Dorset Council is creating a new company to provide adult social care for residents.

The council will end its current contract Tricuro and launch Care Dorset later this year.

Dorset Council is responsible for arranging the social care for around 4,000 residents at any one time, but not all care for those residents is provided by Tricuro.

The transfer of care services to the new company will happen later this year but will not be before October. Tricuro will continue to provide care services to residents in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Dorset Council residents will continue to receive the same level of care by Care Dorset and residents who currently receive care are being contacted directly about the changes.

Tricuro staff who support Dorset Council residents will transfer to the new company without changes to their existing employment contracts.

Councillor Peter Wharf, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, said: "We are in the process of ensuring we can continue to provide high quality social care to our residents, while also achieving the best possible value for money.

"The needs of residents in the Dorset Council area are at the heart of the decisions being made. We want to be able to tailor our social care services to best meet those needs.

"Employees of Tricuro have our profound respect and thanks for working with some of the most vulnerable members of the community who need assistance to live a fulfilling life. We value these colleagues hugely and will continue to do so as they transfer."

The council is working closely with Tricuro and trade unions regarding all employees, including care workers, to manage the transition to Care Dorset.

Tricuro was set up in 2015 as a provider for social care services under the former council structure, to cover the whole of Dorset. Since then, there have been significant changes, including the creation of the two new unitary authorities.

Dorset Council has decided to act as spending on adult social care represents around half of all council expenditure, which will be £141 million in the 2022/23 budget. In addition, demand for adult social care is growing year on year and Dorset Council has the highest percentage of residents aged 85 and over of any county or unitary authority in the country.

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