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Market Position Statement 2025 - 2040 Community-Based Services Extra Care Housing

Market Rating - Supply

The supply of ECH in Walsall is contained within a long-term contract.  Supply is rated as amber as there could be more supply outside of this contract and better utilisation of what is already commissioned.ECH should be an area of growth as a community -based services.

Supply

Market Rating – Quality

The overall quality of the five ECHs is rated green/ amber as demonstrated by one outstanding, two good CQC ratings and two requires improvement ratings.

Quality is rated amber/green

Market Rating - Workforce 

Little is known about the ECH workforce but this will be an area for examination as part of further developments.

Overall Current Market Status

 There are under-utilised care hours in ECH block contracts currently. This is an issue that needs to be addressed as well as the complexity of service users that the ECH schemes and providers are taking. There is room for growth for more ECH schemes in Walsall.

Provider Dimension

 Commissioners are working with the lead ECH Provider to ensure that requirements are met and that supply is maximised and that the quality of schemes continually improves.

 Extra Care Housing Market Data

 Commissioned care hours are not fully utilised under the current block contract. In November 2024 utilisation figures were at 81% of commissioned hours.

Distance From Vision For The Future 

A vision for Extra Care Housing of the future needs drafting with providers and partners and options for preferred models. 

A draft vision is “Walsall Council will continue to encourage ECH as an option for residents and wish to work towards extra care meeting the needs of a greater proportion of all people who require care and support. We want to increase the number and range of ECH schemes in Walsall over the next 15 years”. 

There will be market engagement and co-design on this with the existing provider, new providers, developers and existing Walsall providers who may wish to diversify into ECH.

Market Risks

  •  Likely under-utilisation of commissioned care hours is currently a risk with ECH
  • The level of needs being supported in ECH are low to medium. There is a risk that more complex care isn’t being supported by current ECH schemes
  • There is a risk that this good alternative to bed-based care is not expansive enough in the Borough and that ambition for ECH is not strong enough.

Market Opportunities

  • Huge opportunities to grow ECH in Walsall
  • Opportunities to shape existing and new developments with existing and new providers to Walsall
  • Opportunity to better manage demand and create alternatives to bedbased care for people over 55 years of age
  • Opportunity to use ECH for other purposes such as hospital avoidance, hospital discharge and for younger adults with a range of care and support needs.