Councils will be encouraged to organise home care around smaller neighbourhoods under Government plans to give people more consistent care and cut care workers’ travel time.

The Department of Health and Social Care said one or two main providers would serve each neighbourhood, and guidance and toolkits will be published in the spring to support councils ‘move to neighbourhood-based models of home care commissioning.’

Currently, councils can commission visits from multiple providers across large areas, meaning people may see different carers and workers can spend long periods travelling.

Research by the Health Innovation Network South West on six Bristol providers suggested reorganising visits into zones could deliver the same care with 35% less staff time and 65% less driving.

‘Commissioning social care by neighbourhoods will help people stay well, independent and at home for longer,’ said the Minister of State for Social Care and Mental Health, Alison McGovern.

‘Home care will be more personalised, and people will see familiar carers who understand their needs and priorities. Carers won’t travel as far, saving time instead of rushing from visit to visit and carrying out set tasks in an impersonal way.’

Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive of the Homecare Association, said: ‘Done well, neighbourhood commissioning can mean familiar care workers who know the people they support, less time on the road and more secure jobs. These relationships help care workers spot changes early and keep people well at home. We look forward to working with government, councils and the NHS to develop guidance that puts these principles into practice.’

Commenting on the announcement, Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: ‘Many councils are already taking neighbourhood-based approaches to arranging home care as part of a wider move to joined up health and care at neighbourhood level.

‘We continue to work with DHSC and sector partners to create the right local conditions for people to access the home-based care that is most effective in supporting them to remain living independently at home.’