We are delighted to virtually welcome Professor Catherine Needham and Dr. Emily Burns from the University of Birmingham to present ‘Improving outcomes in homecare: Is patch-based commissioning the answer?’ as part of our Seminar Series.
Date: 16th December 2025
Time: 12:30-13:30 UK time
Online event, please click here to register using a Google form.
Improving outcomes in homecare: Is patch-based commissioning the answer?
Homecare services are central for people to maintain their independence and quality of life. Despite its influence on the social care system, the sustainability of the homecare market has been called into question. Attempts to improve outcomes and increase market sustainability have led some local authorities to change commissioning approaches and working practices. A number of local authorities have pursued patch-based commissioning as an approach to improve outcomes for people drawing on homecare services. Patch-based commissioning splits the local authority area into smaller geographies with providers delivering care within a designated area. We present initial findings from an ongoing project exploring the process and implications of introducing patch-based commissioning in homecare service delivery. Our specific contribution will be to explore
1. The extent that patch-based commissioning has the potential to strengthen the sustainability of the homecare market.
2. Reflect on the factors that support or inhibit the introduction of patch-based approaches to commissioning.
About the presenters
Catherine Needham is Professor of Public Policy and Public Management at the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on adult social care, including personalisation, co-production, personal budgets and care markets. She has published a wide range of articles, chapters and books for academic and practitioner audiences. Catherine led the Care in the Four Nations work package within the ESRC Sustainable Care team. She is now leading research on care systems as part of the ESRC Centre for Care and is also a member of IMPACT, the UK centre for evidence implementation in adult social care. She tweets as @DrCNeedham.
Emily is based at the University of Birmingham where she is focusing on exploring the application of systems thinking to the analysis of social care. Prior to this role, Emily was part of a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded project at the University of Birmingham exploring local authority market-shaping activities in social care and how these facilitate the development and access of personalised care and support.
Please click here to register using a Google form.
The Centre for International Research on Care, Labour and Equalities (CIRCLE) and Centre for Care Seminar Series
In this seminar series we invite colleagues, partners and experts, whose work aligns with the mission of our Centre, to share their work with us and our audiences, to deepen our understanding of the critical issues in social care in the UK and around the world.
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