Verified developments across regulation, commissioning, funding and provider strategy in learning disability services.
Public funding
22 Oct 2026· England
Councils spent £8.3bn on long-term learning disability support for working-age adults in 2025/26
The Department of Health and Social Care's Adult Social Care Finance Report for England, 2025 to 2026, shows councils' gross current expenditure on adult social care rose 8% to £31.6 billion. Learning disability support was the largest area of long-term spending for adults aged 18 to 64, at £8.33 billion (26% of all gross spend), plus a further £1.16 billion for people aged 65 and over. For working-age adults, 65% of long-term spending went on community care, with supported living the largest single category at 49% of community spend; residential care accounted for £3.1 billion and supported accommodation £823 million. Learning disability support also carried the highest average weekly unit costs of any support reason: £2,371 for residential care and £2,029 for nursing care for 18 to 64-year-olds. Across all groups, the average weekly cost of residential or nursing care rose 6% to £1,251.09, and externally provided home care averaged £24.72 an hour. DHSC notes some councils reclassified learning disability and mental health services from long-term to short-term care, and cautions against dividing spend by activity figures to estimate cost per person.
Source: GOV.UK — Department of Health and Social CareRead source
Community Integrated Care calls for social care to have a stronger national voice after Covid Inquiry Module 6 report
Community Integrated Care has responded to the Covid-19 Inquiry's Module 6 report on the pandemic's impact on adult social care. Chief executive Jim Kane said the report reinforces a longstanding issue: social care has been undervalued and underrepresented in the national conversation, and its full breadth too often overlooked. He stressed that social care reaches far beyond care homes, supporting people with learning disabilities, autistic people and those with complex needs to live in their own homes and communities, and that their experiences and those of their families must not be lost. As Government considers the Inquiry's recommendations, the charity is calling for social care to have a more prominent voice in national decision-making, for its workforce to be properly recognised and rewarded, and for a system that values both the people who draw on and deliver support.
Iris Care Group Chair Peter Kinsey wins Lifetime Achievement Award at Social Care Leadership Awards
Peter Kinsey, Chair of Iris Care Group, has won the Lifetime Achievement in Social Care Award at the 2026 Social Care Leadership Awards. Judges highlighted a 40-year career that began with helping autistic people move from long-stay hospitals into community services in 1988, and spans roles as a local authority commissioner, NHS Director of Mental Health Services and Chief Executive of National. This year he also helped launch the Digital Excellence in Care for Working Age Adults Framework and a good practice guide on preventing choking deaths among people with learning disabilities. He previously topped the Social Care Top 30 in 2023.
Active Prospects has published its 2025/26 annual impact report, reporting 306 people supported, a 96% placement success rate and 100% of responding families and friends saying colleagues treat their loved one with kindness, dignity and respect. The Surrey-based learning disability and autism provider also reported 104 autistic adults receiving personalised wellbeing coaching, more than 6,000 health and social care professionals trained, and over 50 paid roles created for people with lived experience. The report sets out progress across five areas: supporting people to lead aspiring lives, strengthening lived-experience voice and influence, being an employer of choice, developing creative approaches and partnerships, and building a resilient, sustainable and equitable organisation.
Creative Support launches Creative Collective to give people it supports a voice in decision-making
Creative Support has announced the creation of its Creative Collective, a new forum intended to give people receiving support greater influence over organisational decision-making. The group will recruit up to 12 members drawn from people supported by the organisation. Members will share experiences, identify improvements and provide recommendations to the Board of Trustees and executive leadership.
Milewood invests £2m to grow specialist services across the North East
Milewood has invested more than £2m expanding its network of specialist homes across Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and the surrounding area for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. It has opened or developed services in Ormesby, Hemlington, Norton, Nunthorpe, Thornaby and Stockton, with further provision planned for Thornaby, Coulby Newham and Stockton. Larger specialist services are part of the strategy: Southfield in Middlesbrough will provide five places across three flats and two bedrooms once registered, and another property purchase in the town is planned to provide four to five self-contained flats. Jamie Alderson has been appointed regional operations manager to support the expansion.
Downing-backed Mysa Care opens new specialist sites in Surrey and South Wales as growth continues
Mysa Care, the specialist care provider backed by investment manager Downing, has opened new residential and supported living sites as it scales. Netley House (complex needs) and Elizabeth House (supported living for adults with learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions and complex health needs including epilepsy and diabetes) are in Surrey, while High Tor and Bryn Aderyn strengthen its presence in South Wales, where Safe Haven — acquired in 2023 — has completed a significant conversion. In total the group has opened 11 new sites in 18 months and now operates 46 care homes and supported living units with 157 beds, with more beds in development. Downing investment director Torsten Mack said the sector continues to benefit from strong structural demand, and CEO Chris Breen said Mysa continues to assess both organic growth and M&A opportunities.
