Local authority outlines new adult social care strategy for next five years

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has discussed a new strategy about how it can best support adults with social care needs and all carers.

A large focus of the strategy is around person-centred and integrated care for people with a range of needs, whether physical or mental, and giving people support to have control over their own lives and independence.

The overall strategy is built on three core strategies named ‘Ageing Well’, ‘Caring Well’, and ‘Living Well’, which sets adult social care priorities over the next five years. These strategies are backed by a record investment of over £5 million in adult social care.

The three strategies were codesigned with people who use services and their friends and families. They focus on how the council will support people across the borough, whether they are older people, those with a care and support need with learning disabilities, mental health challenges, autism, living with additional physical or sensory difficulty, or the friends and family of people with additional needs.

Cllr Cheryl Nevin, Cabinet Member for adults and communities, said: “Our new strategy will be transformative for Southend-on-Sea’s adult social care, as discussed at the recent cabinet meeting.”

Firstly, the ‘Ageing Well’ strategy focuses on supporting the needs of people as they get older. Southend-On-Sea Borough Council has found through its research that residents have different needs at different stages of later life. Thus, the ‘Ageing Well’ strategy aims to support people to be in control of their own lives and care.

Secondly, the ‘Living Well’ strategy looks at the needs and wellbeing of adults of working age with additional needs, such as physical, sensory, learning difficulties, mental health challenges and autism. The council says its recent research suggests that these residents would benefit from a person-centred approach to care that supports them to live independently and be involved within their local community.

This strategy aims to provide the right care for the individual to enable them to live safely and healthily, which focuses on five priorities: improving health and wellbeing, preventing the number of hospital and care home admissions, suitable housing, community inclusion, and integrated person-centred services.

Finally, the ‘Caring Well’ strategy focuses on the needs of unpaid carers. These carers play a significant role in preventing the need for a more formal care provision, according to the council, and the health and social care system relies on this unpaid support. The strategy aims to listen better to caregiver’s needs, improve the amount of information available and improve access to support.

Cllr Nevin concluded: “The development of these strategies with the people it impacts upon has been crucial. I know from my personal experience how important social care is for families in Southend and I am delighted to see such a strong foundation for the new priorities over the next five years.

“People in Southend have helped to create accurate approaches to providing beneficial and vital support. I look forward to seeing how these strategies develop into priorities and action that will benefit our residents for years to come.”