Why Managing Demand is Important

Understanding and managing the demand for services is essential to financial stability. For more on financial stability see Financial Management module.

Successful councils provide the right services in the right quantity at a reasonable cost. These councils use a commissioning approach to plan, target and manage expenditure. (See Commissioning for more information)

This section looks at ways in which councils may manage the demand on their services better. These include;

• Clear screening and eligibility criteria (in Wales the guidance refers to effective means of responding to enquiries)
• Robust assessment and care planning
• Regular reviews of services
• Charging and income maximisation
• Accurate management information
• Managing financial risks