Agenda item

Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care on updated Vision and Strategies for Adult Social Care in Devon, seeking approval of their publication, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the updated Vision and Strategies for Adult Social Care in Devon be adopted for publication online in a format that meets accessibility standards; and

(b) that the forthcoming Peer Challenge relating to adult social care facilitated by the Local Government Association and the potential for inspection and assessment by the Care Quality Commission in the coming months, be noted.

(Councillors Biederman, Brazil and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report highlighted the role of the Council’s vision and strategies, for example the ‘Promoting Independence’ vision and the aim to align to the Government’s vision for adult social care, One Devon health and care system strategy, and the Devon County Council strategic plan whilst articulating the distinctive role and objectives of adult social care.

The Promoting Independence’ policy set the policy framework including applying statutory guidance and the ‘Commitment to Carers’ which underpinned the approach to unpaid carers. The ‘Living Well’, ‘Ageing Well’ and ‘Caring Well’ strategies described how the vision and policy applied to people aged 18-64, people aged 65+, and unpaid carers and the Council’s ‘Annual Report’ assessed delivery against the vision, strategies and plans each year.

Much had changed since the vision and strategies were last updated in 2018-19, including COVID, Cost of Living, legislative changes etc, therefore it was opportune to test the principles with other stakeholders who had suggested changes in emphasis. One of these included the Think Local, Act Personal vision. Other areas included lives with purpose, the importance of the home and community, the role of technology, transitions and recognising people’s strengths.

The Council’s ‘Our Vision’ document articulated the aspirations for the people of Devon with adult social care needs. In practice, the vision for promoting independence means prevention, meeting needs at first contact, short term interventions and achievements via this, through long-term services: making the default expectation the maximisation of independence, safeguarding, integration and recognising unpaid carers as expert partners and supporting them in their role.

The vision could be expressed through three strategies;

·       Living Well in Devon

·       Ageing Well in Devon

·       Caring Well in Devon

The key points of the draft strategies were Prevention: Community: Housing: Strength-based and personalised practice: Safeguarding adults at risk from harm and, last, to identify and address inequalities.

The proposed vision and strategic aims, outcomes, and priorities were summarised in the infographic at section 2.9 of the Report.

Work was underway on the delivery plans which should be published in Autumn 2023, and this would be informed by the findings of the Peer Challenge proposed to take place in July 2023.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the updated Vision and Strategies for Adult Social Care in Devon be adopted for publication online in a format that meets accessibility standards; and

(b) that the forthcoming Peer Challenge relating to adult social care facilitated by the Local Government Association and the potential for inspection and assessment by the Care Quality Commission in the coming months, be noted.