Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Adult Commissioning & Health (ACH/17/66) seeking approval to a proposed policy ‘Promoting Independence in Devon’ to enable residents to stay healthy and active in their communities where possible with the minimal necessary reliance on publicly funded health and care services, attached.

(Councillors Atkinson, Connett and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Head of Adult Commissioning & Health (ACH/17/67) seeking approval to the proposed policy ‘Promoting Independence in Devon’ to enable residents to stay healthy and active in their communities, where possible, with the minimal necessary reliance on publicly funded health and care services.

In commending the proposed policy to the Cabinet, the Head of Service outlined the statutory responsibilities placed upon the Council enshrined in the Care Act 2014 to work in partnership with all relevant partners including NHS bodies in its area, to ‘promote  independence’, across  the full range of services relating to adult social care, children’s services and public health.

The Head of Service’s Report outlined the principles of and methodology of implementing the proposed policy, as further illustrated at Appendix B to Report ACH/16/67, which would ensure that across Devon all strategies would:

·         focus on shared outcomes by developing an outcomes framework based on ‘Better Together’, and working as One Council across all services and in partnership to achieve it;

·         reduce future demand and costs by moving resources from acute services towards prevention and early intervention; 

·         enable citizens and communities to manage their own wellbeing by personalising more services, offering more opportunities for communities to support themselves, and accelerating the devolution of power and resources;        

·         encourage the public, community, voluntary and private sectors to work better together to achieve outcomes and extend choice.

The Head of Service confirmed that the proposed new policy would not see any change of existing duties or policies: rather it would provide a cohesive statement of the increased emphasis to be placed on working with people, communities and partners to promote independence in Devon - in line with equality legislation and other relevant statutory provisions - to encourage and enable people to use universal services and sources of community and social support as solutions to their needs wherever possible.

The matter having been debated and the options and other relevant factors set out in the County Treasurer’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

It was MOVED by Councillor Leadbetter, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED that the proposed ‘Promoting Independence in Devon’ policy be adopted.