Additional £2m for adult social care and health

At full council last week, the budget for 2021-2022 was agreed.

A number of the proposals relate to adult social care. I want to take this opportunity to offer reassurance to our service users and their families, not least given the stream of negative comments from opposition members. Regrettable comments given overall we are investing an additional £2million in adult social care and health.

The savings we proposed are aligned with the already published adult social care transformation strategy, which was unanimously agreed through the crossfunctional Health and Wellbeing Board and with NHS colleagues prior to the pandemic.

The core purpose of adult care and support, as set out in the Care Act, is to help people to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their life.

Our proposals are not cuts but savings as part of transformation. Opposition claims to the contrary are just wrong and misleading.

I want to assure residents that the council will continue to meet its statutory responsibilities to meet people’s assessed and eligible care needs, whilst embracing best practice and emerging evidence on how best to deliver services.

Overall, the council is spending more on adult social care as set out in the budget so whilst there are some savings from existing packages, there is also funding to pay for increased packages if that is what the assessed need happens to be.

In short, we have taken decisions to put more money into adult social care and protect services, whilst reforming areas in need of change.

I was deeply disappointed with some of the comments at the meeting from Liberal Democrat’ and Independents, which implied that the proposals, particularly around day centre transformation, would be implemented in a hurry and not be sensitive to the needs of the people affected.

This is not true – we committed to a full 12-week public consultation on these proposals and any changes would be implemented at a pace that would be appropriate for each individual.

This proposal is based on expert evidence and the need for a more blended offering to our overall service provision.

Transformation is an exciting opportunity to optimise our services and to support residents to live independent and fulfilled lives.

Yes, there will be savings that come out of that – but our primary goal is to have services that are flexible, reflect best practice and offer a personalised approach.

Cllr STUART CARROLL Lead member adult social care, children

services, health and mental health