The care market in Barnet is dominated by residential care homes due to a high number of self-funding retirees. However, self-funders may not have good access to advice about care options. Most care is received through informal arrangements, but demand is expected to rise as more families provide care. Long-term carers are at risk for health problems. The UK government launched a national carers strategy in 2008 to improve support, but gaps remain like respite care. There is a need for more accessible housing with support to help those with complex needs.

1. Care Market in Barnet
Most people receive care and support through informal arrangements and growth in demand is
expected to impact on carers and communities as more and more families and households will
be affected by carrying out caring responsibilities for short or long periods. We also know that
people who care for long periods are especially vulnerable to physical and mental ill health
which creates an individual personal burden, increases demands on health and social care
services and undermines the viability of informal care arrangements.
HM Government launched its National Strategy for Carers on 10 June 2008. Called "Carers at the heart
of 21st century families and communities: A caring system on your side. A life of your own", it sets out a
series of initiatives and some new commitments to help and improve the lives of carers. It gives a
framework for a ten-year programme and a vision of what the Government wants to see in place for
carers by 2018. It replaces the 1999 strategy “ Caring about Carers” . The strategy covers the United
Kingdom and is a cross government initiative endorsed by the Prime Minister and seven Secretaries of
State. Health and social care aspects are specific to England.
There are some gaps in support for carers, including respite care and emergency home based
respite which are set out further in section 4 of the JSNA.
Apart from informal care, the care market in Barnet is dominated by residential care. Historically
there have been a high numbers of people who fund their own care arrangements in Barnet
reflecting the economic profile of the borough in particular of retirees. This has stimulated a
large provision of private care homes and to a lesser extent domiciliary care agencies. However
it is not clear that these self funders always have good access to advice and support which
enables them to exercise choice of care arrangements and which would stimulate demand for
alternative provisions.
The latest demand analysis shows us that the Local Authority and local Primary Care Trust
combined purchase less than 50% of the placements locally, although the proportions a higher
for younger adults..
Supply
Snapshot of local care homes registered for older people in London borough of Barnet:
1. 74 care homes in total.
2. 20 registered as ‘care homes with nursing’- including some registered to provide
dementia care.
3. 54 ‘care homes only’ – of these most registered to provide dementia care including some
with specialist units.
4. Places: Residential 1,741- inc. 327 shared and inc. 816 En Suite
Nursing 1,029- inc. 146 shared and 882 En Suite.
• In comparison with national supply ratios Barnet is oversupplied for care homes – based
on places per nos. of people over 65 (CSCI ).
• Size of homes vary from between 10 to 120 places however most between 30 and 60.

2. • Much of the building stock is relatively outdated – only new build must comply with new
space regs. Etc.
• Relatively limited spectrum of care offered at present.
• 3 care home include day care units (block contract- catalyst)
Occupancy levels of care homes are falling in line with the national picture. The market is
accessed by a number of outside boroughs and PCTs which presents a number of risks which
need to be locally managed. There are particular risks currently associated with this market as
several of the larger asset based companies are affected by the economic climate and with
lowering occupancy levels this increases the risk of relatively sudden care home closures.
There is a need for more self contained accessible housing with 24 hour support and access to
good quality homecare services which can support younger and older people with complex
care needs. This has been reflected within the Barnet LAA in respect of people with mental
health needs known to secondary mental health services.