The new strategy for how Southend-on-Sea Borough Council can best support adults with social care needs and all carers has been discussed by councillors.
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.
The three strategies were codesigned with people who use services and their friends and families. They focus on how the authority 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.
The strategy was discussed by cabinet on 22 February and a webcast of the full council meeting can be found on our democracy site.
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. The strategies are backed by a record investment of more than £5m in adult social care.”
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. So, the ‘Ageing Well’ strategy aims to provide ‘a life, not just a service’ and support people be in control of their own lives and care, to enable independence.
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. Local research on best practice approaches has shown our residents living with these challenges would benefit from a person-centred approach to care, that supports them to live independently and be involved within their local community. The 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.
The ‘Caring Well’ strategy focuses on the needs of unpaid carers, sometimes called ‘hidden carers’, which can be anyone that finds themselves in a position of caring for another adult. These carers play a significant role in preventing the need for a more formal care provision, 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. To find support if you are an unpaid carer, visit Carers First.
Cllr Nevin added “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.”
For more information on all strategies and how this fits into Southend-on-Sea’s 2050 ambitions, visit our Southend 2050 section of the website.