Adult Social Care Commissioning

In Somerset we want people to live healthy and independent lives, supported by thriving and connected communities with timely and easy access to high quality and efficient support when they need it.

Our adult social care commissioning function in Somerset works to achieve this ambition, in partnership with providers, NHS, voluntary sector and people themselves.

Headed up by Deputy Director of Adult Social Care, Paul Coles, our service has a clear commitment to promoting people’s independence through enablement and embracing strengths-based, person-centred activity whilst also managing demand and ensuring value for money.

Market Position Statement

The Care Act 2014 sets out the law around market development in adult social care. Section 5 sets out duties on local authorities to facilitate a diverse, sustainable high quality market for their whole local population, including those who pay for their own care and to promote efficient and effective operation of the adult care and support market as a whole.

We have previously published a Market Position Statement (MPS) as a single document, updated every 2-3 years, but we have taken the decision to move away from this approach and instead provide our MPS in the form of a microsite. Our intention in doing so is to enable different elements of the content to be updated independently of each other as and when they change, and at least every six months.

Click here to access our Market Position Statement.

In addition, click here to read our Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy (2024-29).

Adult Social Care Fees 2025/26

Somerset Council’s fees for the 2025/26 financial year were circulated to all care providers on 5 March 2025.

This table shows the fees for 2025/26

International Recruitment

We also have a dedicated page that has been created as a hub for important information and resources. We aim to support our care sector and professional colleagues in understanding requirements and best practice in relation to overseas recruitment. We also share useful resources on our International Recruitment page on a routine basis. You can find all the information if you visit: International Recruitment