Adult Specialist Care UK Market Report Eighth Edition
Will independent provision remain dominant?
LaingBuisson's fully revised eighth edition explores a market now valued at £21.3 billion and provides care services to approximately 700,000 younger adults in England. Combining authoritative insight with comprehensive datasets, the latest edition guides essential decision-making in a shifting and primarily independently supplied market.
This fully updated eighth edition of LaingBuisson’s Adult Specialist Care UK Market Report provides a comprehensive analysis of services for working-age adults (18–64) with long-term care needs. It covers the care and housing needs of groups including learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions, acquired brain injury, substance misuse, early-onset dementia, and complex physical and sensory disabilities up to the financial year 2026/27.
The report examines a £21.3 billion UK market that is now almost exclusively (94%) provided by the independent sector, including for-profit and not-for-profit, for service delivery. Based on the latest data, we estimate that approximately 700,000 younger adults are in receipt of long-term social care in England, and this number is projected to rise further. While this may suggest that this is a market primed for consolidation, it continues to remain fragmented, with a long tail of micro-providers currently operating across the UK.
When reviewing more recent trends, the market reveals a post-Covid surge in adult specialist care services with an estimated 8.6% five-year nominal growth. Demand for these services is still rising as the learning-disabled population ages and care shifts from residential settings into supported living. This is reinforced by the expansion of housing options for younger adults, as investment in supported accommodation expands in a supportive policy environment.
For those looking to build a broader understanding of the UK social care landscape, it can be read alongside related sector reports such as Care Homes for Older People, Homecare and Supported Living and Children’s Services to provide a more complete market view.
This report supports strategic planning and decision-making for:
- Specialist care providers (residential and supported living)
- Private equity firms and investors
- Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and property developers
- Local authority commissioners
- Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS continuing healthcare teams
- National and regional policymakers
- Social care analysts and strategic consultants
- Trade associations and advocacy groups
- Housing associations and registered providers
- Care sector banks and lenders
- Corporate strategy and M&A teams
Want to know more? Speak to our team
Or keep reading...
LaingBuisson is the chosen provider of independent sector healthcare market data to the UK Government’s Office for National Statistics.
-
The Market outlines a £21.3 billion sector in detail, segmenting value, volume and demand across settings and client groups.
-
Politics and Regulation are examined through the lens of recent reform, regulatory risk, and diverging approaches across UK nations.
-
Detailed analysis of Payors and how local authorities, the NHS and private funders shape care models, pricing and commissioning decisions.
-
The Market Structure reveals key benchmarks, provider concentration, capacity change, and ownership across care homes and supported living.
-
Investors are profiled in terms of assets held, recent transactions and strategies in both property-backed and operational businesses.
Have questions? Our team is here to assist
Or keep reading...
Need assistance?
"This discrepancy between council and private payer prices can’t continue, but it’s difficult to see how it can be resolved with costs expected to rise from the employer National Insurance contributions and the increase to the national living wage."