Kingston Extends Carer Support Contract and Increases Funding Due to Rising Demand

Kingston upon Thames Council is set to extend its adult carer support contract until March 2028, with an increased contract price to manage rising demand for carer assessments and reviews. The provider has been completing an increasing number of carer assessment and reviews, exceeding the original target of 200 annual carer assessment and reviews by 81% in 2024/25 (312).

The People Committee approved the contract extension and uplift at its meeting on 23 September 2025¹, ensuring continued support for unpaid carers in the borough. The decision comes as the council recognises the increasing need for carer services, driven by factors such as the establishment of the Kingston Hospital's carer liaison service in 2023 and an overall increase in carer contact.

The adult carer support contract, part of the wider VCSE Commissioning Programme, is currently held by a local carer community organisation. The contract requires the provider to complete carer assessments and reviews, manage relief breaks, and offer wider support for adult carers, including information, advice and guidance, and low-level peer group support.

Commissioners sought to increase the contract price in line with the council's general 3% VCSE uplift commitment for 2025/26, and to generate additional capacity to manage the increasing demand. The initial contract term was set to end in March 2026, but the approved extension allows for a further 24 months, running until March 2028. More information can be found in the Carer Support Contract Uplift and Extension document.

The uplifted contract price will increase from the current value of £1,230,850 (including VAT £1,477,020) to a new value of £1,433,005 (including VAT £1,719,606).

The council secured a Better Care Fund allocation of £60,000 for 2025/26 to help meet the assessment and review demand. The VCSE uplift commitment added another £7,385 to the contract price.

The People Committee also noted the progress of the SEND Futures Plan, the Kingston and Richmond Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2024-2025, the Corporate Parenting Annual Report, and endorsed the progress of the Children and Young Persons Plan.