Council seeks new investment into social care estate

Norfolk County Council is seeking to secure investment to support the transformation of its care estate in Norfolk to meet residents' needs both now and in the future.

The expiry of Norse Care's contract in March 2026 offers an opportunity for the council to review the future provision necessary to meet the growing and changing needs of Norfolk's residents.

Since 2011, Norse Care has provided a range of services within the care sector, managing a range of residential care sites as well as Housing with Care and Independent Living. In that time, it has delivered quality care to thousands of residents and tenants in Norfolk. Norse Care's existing contract ends in March 2026.

Three sites operated by Norse Care received significant investment, being transformed into modern, purpose-built facilities. Residents in these sites are able to receive a wider range of care, with rooms created to use large modern equipment and which have ensuite bathroom facilities.

Whilst other homes have benefitted from smaller scale improvements, a review of the estate has shown that significant investment is needed to ensure that other existing sites are able to meet the current and future needs of Norfolk's residents, which are increasingly complex and varied.

Norfolk County Council has been working closely with specialist advisors to understand the opportunity and investment needed, testing market interest from other providers to ensure that we can provide high quality care for individuals and value for money. This work is still underway and no decisions have been made about the future of each site.

Cllr Andrew Jamieson, Deputy Cabinet Leader and Member for Finance, said "Norse Care have provided care and support to many people in Norfolk, helping residents, tenants and their families navigate difficult and uncertain times, and we thank everyone involved for the work they've done and continue to do.

"We must keep pace with Norfolk's increasingly complex care needs and the expiry of this contract in March 2026 gives us a fresh opportunity to look at how we do that. More people are living with dementia and there's a growing requirement for Housing with Care and Independent Living schemes.

"We've already invested £47 million in creating new, modern care provision for people across Norfolk, offering more choice and variety to help people live independently, for longer, in the place that they choose. Further investment will allow us to fast forward completion of new care homes to deliver the best care for more people, while at the same time maximising value for money for Norfolk's residents and turbo-charge the transformation of our care estate."

Work has been undertaken to review the current and future sufficiency needs across the county, ensuring that the needs of residents and tenants are kept at the forefront on any decision making. The Council continues to lobby the government to provide long-term sustainable funding for the sector and work closely with providers, and local and national bodies to support the market.

Norse Care currently operates a range of sites across Norfolk. Three of these (Burman House, Linden Court and Springdale) have already been closed. All other sites will continue to operate as normal until the contract expiry in March 2026. If required, Norse Care may continue to provide care until new arrangements are in place to ensure continuity of care for residents and tenants.