Norfolk County Council is pressing ahead with a wide-ranging transformation of how it commissions adult social care, with 22 individual projects underway covering areas including day opportunities, nursing home provision, and the use of technology in care delivery.

Chris Scott, Director of Strategic Commissioning and Market Development, told the Adult Social Care and Public Health Select Committee on 11 March 2026 that each of the 22 projects has its own business case and has been reviewed for risks, timelines, and expected benefits.

A new Strategic Commissioning Framework — built on 10 core principles and developed using national research and data from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services — will guide how the service makes decisions going forward.

Officers also described a new 'Appreciative Inquiry and Learning Visit' approach, where commissioners are expected to spend time inside care services listening to both staff and people receiving care. The aim is to build a better understanding of what is working and what is not at ground level.

Committee members raised several concerns during the meeting. Vice Chair Cllr Stuart Clancy welcomed the programme but questioned whether the information being produced was accessible enough, and warned that excessive bureaucracy could slow down delivery. Scott assured the committee that limiting bureaucracy was a priority.

A separate member asked how the council would maintain service resilience while switching between care providers, particularly for smaller businesses. Scott said the transformation placed a strong emphasis on engaging local partners and was also exploring whether day centre changes could create new paid employment opportunities for local community members.

On the question of workforce, Scott told the committee the council was actively promoting careers in care to young people — including through the Apollo Programme and visits to schools and colleges — to help address shortages in the care market.

The committee also heard that Norfolk County Council has written to the Minister of Health and Social Care calling for more central government funding for adult social care. Members agreed they would receive a copy of that letter.

Cllr Clancy suggested future reports on transformation projects should include Red Amber Green (RAG) risk ratings so the committee can keep track of where problems may be emerging. Officers agreed to include this going forward, and also suggested that real-life resident stories could be included in future reports to show the on-the-ground impact of the changes.

The committee noted the progress and confirmed its support for the programme's continued development.