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 that deliver a broad range of services to meet the needs of local people. They have no more than 5 paid or unpaid full-time equivalent workers.
Micro providers can be:
- individuals
- groups
- voluntary or community organisations
- small private businesses
- social enterprises
What do microproviders offer?
Due to their size, micro providers can offer diverse, personalised and flexible support. This is 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, see: A guide for personal assistants
Business support
You will find a wealth of business advice on Business support in East Sussex
Business East Sussex Growth Hub
The Business East Sussex Growth Hub is an independent business support service.
It offers free advice if you are looking to start, run or grow your business.
Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Sussex
The Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) Sussex is part of the British Library’s National Network of BIPCs across the UK.
BIPC Locals at Eastbourne Library and Hastings Library, support entrepreneurs, start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses in East Sussex.
They offer networking events, one-to-one expert advice and access to a range of free online information, including:
- business databases
- market research reports
- company data
- information on intellectual property
Business Companion
Free impartial legal advice is available from Business Companion.
Citizens Advice
If you need advice about a dispute, you can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.
Phone 0808 223 1133, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or visit: CItizens Advice Consumer Service.
Trading Standards
Business advice is also available from Trading Standards.
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. See: Processing DBS checks for businesses
Training
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 courses currently available, see: Apply for adult social care training
Skills for Care Training Hub
The Training Hub by Skills for Care offers purpose-built training for the social care sector.
Courses start from £9 (inc VAT) and cover mandatory training, enhanced care and leadership and management.
Training is delivered via an award-winning learning management platform, expertly designed to help different types of learners feel confident and competent in their roles.
For more information, see: The Training Hub | Skills for Care
East Sussex 1Space
East Sussex 1Space is our 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. 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 and 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, 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 personal assistants (PAs).
Links to national social care organisations
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 provider bulletin
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.