Staffordshire County Council is looking to increase its supply of home care for elderly people across the county.

The decision is due to be implemented at a meeting of the council's Cabinet on Wednesday next week (16th September).

The authority says that its plan for recommissioning of home care in Staffordshire will put the emphasis on innovation, and protect the care market from disruption.

The county council arranges nearly 50,000 hours of home care for around 3,500 people each week in Staffordshire.

The current care contracts are due to expire in August 2021 and a procurement process is required to start in October 2020, and it is hoped that the new contracts will enable the authority to improve the quality and and quantity of care provided, while keeping costs under control.

Cllr Johnny McMahon, Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing said: "The Council arranges nearly 50,000 hours of home care for around 3,500 people each week.

"With the contracts we have in place due to expire in August 2021, we need to start a procurement process for new contracts in October 2020, building on the successes and lessons from the previous procurement."

"The aim is to support the development of home care, increasing supply and encouraging innovation, whilst avoiding large-scale disruption of the market."

To read the meeting's supporting documents in full ahead of next week, visit the council's website here.