The Care Funding Calculator is a free excel spreadsheet-based tool designed to provide transparency and greater information to the negotiation and placement of adults with learning disabilities, mental health and physical disabilities in residential and supported-living placements. It is designed to provide cashable efficiency gains through ensuring a fair payment level for care, measured against a benchmark.

Through the implementation of a Care Funding Calculator across the region's authorities, Adult Social Care Services in the East Midlands have generated over £2 million in savings since 2008, forecast to become £4.5 million cumulatively when the 2010-2011 figures are included. This represents an average price reduction of 17%.

• Nine authorities have used the tool
• 320 staff have been trained across the Midlands, including 175 in the East Midlands
• During a pilot scheme reviewing high cost placements, Nottinghamshire County Council secured savings of £182,000 and has recently declared its intent to roll the Calculator out across the county
• Lincolnshire County Council has the tool fully embedded and has generated savings in excess of £1.6 million in 2009/10
• A Project Board, attended by staff from all levels and areas of Adult Social Care, has been established and meets bi-monthly to share learning and discuss how to maximise savings

The Calculator assists in managing the costs of residential care and supported living for adults with learning disabilities, but can also help plan the future strategic direction of services. Although initially developed specifically for learning disabilities, the tool is flexible and is now being used successfully in other adult care services such as mental health.

This project has been funded through the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, read our case study for more information.