It’s not only the proposed budget that B&NES cabinet members will be discussing when they meet next Thursday. Also on the agenda are measures to transform adult social care services to enable them to better meet the needs of residents across the authority.
Bath & North East Somerset Council says it’s committed to providing high-quality services that keep pace with the area’s growing and ageing population.
The proposals include a review of support arranged for adults with learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity (LDAN), as well as those needing home care services or care homes.
A report to the council’s cabinet on February 12 says that current contracts for these services come to an end between 2026 and 2027, and rising pressure on the care system requires more modern approaches to support people in the right way.
Across Bath and North East Somerset, LDAN services currently support more than 500 adults through day opportunities, supported living, housing, and care homes delivered by a mix of providers both within and outside the area.
With the population projected to exceed 212,000 by 2032 and one in five residents expected to be aged over 65, demand for residential, nursing and home‑based support is set to rise sharply.
The district currently has 33 care homes supporting nearly 500 residents in residential and nursing settings. In addition, around 600 people receive home care each week, with 36 providers delivering approximately 8,000 hours of care arranged by the council. These services are already facing significant demographic and operational pressures, and we need to work with them to plan for the future.
Councillor Alison Born, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “We arrange services that look after some of our most vulnerable residents and are committed to providing personalised, compassionate and high-quality care.
“We want people who use these services and their families to have more choice and control over how their care is planned and delivered. We will work with our partner organisations to look at how to best prepare for the future and ensure that we provide the right services.
“For example, we can give more people the opportunity to live independently in mainstream housing, improve how we use assistive technology to promote independence, and enable people to live well in their communities by ensuring the right support is available at the right time.”
LDAN services currently account for £22 million of the social care budget, care homes £39.6 million, and home care £9 million.
If approved further details will be announced later this spring.
The report will be considered by cabinet on 12 February, which is also meeting to discuss the council’s 206-2027 budget, where a commitment is being made towards prevention and early intervention, to improve outcomes and reduce long‑term costs. This includes investment in adult social care. Both reports can be found here. Council meetings can be viewed on the council’s YouTube channel.
