The Challenge
- Demonstrating necessary costs to commissioners.
- Showing transparency as a profit-making organisation.
The Solution
- Using CareCubed to check own costing assumptions.
- Using the same tool as many local authorities and ICBs helps open negotiations.
The Results
- Increased transparency helps demonstrate trustworthiness as a provider.
- Good working relationship with iESE has led to Salutem having input into CareCubed updates.
Salutem Care and Education is a leading provider of adult and children’s social care services supporting people with a wide range of needs, including autism, learning disabilities, mental health and complex needs. Its specialist services span residential care homes, supported living and day services, while its education division provides access to specialist schools and colleges.
The organisation first subscribed to the CareCubed Adult tool in 2021, later adding the Children’s CareCubed licence in 2025. The decision, led by the organisation’s Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Paul Lawes, reflected a commitment to transparency and to building constructive partnerships with commissioners.
“With CareCubed we can say the cost is £3,000 and here is the breakdown. It is not just that you have to trust us, it is backed up with evidence for fair and sustainable pricing. That is what our CFO valued.” – Andrew Lillington,
Group Head of Business Development
As a large provider, Salutem Care and Education engages with around 140 different commissioning bodies, including Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards. Each year, approximately 100 adult residential cases are processed through CareCubed, validating in-house costings, benchmarking fees, and demonstrating where uplifts are justified. This creates a consistent ‘common currency’ that streamlines negotiations.
“We decided to buy into CareCubed partly because many local authority commissioners were already using it or talking about using it,” said Andrew. “It allows for a more open dialogue and, importantly, provides a consistent approach understood by everyone involved.
