pricing
  • Consistent and sufficient supply in all areas

1 Year Delivery Plan by end of 2024

Description:

Refresh of the LAH framework completed, and project established to commence redesign of new contracts to replace current LAH framework

 Key Milestones:

  • Consultation on care workers charter completed
  • Retention fund discharged
  • Framework refresh complete.
  • Proposals for new contract developed in partnership with the market

 

3 Year Delivery Plan by end of 2027

Description:

New LAH contract in place

Key Milestones:

  • New contract live by April 2025. Greater focus on outcomes
  • Care workers charter embedded in the new contract
  • Supply available in all areas
  • Workforce stable with both recruitment and retention metrics showing positive improvement from year one position
  • Strong relationships between ECC and core suppliers
  • Links in place with NHS commissioning
  • Coordination with day services offer, for example, in meals support
  • Support from suppliers for early identification of deterioration and links with neighbourhood teams/intermediate care offer
  • Digital integration
  • Personalised approaches and wider use of ISFs

 

7 Year Delivery Plan by 2030

Description:

Integrated approaches supporting more complex people in the home

Key Milestones:

  • Replacement of LAH contract let in 2025 underway on time if required
  • Relationships in place between LAH suppliers and community health / UCRT and virtual wards to wrap support around people if needed
  • Links established between suppliers and available community support for social needs.

Workforce recruitment and retention

  • Retention fund decision coming forward July 2023 and will support the workforce

Capacity and demand management

  • Ensure additional blocks have been used in hard to source areas, and refresh opportunity helps to rebalance prices to support entrants in the right place

Delivering good quality services

  • Good or outstanding CQC rating only on tier 1 providers should be a focus

Technology capability

  • Technology needs to be further utilised
Last updated: 17/08/2023