Building a care system that works: Why procurement must change

Right now, around 70% of local authority budgets are consumed by care services. A recent report "Ending Extraction in the UK Care System" shows that in just three LA regions private care providers extracted over £250 million in profit from public contracts over three years. Over a third of these companies are owned by private equity firms.

The report underlines why we must rethink how we do procurement in care. Commissioning for value, not extraction is what is needed. The commissioning of people-focused services like social care can’t be treated in the same way as buying commodities. When we apply procurement models designed for goods to deeply relational, human services, we often aren't getting the best outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. We can design commissioning that prioritises long-term value, social outcomes, and local ownership - supporting co-operative and community-led models.

At Stone King, we work with our clients to design procurement and commissioning that prioritises long-term value rather than short-term cuts, that focuses on social outcomes, workforce wellbeing, and dignity for those receiving care. If you want to hear more about our work in this space, do let us know.