Responding to the council's fee uplift or cost of care exercise
Does the council's rate cover the cost of care, and what evidence do we put in our response?
Compare the council's rate and its rises with pay, inflation and other councils, then show the cost of care for a typical home.
When people use it: When the council publishes its proposed uplift or cost of care exercise, usually from January to March.
How it works, step by step
The rate over time
The commentary sets each rise against the National Living Wage and inflation.
Against other councils
Add neighbouring councils: where does this council rank, and is it falling behind?
The cost of care
Set the home to all council funded residents (self funders 0%): what margin does the council rate leave after the April pay rise?
Market pressure
A district or council moving into shortage strengthens the case that rates must attract supply.
The views you will use
Ask the data in plain English
A real question and answer from Ask Orrery, the assistant inside the platform, for a care home owner in Kent (October 2026). It answers only from Orrery's data and the subscriber's own documents, and shows its sources.
Yes for the last rise, but the April 2026 pay rise isn't in the rate yet.
- Kent's residential rate rose 11.6%, from £1,063 to £1,187 a week, from 2025 Q3 (DHSC returns, via Orrery). The National Living Wage rose 6.7% in April 2025, so the rate kept pace that year.
- The rate is still £1,187 in 2026 Q3. The National Living Wage rose a further 4.1% in April 2026, to £12.71 (Orrery policy timeline). No matching Kent rise appears yet. A new rate shows only after DHSC publishes it, so one may still come.
- Kent is 23.4% above the England median of £962 and ranks 19th of 152 councils (DHSC returns, via Orrery).
This is a usual rate, and many placements are agreed above it. Homes with many council-funded residents are most exposed to a gap.
- Councils respond to evidence: a chart of rates against pay rises, and a costed typical home, are stronger than a statement that fees are too low.
Answer this for your own councils
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