Essex-based Care UK, a major independent provider of health and social care services, has secured a three-year contract with Nottinghamshire County Council which will see it employ more than 200 additional carers.

The contract with the council’s social services department will involve the provision of flexible services to around 900 people a month in the Mansfield area, ranging from 30-minute social calls to 24-hour care in their own homes.

Libby Eastley, business development director for Care UK’s community Services, said: “We have partnered with Nottinghamshire Council for many years, providing domiciliary care services that fit in with each individual service user, enabling them to lead an independent lifestyle in their own home.

“We also provide live-in care on a long-term or respite basis, supporting people with more advanced needs. “Our consistently delivered, high quality services and our willingness to be flexible and work with commissioners have enabled us to build our presence in the county.

“This in turn allows us to further develop our current team, as well as recruiting new colleagues to deliver this contract and build our services.”

Diane Clayton from Nottinghamshire County Council said: “The council wants to ensure people receiving a service have a good standard of care with committed and competent staff being a key factor to achieving this.

“The council is looking forward to working in partnership with Care UK over the coming years as it further develops its local workforce.”

Care UK, which is based in Colchester, provides a range of care for older people, those with mental health conditions and people with learning disabilities in both residential and community based settings.

It manages 113 care homes with more than 6,500 places, run 13 day care centres and provides more than 156,000 hours of homecare every week to more than 13,000 people in their own homes.

In also provides more than 50 NHS primary care services including GP and walk-in services, hospitals specialising in elective, planned surgery and call handling for the NHS 111 service.