A home care support service in Stoke-on-Trent to help people leave hospital sooner is set to be extended.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced that the council's cabinet will be asked to approve an eight-month extension of the Night Support and 24-Hour Wraparound Support Pilot while a formal procurement process is undertaken to establish a longer-term service.

It comes after the service was introduced in December 2025 to provide short-term overnight support for people leaving hospital and for residents at risk of experiencing a crisis in the community.

The service has since expanded to support a wider range of people, including those at risk of hospital admission, carer breakdown or admission to long-term care.

Councillor Lynn Watkins, Cabinet Member for adult social care and all age commissioning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "We want people to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible, and this pilot has shown how the right support at the right time can make a real difference.

"The service is helping people leave hospital safely, preventing avoidable admissions and providing valuable support to families and carers during challenging times.

"The feedback we have received from residents, families and frontline teams has been extremely positive. Extending the pilot will allow us to build on that success, gather further evidence and develop a long-term service that delivers the best outcomes for local people while helping to reduce pressure on health and care services."

The city council says the pilot has shown "encouraging results" by helping people return home from the hospital safely and reducing reliance on bed-based care.

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A limited 24-Hour Wraparound Support Service was also introduced during the pilot to support people with more complex needs who may otherwise require a temporary care placement.

According to the council, early evidence suggests the service is helping prevent unnecessary admissions and providing a practical alternative to bed-based care.

Over its first six months, the service received 89 referrals, with 67 people receiving support. Of those, 44 have successfully remained at home following the intervention.

The pilot has also coincided with a reduction in the number of people requiring Discharge to Assess beds, with admissions falling by around 10 to 11 people per month compared to previous years

The council says, if approved, the extension will allow them to carry out a full evaluation of the service, assess demand and value for money, engage with providers and develop a long-term service specification based on the learning gained so far.