Choice Care CEO: care is future-proof — AI will support, not replace, care workers
In an interview with Choice Care chief executive Valerie Michie, the provider sets out its position on AI and the future of social care. Michie argues care is one of the most future-proof careers, with human connection and intuition irreplaceable, but says technology is already adding value across the group: the PainChek app integrated with the Nourish digital care platform detects pain in people who cannot express it verbally; sensor technology flags night-time disturbances without disrupting sleep; a digital care recording solution is live across all sites; and an AI tool being rolled out reads care plans to surface key clinical information such as epilepsy risks that are buried in the detail. She points to GP Connect access giving staff a fuller picture of the people they support, and says technology is creating new roles in care, from digital trainers to data analysts. Choice Care is one of the largest independent providers of specialist learning disability and autism support in the UK.
DBS reduces fees for checks and Update Service from 5 October 2026
The Disclosure and Barring Service has cut fees across all its products from 5 October 2026: Basic and Standard checks drop from £21.50 to £20.00, Enhanced checks fall from £49.50 to £41.00 — the biggest reduction — and Update Service subscription drops from £16.00 to £15.00 a year. Volunteer checks remain free. The changes, approved by the DBS board, Home Office and HM Treasury and given legal effect through a statutory instrument laid on 9 September, matter for adult social care employers who fund pre-employment and annual renewal checks at scale. Registered Bodies may still add their own administration fee, which DBS does not regulate.
Source: GOV.UK — Disclosure and Barring ServiceRead source
Court of Protection applies new Supreme Court deprivation of liberty test in Re BM
HHJ Burrows has handed down one of the first Court of Protection judgments applying the Supreme Court's June 2026 ruling that replaced the Cheshire West "acid test" with a multifactorial, case-specific approach to deprivation of liberty. Re BM concerned a 16-year-old with autism and severe learning disability living in a solo residential placement under 3:1 staffing, continuous supervision, locked doors and authorised restraint. Despite the intensity of the restrictions — which the judge accepted would previously have meant a finding of deprivation of liberty — the court held BM is not deprived of his liberty, weighing the protective and enabling purpose of the arrangements, the relative normality of the placement for someone with his needs, and his own contentment and attachment to his home. The judge added that, had deprivation been established, he would not have found valid consent: contentment and compliance are not the same as consent. The decision signals a material shift in how DoLS cases involving people with learning disabilities and autism will be assessed, with direct implications for providers, commissioners and local authorities.
Source: National Archives — Find Case LawRead source
Welsh Government launches three-year Learning Disability Transformation Programme
The Welsh Government has launched a three-year Learning Disability Transformation Programme, first published on 23 September 2026, to improve support for people with learning disabilities across Wales. The programme — which supports development of a 10-year Learning Disability Strategy — is built around four workstreams: data, information and advice; models of integrated community care; specialist services including inpatient care and crisis support; and accommodation and housing solutions. It aims to help people live healthy, independent lives in their communities, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, deliver 24/7 specialist community support, and create a more consistent, person-centred system. The programme is managed by NHS Performance and Improvement in collaboration with the Welsh Government.
£91m fund to transform high-cost council services including adult social care
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has confirmed £91 million for 14 English councils already receiving Exceptional Financial Support, to modernise high-cost services including adult social care and temporary accommodation. Projects include AI-powered falls-prevention technology in Redbridge and redesigned frontline social work in Stoke-on-Trent. Funding is split across two years: £41m in 2026-27 and £50m in 2027-28. Councils supported include Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Haringey, Havering, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Lambeth, Redcar & Cleveland, Sefton, Stoke-on-Trent, Trafford, Waltham Forest and West Berkshire.
Source: GOV.UK — Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentRead source
National Care Group publishes 2025/26 Impact Report, lifting external compliance to over 90%
National Care Group has published its second annual Impact Report, covering 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 against the four pillars of its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy: Our People, Our Communities, Our Sustainable Growth and The Environment. Headline results include overall external regulatory compliance strengthening from around 80–82% to over 90% (peaking at 91.8% across the Group), winning Specialist Care Provider of the Year (large group) at the National Care Awards in November 2025, a tender win to operate a new 15-flat development in West Northamptonshire creating thirty jobs, a new supported living scheme in Sheffield providing homes for eight adults, and 229 colleagues marking long-service milestones totalling 1,945 years.
Leicester City Council awards £5.4m learning disability supported living contracts to Pathfinders and Voyage
Leicester City Council has awarded its SCE0079 mini-tender for enablement supported living services for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs (Lot 1) to Pathfinders Community Support Ltd and Voyage 1 Limited. The agreed contract price is £5,381,895 excluding VAT against an estimated budget of £6.1m. The award was made on 13 September 2026, with services running from 5 October 2026 to 31 October 2027. The council re-commissioned existing support packages through a mini-tender with providers already on Lot 1 of its Supported Living framework, covering services at various locations grouped into three separate opportunities.
