This Market Position Statement sets out a clear direction of travel for care and support in Herefordshire. It signals how the council will work with providers to reshape services in response to changing needs, national policy direction and local priorities.

A clearer strategic direction

Providers should expect commissioning to increasingly prioritise:

• Prevention, reablement and early intervention
• Supporting people to live well at home for as long as possible
• Community‑based, strengths‑based models of support
• Planned pathways for people with more complex or long‑term needs

This includes clearer expectations about the types of services we want to grow, adapt or reduce over time, and greater transparency about how commissioning decisions are made.

A shift away from reactive, short‑term approaches

We are seeking to move away from commissioning models that rely heavily on crisis‑driven, short‑term or transactional arrangements. Instead, we want to work with providers through:

• More planned, partnership‑based approaches
• Clearer pathways and expectations
• Support for stability, continuity and sustainability

Providers who can work with us to plan ahead, adapt services and support continuity of care will be increasingly important to the local system.

A strong focus on quality and workforce stability

Quality, workforce stability and outcomes are inseparable. We value providers who:

• Invest in their workforce and promote continuity of care
• Align staff skills and capacity to increasing complexity
• Deliver services that are safe, compassionate and outcomes‑focused
• Use supervision, learning and improvement to maintain high standards

We will continue to treat workforce practice as a core component of quality, not an add‑on.

Opportunities to innovate and collaborate

There are opportunities for providers to work with us to:

• Develop new prevention and reablement‑focused models
• Grow community‑based, housing‑linked and supported accommodation services
• Contribute to neighbourhood‑level, integrated working with health and community partners
• Use technology and innovation to improve access, quality and efficiency

We welcome providers who want to co‑design solutions and work collaboratively to meet local need.

Fairness, transparency and shared responsibility

We are committed to commissioning in ways that are transparent, fair and proportionate. In return, we expect providers to:

• Promote inclusion and reduce inequalities
• Treat people with dignity, respect and compassion
• Work with us openly to address challenges and risks
• Contribute to a sustainable and resilient local care market

Working together

This Market Position Statement is an invitation to continued dialogue and partnership. We want providers, community organisations, people who draw on care and support, and carers to work with us to shape the future of care in Herefordshire.

Together, we can build a system that delivers better outcomes for people, greater confidence for providers and long‑term sustainability for the local care market.