Barking and Dagenham Council is set to enhance healthcare services in the Thames Freeport area through the CarePort project, a three-borough initiative aimed at improving the sustainability of care for residents with complex needs. The project will equip care staff with the skills and digital tools to deliver comprehensive and person-centred assessments, identifying issues early and escalating appropriately to avoid complications which lead to hospital admissions and expensive care packages.
The Cabinet of Barking and Dagenham Council convened on 19 August 2025, to discuss the implementation of the CarePort project, among other key agenda items. The project, a collaborative effort involving Barking & Dagenham, Havering, and Thurrock, seeks to provide integrated health and care services to approximately 1,800 individuals with complex needs living in care homes and supported by domiciliary care providers within the Thames Freeport area.
Cllr Maureen Worby, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, presented the CarePort Report, highlighting the innovative nature of the project. This is about innovation, and this borough's ability to look and think outside the box demonstrates that commitment, and where we want to go,
she said. She explained that the project aims to deliver an integrated health and care service through remote monitoring technology, staff training, digital integration, and support services.
The CarePort project is expected to yield cost savings exceeding £300,000 per year across the three boroughs. The total estimated capital cost is approximately £813,000 over 18 months, with £536,000 funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) via a Seed Funding Grant. The remaining £277,000 will be funded through in-kind contributions from the delivery partner organisation, Care City, and the technology supplier.
A waiver of tendering requirements was requested, citing Care City as the single provider of the transformation service, possessing over a decade of experience in delivering complex health and care projects in the region. Cllr Worby justified the waiver by emphasising Care City's ability to move at pace and deliver the project within the 18-month timeframe.
Cllr Saima Ashraf, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership & Engagement, endorsed the project, stating, It's a very exciting report, especially that we're talking about real people's lives that will be affected and how, you know, we can prevent so much and save money at the same time.
Key outcomes expected from the CarePort project include a 20% reduction in unplanned A&E attendances and delayed need for intensified care. Specifically, the project aims to achieve at least a 20% reduction in unplanned A&E attendances and ambulance call-outs among programme participants by using early risk detection and digital triage to prevent avoidable crises. It also aims to delay or reduce the need for intensified care (e.g. double-handed care, care home admission) in at least 30 individuals, through proactive, in-home health monitoring. These interventions are projected to save over £1 million in system costs due to early interventions. The project aligns with the government's NHS 10-year plan by bringing care closer to home and harnessing digital technology to improve health outcomes.
The CarePort project aims to integrate with existing healthcare services by supporting the prevention and early intervention agenda of local Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) – North East London and Mid & South Essex – by identifying risks early and coordinating care digitally. The project also intends to establish data-sharing and financial flow agreements across council and NHS partners to ensure long-term sustainability of the model.
Long-term plans for the CarePort project beyond the initial 18-month implementation period include establishing an operational blueprint, data-sharing, and financial flow agreements across council and NHS partners to ensure long-term sustainability of the model, including potential shared savings mechanisms for reinvestment in growth. Key delivery partners are formally engaged in sustainability planning, with an emerging model of future commissioning under discussion.
The Cabinet approved the waiver of tendering requirements, authorising the Strategic Director for Children and Adults to enter into the contract with Care City and related agreements.
