Market Position Statements (MPS)

Market Context  

Day opportunities services are designed to support adults with disabilities, which includes learning disabilities, autism, mental health, physical and sensory issues, older people and those with dual diagnosis and complex needs. The main focus of the service is for residents to learn new skills, be work ready, and increase their independence and confidence – as well as enabling a break for unpaid carers.  

The provision is purchased via a commissioned service (60%), direct payment (37%) or self-funded (3%). 

Current Market Status  

There are currently 24 providers, 15 in borough and 9 out of borough, who support Waltham Forest service users. We share a number of these with our neighbouring boroughs, such as Newham, Redbridge, Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Hackney and Haringey.  

These providers offer services for a range of needs including people with Acquired Brain Injury, Learning Disabilities, Mental Ill Health, and Dementia and Complex Needs. The Council also provides an in-house day centre service.  

Within Waltham Forest there are a range of Day Opportunities offering interventions which are linked to outcomes, such as employment, for the individuals. These include activities such as horticulture, cookery, travel training, citizenship groups and cycling. The level at which there is expertise in these activities relies on the provider organisation. 

Nationally there are very many models: some use a hub and spoke model which offers opportunities to engage in leisure-based interventions; some provide support to access services which are already delivered elsewhere, such as adult education; and some encourage the use of virtual services where people can access via Zoom as an individual or a group. Some providers offer complementary services which are purchased for a period of time such as travel training services alongside another provider who supports people into employment.  

Within Waltham Forest, the offer to our residents is a hybrid model of building-based and community-based activities and interventions. However, there are no flexibility or progression pathways built into support plans where the outcomes are monitored and once achieved, the resident can possibly move onto an alternative provision.  

Market Data and Insight  

The following spend data is correct as at November 2023. The amount of money spent may be subject to fluctuations over time in line with variations in demand and external factors including the ongoing impact of the pandemic and associated restrictions.  

In relation to the stated placement data, please note that this represents the latest recorded committed placement numbers for day opportunities. The stated placement data does not correspond to the number of adults who access day opportunities support as some individuals hold multiple day opportunities placements.  

Please note that these figures exclude out of borough provision and direct payments/self-funded provision.  

Waltham Forest Market (LBWF funded)    

The information shown in the table(s) above is correct as of November 2023. 

Market Risks  

As the population continues to age well, this could put increasing pressure on health and social services. There may be huge opportunities created by technological advances may also impact on day opportunities. The cost-of-living crisis will have a huge impact on providers being able to sustain the current economic climate, with payment of the London Living Wage, rising prices of food, fuel and utilities. The current model, although can be described as fit for purpose, lacks clarity and individuality. Most are generic and do not offer a service which is flexible, purchasable by the hour or session or offer college type term time-based interventions. There is a risk that unless we address the needs of the residents, people may become deskilled, dormant and lack innovation, motivation and creativity to embark on any type of journey. 

Current Area of Focus  

The current framework is due to expire on 31st March 2024 and the council are currently scoping the future of travel for this service.  

The focus will concentrate on flexibility or/and progression pathways built into support plans where the outcomes are monitored and once achieved, the resident can move onto an alternative provision.  

The Council would encourage providers to offer a mixture of:  

• Travel Training for Adults  
• Virtual interventions  
• Support at home  
• Building Based  
• Community-Based  
• Specialist Services  
• Employment Support  
• Evening and Weekend provision  
• Sessional Activities  
• Seven days per week services 
• Personal Assistants    

We will be looking to support and stimulate the development of resilient and stronger communities to play a greater role in supporting people and carers most in need to prevent, delay or reduce their need for care. Key to this will be to shape and facilitate community asset-based responses that enhance local capacity for people and carers to do more to help themselves and each other with appropriate access to flexible support, universal services and community networks.  

Future commissioning will aim to engage and gain the views of local people and community group’s opportunities to develop the range of day opportunities.  

Making the best use of available resources during a time of constraint on public spending and uncertainty around how the future cost of Adult Social Care will be the priority. Maximising value from commissioned services will go hand-in-hand with investing in prevention and wellbeing approaches to reduce the demand for long-term care and deliver robust contract management and performance monitoring processes to ensure services remain efficient, effective and good quality.  

We recognise that the best outcomes for customers can often be generated by having an array of providers to choose from at a time and venue which suits them, and the aim is to continue to support increased personalisation of services. We wish to see a varied, flexible and sustainable Day Opportunities Market develop in Waltham Forest over the coming years, in areas where personalised support is required for our residents to lead a fulfilling life.  

Commissioning Intentions   

The Council is committed to a vibrant, high-quality day opportunity and commissioning community support offer for people with disabilities that is engaging, develops people’s skills, and enables residents to feel connected with peers and their local communities. In addition to the specialist / targeted provision detailed above, the Council is seeking to ensure its mainstream universal services are disability confident, accessible and inclusive and this will form part of the specification. Supporting London Borough of Waltham Forest residents into employment is a priority for the Council and this is championed across Adult Social Care. 

The current framework contract expires on 31 March 2024. Commissioning will work with external providers to shape an offer for future day opportunity activities. Commissioning will work with providers to connect residents to existing opportunities available in the community to allow the purchasing of programmes and interventions. Commissioning will develop a standards framework for all personal assistants to sign up to when supporting residents, where reasonably practicable.