Proposed decision –Approve the Adult Social Care Provider Fee Uplifts for 2026/2027
Reason for the decision
Kent County Council (KCC) commissions a broad range of Adult Social Care services, including home care, residential and nursing care, supported living, extra care, and community support.
The Council must fulfil its statutory Care Act duties, maintain market stability, protect continuity of care for vulnerable adults, and also ensure the prudent, sustainable and financially viable use of public funds in accordance with the Council’s Best Value and financial management obligations.
The Council has had significant engagement with providers and taken into account feedback from both the Kent Integrated Care Alliance (KICA) and the National Care Association (NCA) Feedback from KICA and the NCA highlighted significant cost pressures and operational challenges across the sector.
The detail of the uplift proposals will be set out in the formal decision report
Decision type: Key
Decision status: For Determination
Notice of proposed decision first published: 13/01/2026
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt -
Decision due: Not before 11th Feb 2026 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Executive Decision regulations
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Sarah Hammond
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Helen Gillivan, Interim Director Adults and Integrated Commissioning..
Consultees
The proposed decision will be considered at the Adult Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee on21 January 2026.
Financial implications: The financial implications will be set out in detail in the formal decision report.
Legal implications: The Council has statutory obligations as set out in the Care Act 2014. In particular, the Council must ensure that social care needs are met and it must promote the efficient and effective operation of a market in services for meeting care and support needs in accordance with the specific statutory duties and the Care and Support statutory guidance.
Equalities implications: Equalities implications An Equality Impact Assessment has been completed and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Data Protection implications A Data Protection Impact Assessment is not required as there are no material changes to the way in which personal data is handled, nor the way in which it is used. Similarly, this work does not involve data profiling or changes to the way in which special category data is handled,