We have an important role to play in ensuring that our residents can lead fulfilling lives as independently as possible.

We recognise, however, that many people need help to lead full and independent lives, so part of our work is to ensure there is an effective, flexible and responsive high quality social care provision.

Stimulating and shaping the market is part of our job to ensure that people have access to support which is tailored to their needs. Therefore, we produced a market position statement to explain the likely demand for the types of services which will be required in future.

Where to find help

To get help with commissioning queries.

Email: commissioningandcontracts@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Quality Assurance

Our Quality Assurance Framework is used to assess quality standards, offer support and resources to improve where necessary and where good and outstanding practice is taking place, celebrate and share this widely within our networks to ensure that we and our Providers are Enabling Great Lives for our residents.

Each provider is assigned to a Quality Assurance and Improvement Officer who is their point of contact, they carry out annual visits to services and assess the quality of care that they are providing.

The assessments are done in a number of ways depending on the service and whether it is possible for us to visit and assess care at a location or whether we need to review performance indicators against an agreed set of standards as data that can be analysed to determine whether outcomes are being achieved.

In all cases we ensure that the relationship with the provider is built and fostered and that providers are fully aware of the support, training, events and resources that are available to them whilst working with Cheshire West and Chester council. Our one team approach means that communication with providers becomes easier and that they will be more confident in raising early concerns and encouraged to share good practice through provider forums and networking events.

The Quality Assurance Framework allows us to work closely with our internal and external partners including health providers and people with lived experience. Regular collaboration between teams around quality returns and soft intelligence means less duplication for both teams and providers, allowing us to target the support given by the appropriate service leading to improved and positive outcomes for service users.

Where the quality of care falls below the expected standard, our team dedicates time and available resources to support the provider to work through an agreed action plan with SMART outcomes and achievable timescales, we agree restrictions during this time to ensure service user safety and to allow the provider to achieve the necessary improvements.

The Quality Assurance Framework provides a structure of how we will monitor Quality Assurance across all services and information for our providers about how this will work, however the most important feedback comes from the service users and their families.

The assessment tools we use allow us to collect and record this information and share it with the providers and our internal colleagues to inform future commissioning priorities and improve the services offered for our residents.

Provider Forum

The forum provides all those involved in the delivery of services in Cheshire West and Chester an opportunity to share best practice, build on working relationships and develop innovative new ways of providing services. Those not currently providing these services, but with an interest in doing so, are also welcome to attend the forum.

Currently we are hosting the following provider forums:

Joint residential and nursing care
Learning disability and community based care
Housing related support
Care at home
Early intervention and prevention (under development)

Quality queries

For quality queries please use the email addresses below:

Further information

E-procurement portal: The Chest
Joint strategic needs assessment
Market position statement

Information for Care Providers and Professionals

Market Position Statement 2023 - 2033

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Market Sustainability and Cost of Care Exercises

Providers Area

Professional Referrals