What is a Market Position Statement?
A plain-English explanation of one of the most important documents in adult social care commissioning — and why it matters for providers and commissioners alike.
A document that describes the local care market
A Market Position Statement — often abbreviated to MPS — is a document published by a local authority that describes the current state of the adult social care market in its area and sets out its future commissioning intentions.
Think of it as a local authority saying to the provider market: "Here is what we have, here is what we need, here is where we are going — and here is how you can work with us."
MPS documents are published by upper-tier and unitary local authorities across England. There are 153 such authorities with adult social care responsibilities. Most publish a new MPS every two to three years, though some update more frequently and others less so.
What does an MPS typically contain?
- •An overview of the local population — including demographic trends, projected growth in older age groups and population health data
- •A description of the current provider market — how many CQC-registered locations, what service types, what ratings distribution
- •Current and projected demand for care services — what the authority expects to need over the next three to five years
- •Commissioning priorities — what the authority plans to buy, develop or reshape
- •Market gaps — where provision is insufficient, unsuitable or absent
- •Workforce data — recruitment challenges, retention rates, skills gaps
- •Strategic direction — how the authority intends to shape the market, including any framework or procurement changes
MPS documents matter because they shape commissioning
A Market Position Statement is more than a descriptive document — it is a signal of intent. It tells providers what the authority will commission, what it values and what it sees as the strategic priorities for the coming years.
For Providers
An MPS is the single most useful document for understanding what a specific local authority wants from its provider market. Reading the MPS before approaching a council or responding to a tender demonstrates preparation and market awareness — two things commissioners consistently say they value in providers.
For Commissioners
An MPS is a commissioning team's opportunity to shape the provider market proactively. It sets expectations, signals priorities and helps attract the right providers to the right opportunities. A well-written MPS reduces the number of unsuitable approaches and helps the market self-select.
For the People Who Need Care
When provider markets function well — when the right providers are matched to the right opportunities — the people who need care receive it more quickly, more reliably and from providers who are genuinely prepared. MPS documents are the commissioning tool that makes this alignment possible.
How Odelia Group uses Market Position Statements
We have systematically reviewed over 30 MPS documents from local authorities across England. Here is what that means in practice.
Read about our full approachWe identify commissioning priorities
By systematically reviewing what multiple authorities say they need, we can identify the service types, geographical areas and care categories where demand is most consistent — and where providers are most likely to find commissioning opportunities.
We detect cross-authority patterns
Individual MPS documents are useful. Comparing 30+ of them — structured against a standard framework — reveals patterns that no single authority can see. When the same market gap appears across county councils, unitary authorities and metropolitan boroughs, it is not a local issue. It is a structural feature of the national provider market.
We match providers to opportunities
MPS analysis feeds directly into our provider development work. When we assess a provider's commissioning readiness, we are benchmarking them against the standards that real local authorities have published in their MPS documents — not against an abstract ideal. This means the PDA for Social Care pathway is grounded in what commissioners actually say they evaluate.
Want to understand your local authority's MPS?
Explore our council-level research or get in touch to discuss how MPS analysis can support your commissioning readiness.