Hartlepool Market Position Statement (MPS) 2026

Introduction

Market Position Statements set out how local authorities understand and plan for adult care services. They help providers and partners understand current services, future demand, and opportunities for development.

This statement explains:

• the current adult social care market in Hartlepool
• how demand is changing
• how services may develop in the future

It supports ongoing conversations between the council, providers and communities, so we can work together to deliver high‑quality care and support.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought rapid and lasting changes to the care sector. This has given us an opportunity to reflect on how services are delivered and where improvements can be made. We are now working with partners to develop new approaches, improve access, and address inequalities.

Our approach

Hartlepool Borough Council works with providers, partners and communities to shape services. We aim to:

• understand local demand and service gaps
• support innovation and new models of care
• improve quality and access for residents

We are also developing a self-service data tool, allowing providers to view and explore local data. This tool will be updated during 2026.

Our vision

Adult Social Care in Hartlepool focuses on helping people stay independent and connected to their communities.

When support is needed, we aim to make services easy to access and centred around the individual. We work with partners across health, community and voluntary sectors to deliver joined‑up support.

Our vision is:
"We all want to live in a place we call home with the people and things that we love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing things that matter to us."

Underpinning that vision are or key priorities based on what people tell us is important to them:

• access to clear information and advice
• staying connected and reducing loneliness
• being as independent as possible and choosing how they are supported

The foundations of our vision are coproduction, commissioning, workforce, safeguarding and partnerships underpinned by the key principles of Community Led Support and strength-based practice.

Population overview

The Hartlepool population of people over 65 is expected to rise between 2020 and 2035 by approximately 35%, while the number of 18–64-year-olds will reduce by approximately 7%. The biggest increase is within people aged 90+, which is predicted to increase significantly by approximately 63%.

The latest population figures for adults in Hartlepool has risen to 98,180, which is a significant increase over the last 5 years.

Within the over 65 population, it is anticipated there will be increases in the number of people with depression (from 1,500 to 2,000 people), people living with dementia (from 1,200 to 1,800) and hospital admissions due to falls during the same period.

Hartlepool has a relatively small number of residents from black and minority ethnic groups, around 2-3% of the population.

Within the Hartlepool area, there are significant numbers of people with a long-term illness or disability that are well above national averages.

You can find more detailed information in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment:

View the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

Market overview

The Council provides and commissions a range of services for people with eligible social care needs including:

• older people
• adults with learning disabilities or physical disabilities
• people with mental health needs
• adults with substance misuse issues
• carers

Services include:

• information and advice
• day services
• home care
• extra care housing
• supported living 24hr
• residential and nursing care
• direct payments
• home equipment and adaptations

Support to carers is a key priority within Hartlepool, alongside technology enabled care, and a range of other community-based services, including an overnight domiciliary care service (introduced in 2024).

Adult Services work with a number of providers and partner organisations to deliver services that meet the needs of the Hartlepool population.

Stakeholder voices 

We work closely with partners, providers and people who use services to make sure care and support meets local needs.

We gather feedback in a range of ways to understand what works well and where improvements are needed.

How we gather feedback

• Social care staff share the views of people who use services to help shape how support is delivered
• Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP) captures the experiences of people who have been supported through safeguarding processes
• Quality audits involve senior managers reviewing case files, observing practice and speaking directly with people who use services

Working with partners

We work closely with our partners to collaboratively develop services to meet these needs, as well as develop innovative solutions, address gaps in provision, that encourage people to direct their own care and support:

• local care providers, including regular care home manager forums
• charities and voluntary sector organisations
• health partners, including NHS trusts, Integrated Care Boards (IBC’s), Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and GPs

We have a Quality Standards Framework (QSF) in place to work with our providers to monitor and support providers to meet care standards.

Learning and improving services

We use a range of approaches to monitor performance and improve services:

• analysing complaints and compliments in an annual report, to identify themes and learning
• carrying out regular surveys with people who use services and unpaid carers. The finding from these surveys indicate very good and consistent performance
• working with Healthwatch who play an important role in the work of Adult Services and feedback from their investigations and visits influences service development and future planning

Shaping services together

We involve people and partners in designing services through:

• Working Together for Change, which brings together providers, professionals, service users and carers to review what works and what needs to change
• Family leadership programmes, which support people to share their experiences and influence service design
• opportunities for people to take part in commissioning panels

Commissioning intentions 

We acknowledge that developing long term commissioning intentions following the Covid pandemic has been challenging. However, our focus over the coming years will be to further implement Community Led Support. This will offer opportunities to commission in a different way to meet the needs of the local population, both in terms of prevention and ongoing support. We will also aim to embed technology more into care delivery, and we are working with a strategic IT partner to help achieve this. Our aims are that:

• Co-production brings people and organisations together around a shared vision.
• There is a focus on communities and each will be different.
• People can get support and advice when they need it so that crises are prevented.
• Technology can be a key part of care delivery.
• The culture becomes based on trust and empowerment.
• People are treated as equals, their strengths and gifts built on.
• Bureaucracy is the absolute minimum it has to be; and
• The system is responsive, proportionate and delivers good outcomes.

Finance 

Adult Social Care is funded through council budgets, which are reviewed regularly.

Although budgets remain challenging, we continue to prioritise services for vulnerable residents. We encourage providers to bring forward innovative and collaborative solutions.

You can read more in the council’s financial report:
View the 2024 to 2025 financial report

Strategies and plans

Our key Adult Social Care strategies include:

• Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy 2024-2029
• Adult Social Care Strategy 2024-2029
• Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy 2023-2029
• Adult Social Care: Better Outcomes, Better Lives
• Carers Strategy 2026-2031
• Dementia Strategy 2026-2031

Procurement and contracts

You can find procurement information on the council website:

• View procurement information
• View the contracts register

For enquiries about commissioning or contracts, email:
adultcommissioning@hartlepool.gov.uk

Information and data

Care Home Residents in Place at Month End

Homecare/ISF Numbers in Place at Month End 

Direct Payment Recipients 

Dementia Numbers Estimates 

Equipment Provision (TCES)

Extra Care Numbers in Place at Month End 

No. of carers Receiving Assessment/Review/Service at Year End