Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has expressed significant concerns about poor commissioning impacting on a providers’ ability to deliver services and plan ahead.

The representative body is calling for commissioners to be subject to independent scrutiny, as part of a wider agenda seeking greater consistency and transparency in commissioning practice.

Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England, said: “Learning Disability services are often overlooked by the public as a marginal issue despite offering valuable support for vulnerable adults to remain independent within their communities and when commissioning of these services is not up to scratch, the risks of these services becoming marginalised intensifies.”

Care England members have expressed deep concerns into their relationship with Hereford County Council with regard to Learning Disabilities services.

It’s been reported that there are low base rate fees currently being paid out by the Council, £479 per week for residential care, inconsistencies in how commissioners approach the monitor of contracts with independent community care providers.

Care England is now calling for a more mature relationship to address the accelerating risks to the sustainability of the care market.

Professor Green, OBE said: “The relationship between commissioners and providers is critical.

“Collaborative working is key in working towards improving access to high quality, personalised services and support and while most relationships across the country are generally robust, there are examples where improvements are required.”