Strategic aims

Ensuring there are enough of the right care services, in the right places, is fundamental to meeting people's needs in Norfolk. As demand increases and complexity grow - particularly in areas such as dementia, mental health, learning disability, and autism - we need a care market that is diverse, responsive, and able to offer support close to home. We also know that access can be particularly challenging in rural and coastal areas, where workforce and infrastructure pressures are often more acute. 

Affordability is an essential part of achieving market sufficiency. As a local authority, we have a duty to secure best value for public funds while ensuring that services remain financially viable for providers. This means developing affordable models of care that deliver high-quality outcomes, represent good value for money, and support the long-term sustainability of the market. By working together to align costs, outcomes, and resources, we can meet people's needs while making the best use of the funding available. 

That's why our focus is on working with providers and housing partners to grow the right mix of services across the county. We want to shift the balance towards community and home-based support where appropriate, expand supported and independent living options, and improve access to flexible, personalised care. This includes building capacity in under-served areas, reducing waiting times, and developing service models that can adapt to changing needs. By sharing our commissioning plans early and supporting innovation and investment, we aim to create the conditions for providers to grow sustainably and deliver the right support, in the right place, at the right time. 

Our ambitions

• Ensure people can access high-quality support, in the right place, at the right time, enabling independence wherever possible
• Grow home-based and community services to reduce reliance on residential care and hospital settings. This includes the development of our reablement offer which includes working with the care market under the caring for better outcomes framework to support people to remain at home.
• Expand supported living and independent living schemes, including new developments backed by capital funding
• Develop services that respond to complex needs, including learning disability, physical disability, autism, mental health, and dementia
• Use commissioning strategies to address gaps, reduce waiting lists, and improve timely access to care
• Build capacity in rural and under-served areas to ensure equitable access to care across the county
• Promote the use of direct payments and informal, community-based care, ensuring people have greater choice and flexibility in how their support is delivered 
• Develop our approach to delegated health tasks working with care providers and the NHS

What this means for providers

• You'll have early sight of commissioning intentions and opportunities to shape future service models 
• We'll work with you to grow capacity where it's most needed - supporting innovation, service development, and investment decisions
• We'll work with you and housing partners to develop the right kind of accommodation with embedded care to meet Norfolk's growing demand

What people can expect

• To receive the care and support they need without unnecessary delay
• To have access to local services that help them remain independent in their communities