Local authorities have signed up to a review of the adult social care funding formulae.

Around 60 councils have agreed to contribute data to the review by public sector funding specialists LG Futures and the Personal Social Services Research Unit.

Researchers are now looking for care homes to take part in a survey, which will form part of the review of the latest available data and policy.

The organisations have been commissioned and funded by the Department of Health to develop new formulae, which could potentially be used from 2015/16 onwards.

Researchers will particularly consider the availability of new data on self-funders, given the ‘current lack of nationally available data on these service users'.

A representative of the research project said: ‘There have been a number of major changes in the way in which adult social care services are delivered since the previous formulae were developed.

‘In addition, a number of potential policy issues are currently under consideration by the Department of Health.

These include the recommendations of the Dilnot Commission on the funding of care and support in relation to the implementation of a capped cost scheme, with the state paying for care needs above the cap.

It also includes the deferred payment scheme, which comes into force in all local authorities from 2015.'

It is expected that development of the new statistical formulae will start early next year once the data has been collected and analysed.

The representative continued: ‘Depending on the results of the data analysis, the research will assess whether separate formulae are required for specific areas.

‘For example, for different age groups, for resources required to fund a capped cost scheme (if introduced) or whether a single formula could potentially be developed for adult social care.'

The formulae will be subject to peer review and wider consultation.