Cardiff Council is proposing a major redesign of how care home placements for older people are commissioned, creating a more transparent, consistent and sustainable system to meet growing future demand.
The proposals, due to be considered by Cabinet when it meets in September, aim to improve access to care home placements and help older people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
The new framework responds to increasing demand for specialist dementia and nursing care, with Cardiff’s population aged 85 and over projected to grow significantly over the next decade. It would introduce clear quality standards, ensuring only providers able to demonstrate high-quality care are included.
Service user choice would remain at the heart of decision-making, with people and their families supported to choose from a range of suitable, quality-assured care homes. The new approach is also designed to strengthen the local care home market by providing greater certainty for providers and encouraging investment in specialist services and future capacity.
The framework includes measures to improve hospital discharge pathways, reduce delays for people waiting for appropriate care and support, and increase the availability of respite care, recognising the vital role played by unpaid carers and families across the city. A new pricing model would provide greater consistency and transparency, helping the Council manage public funds responsibly while supporting provider sustainability.
Cllr Norma Mackie, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Public Health, said: “We know demand for dementia and nursing care is increasing, and these proposals are about creating a care home commissioning system that is fit for the future.
“The new framework would improve access to placements while ensuring people and their families continue to have choice and are supported to find the care home that is right for them.
“It would introduce consistent quality standards, provide greater certainty for providers, encourage investment in future capacity and support faster access to the care and support people need. It would also help improve hospital discharge pathways, increase respite provision for unpaid carers and deliver a more transparent approach to pricing that supports both provider sustainability and value for money.
Cllr Mackie added: “The proposals have been shaped by extensive engagement with providers, service users and families, and their feedback has reinforced the importance of quality, dignity and person-centred care.”
The report will go to Cardiff Council’s Cabinet when it meets on Thursday 17th September 2026.
