The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Services submitted a report presenting the Committee with the Council’s Adult Social Care Strategy for the period 2019-2022 as revised and refined following a two month public consultation.  A copy of the Strategy was appended to the report.

The report explained that the Strategy focused on reducing the need for long term health and social care services by putting in place more self-enabling support.  This meant developing a whole system approach which encouraged people to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, so that healthier choices were accessible to everyone, and people got the support they needed to stay active and felt they were part of a community.  Family and unpaid carers were a vital part of this.

Putting the Strategy in place would provide the Council with a framework for placing prevention and early intervention at the core of care and support in the Borough.  This had started with Public Health’s role in analysing the local population and its health needs, and putting in place support, a strong focus would then be needed on individual and community assets to improve outcomes and manage demand on the formal care system.  When people needed Adult Social Care, on a short or long term basis, that support needed to be empowering, re-abling and good value as part of a sustainable care system.

‘Supporting Our Future’ had identified five priority outcomes for the local care system, as follows:

• An approach which drove wellness and independence;
• Clear information and advice about local services, which facilitated access and self-care;
• A supportive and sustainable local market, offering choice and value;
• A skilled workforce which empowered and enabled people;
• A sustainable system which offered good value.

The Committee discussed the report and agreed that an update report be submitted to the April 2020 meeting.

Resolved –

(1)     That ‘Supporting Our Future’ be adopted as Reading Borough Council’s Adult Social Care Strategy 2019-2022;

(2)     That an update report be submitted to the April 2020 meeting.