Micro providers
What is a Micro Provider?
The East Sussex care and support market is made up of providers of all sizes including a growing number of Micro providers.
Micro providers are care and support businesses working in the community they serve, delivering a broad range of services to meet the needs of local people.
Micro providers can be individuals, groups, voluntary or community organisations, small private businesses or social enterprises (with no more than 5 paid or unpaid full-time equivalent workers).
Due to their size, micro providers can offer diverse, personalised and flexible support, tailored to the individual to achieve their desired social care outcomes. Services might include:
- care and support at home
- breaks for carers
- meals or lunch clubs
- opportunities for exercise and social activities
- help with employment or volunteering
- making use of community facilities
Services can be purchased by people funding their own care, or those who are receiving funding from the council for their care and support needs.
If what you deliver now or want to deliver fits the above description, read on for information that will help you to start up or grow your business further.
If you are wanting to offer a Personal Assistant (PA) service, take a look at this webpage:
A guide for personal assistants
Business support
You will find a wealth of business advice on the following pages: Business support in East Sussex
Business East Sussex Growth Hub
The Business East Sussex Growth Hub is a free, independent, and publicly funded business support service for businesses across East Sussex.
For free business advice if you are thinking of starting up a business or looking for ways to grow your business, contact the Business East Sussex Growth Hub
Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Sussex
The Business & Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Sussex is part of the British Library’s National Network of BIPCs across the UK.
In East Sussex, BIPC Locals at Eastbourne Library and Hastings Library, support entrepreneurs, start-up businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises in Sussex. Offering network events, 121 expert advice and access to a wealth of free online information - business databases, market research reports, company data and information on intellectual property.
https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/businessinformation
Business Companion
Free impartial legal advice is available from Business Companion.
Citizens Advice
If you need advice with regards to a dispute you can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, on 0808 223 1133, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. Or visit: Consumer Service
Trading Standards
Business advice is also available from our Trading Standards Service
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
We are registered as an ‘umbrella body’, which means we can process DBS checks on behalf of your business. For more information: Processing DBS checks for businesses
Adult Social Care courses
We offer a wide range of free adult social care courses. These courses will provide you with valuable skills and knowledge for the care and support services you are offering or plan to offer.
For more information on ASC courses currently available please visit: Adult social care training
East Sussex 1Space
East Sussex 1Space is an online directory for care, support and wellbeing services where providers can list their services for free.
Being on 1Space makes your service more visible and accessible to a wider audience in East Sussex as it is linked to our website and promoted by Adult Social Care and Health.
If you would like your service to be added to the 1Space directory, please visit: Suggest a Service - East Sussex 1Space
The 1Space team will then contact you to confirm if it’s suitable for inclusion and to help you draft your listing.
East Sussex Community Information Service (ESCIS)
The East Sussex Community Information Service is your one-stop shop for exploring all that East Sussex and Brighton & Hove has to offer.
The comprehensive, online directory lists community organisations, clubs, and events across the county including businesses that provide services beneficial to the public good, focuses on health and wellbeing, or promotes leisure activities.
ESCIS offers a fantastic platform to reach potential members and promote your services and events entirely free of charge.
Buy with Confidence (BWCC)
As a Micro Provider business, you could consider applying to join the Buy With Confidence scheme.
The Buy with Confidence website provides consumers with a list of local businesses that are committed to trading fairly and provide high standards of customer service.
All businesses on the Buy With Confidence website have been approved by Trading Standards. We work in partnership with the scheme providers who are Hampshire County Council Trading Standards to complete the approval process.
Please note – Buy With Confidence does not approve individual PAs.
Links to national Social Care organisations
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Receiving information from East Sussex County Council
Adult Social Care provider bulletin
You can sign up for our Adult Social Care provider bulletin.
This weekly email newsletter covers a range of topics affecting all health and social care providers, including PAs.
Subscribe to the mailing list
Contact Adult Social Care
Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) is our contact centre for adult social care.
Contact us if you want to:
- report abuse and neglect (please phone us on 0345 60 80 191)
- apply for care and support
- get information and advice
Questions or feedback
Email the Micro market development team with any queries or if you have any suggestions for this page.
