Social care capacity constraints are commonly known to Local Authorities, and finding a solution to these problems in a systematic way is often easier said than done. Such constraints can mean that individuals who are recognised as needing homecare support are unable to receive a package of care. To try and address these issues Dorset Council designed and implemented a Home Care Optimisation programme, which covered four project areas:

• Brokerage process – identifying and developing improvements to reduce the time taken to arrange a package of care
• Zonal optimisation – providers working collaboratively to make best use of capacity
• Technology enabled care – allowing some care visits to be completed virtually to reduce travel time and promote independence
• Trusted practice – delegation of authority to providers to enable completion of annual reviews