Stoke-on-Trent City Council is preparing to introduce a new approach to care home contracts designed to give residents more flexibility while reducing administrative burden on care providers.
Under the proposed model, which would take effect from 17 August 2026 if approved, the council would replace its single overarching contract with individual placement agreements for each resident. Care homes would receive simpler, direct payments that include residents' assessed contributions, reducing paperwork burdens on providers.
Feedback from residents and providers
The proposals follow consultation with residents and care providers. Councillor Lynn Watkins, cabinet member for adult social care, said the changes aim to "create a fairer, more flexible system that puts residents at the heart of care arrangements while also reducing unnecessary bureaucracy for providers."
What happens next
The cabinet will vote on whether to approve the new model at its meeting on Tuesday 14 July.