Source: Contracts Finder via OpentendersRead source
Achieve together reports quarter of awards, regulatory gains and safety improvements
Achieve together has published its second-quarter review for the 2026 financial year. Highlights include a Sporting Chance win at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards, 'Good' CQC ratings for supported living in Harrow and residential homes Durlston House (Wiltshire) and Cornerleigh (Hampshire), positive Care Inspectorate Wales outcomes across six Welsh services, a 42% reduction in RIDDOR incidents alongside a 271% rise in near-miss reporting, its strongest 'Your Voice Matters' team survey to date, expanded co-production through the Unity board, and the appointment of Katie Sheldon as Senior Commercial Director on the executive team.
Scottish Government abandons Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill
The National Autistic Society has expressed anger and dismay after the Scottish Government chose to abandon the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill following five years of campaigning. The Bill sought to take a whole-life approach across social security, education, health and social care, transport and justice. The charity is particularly concerned that two key pillars — mandatory public-sector training and requirements for national and local government to publish strategies — are absent from the Government's plans, leaving no national plan to address the systemic injustices autistic people face. The National Autistic Society Scotland said it will hold the Government to account on commitments including action on Additional Support Needs and diagnosis pathways.
Baroness Julia Neuberger appointed chair of the Care Quality Commission
Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE has been appointed chair of the Care Quality Commission for three years from 1 October 2026, confirmed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care after a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing by Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee on 9 September 2026. An experienced healthcare leader and cross-bench peer, she currently chairs Whittington Health NHS Trust and is joint chair of University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and previously led the King's Fund. The appointment was made without open competition following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and carries a commitment of two to three days a week at £63,000 a year. The role puts her at the head of the regulator whose inspections and ratings shape assurance across learning disability and adult social care services.
Source: GOV.UK — Department of Health and Social CareRead source
National Care Group develops South West’s first dedicated Prader-Willi residential service
National Care Group is nearing completion of a specialist residential service in Brixham for up to six people with Prader-Willi Syndrome, described as the South West’s first dedicated provision and expected to create at least 15 social-care roles.
Oxfordshire names Higher Height Care as preferred bidder for £9.59 million adult short-break service
Oxfordshire County Council has named Higher Height Care Ltd as its preferred bidder for an adult short-break service supporting adults with learning disabilities, with a stated contract value of £9,591,040 excluding VAT and an earliest signing date of 17 September 2026.
Avenues selected for supported-living service in Saffron Walden
Essex County Council has selected Avenues Group to support three adults with learning disabilities at a supported-living service in Saffron Walden, with existing staff transferring to Avenues to maintain continuity of care.
Nottinghamshire confirms six additional supported-living and community-support framework awards
Nottinghamshire County Council has confirmed completed framework agreements with AOC Homecare, Collens Healthcare, NCHA, Real Life Options, United Response and Voyage for care, support and enablement services across supported living and community networks.
CQC passes 9,000 assessments and begins national rollout of adult social care portfolio holders
CQC says it has completed more than 9,000 assessments and is rolling out named portfolio holders across adult social care after testing the approach with about 1,500 services across 495 providers. The model is intended to improve continuity, communication and the regulator's use of service intelligence.
Government accelerates adult social care reform and National Care Service timetable
The government has launched a national conversation on social care and brought the Casey Commission's National Care Service plan forward from 2028 to summer 2027. The programme also prioritises workforce reform, sustainable funding and closer integration between health, community and social care.
Source: Prime Minister's Office and Department of Health and Social CareRead source
£16.6 million Sleaford scheme secures funding for supported living
The Hoplands has secured £16.6 million from Homes England and two Lincolnshire councils for 52 specialist homes, including 12 supported-living apartments for working-age adults. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027, with residents due to move in from autumn 2028.
Adult social care fair pay agreement backed by £500 million
A new Adult Social Care Negotiating Body will represent employers and workers in negotiations on pay, conditions and wider employment matters. The first agreement is backed by £500 million for 2028 to 2029, with negotiations scheduled to begin in April 2027 and the first settlement due by April 2028.
Source: Department of Health and Social CareRead source
Turning Point wins £3.23 million specialist supported-living contract in Barnsley
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has awarded Turning Point a five-year contract to operate a specialist supported-living service for autistic adults at Dillington Mews. The £3.23 million contract starts on 1 October 2026 and includes an option to extend for a further two years.
Source: Find a Tender / Barnsley Metropolitan Borough CouncilRead source
LeDeR finds adults with learning disabilities still die 19 years earlier
The 2024 LeDeR report says more than half of adults with learning disabilities in England die before 65 and, on average, 19 years earlier than the general population. Avoidable deaths fell from 46% in 2021 to 39% in 2024, while the government confirmed this is the final LeDeR publication in its current format before future data is integrated with wider health outcomes.
