What's next? Key areas of development for Adult Social Care 2022/23
In previous years our improvement priorities have been shaped around four key areas:
- Our Promoting Independence model
- Accommodation offering care and support
- Locally based support
- Digital Technology and innovation
However, the environment in which Social Care operates is changing. As we reflected on earlier in the Report this includes Government proposals for Adult Social Care reforms, the introduction of Integrated Care Systems and the One Coventry Plan currently being consulted on. Whilst the changes will impact on Adult Social Care as we move forward, what has not changed is the people who come to us for support and the core purpose of Adult Social Care in supporting people to achieve their outcomes and to live as independently as possible. Therefore, when considering our future priorities, we must be conscious of the impact of the changing environment while remaining committed to our core purpose. Recognising the changing environment, we are focussing our improvement work on three areas: reforms, partnerships and internal improvement. The key elements of each of these areas are summarised above.
Adult Social Care reform
This will include;
- Act in accordance with Government requirements to move towards a Fair Cost of Care and to develop and utilise a Market Sustainability Plan by February 2023
- The implementation of a cap on social care costs, the Care Cap requirements to be in place by October 2023.
- The implementation of new Charging thresholds and a revised Charging Policy by October 2023.
- Continuing to prepare for the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards (replacing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) at a date to be confirmed by the Government
Adult Social Care improvement
This will include
- Workforce - We will look to develop and support our internal and external workforce with a focus on recruitment, retention, culture and learning and development.
Supporting our residents - We will review our service levels and customer - standards in order to provide clarity on what people can expect from Adult Social
Care when contacting us and receiving support. - Diversity and inclusion - We will undertake community engagement events to
raise awareness of Adult Social Care, including specifically within hard-to-reach
communities. We will listen and respond to feedback regarding our service and how
we can improve. - Information and engagement - We will ensure the Adult Social Care Offer is
accessible to all, redesigning the way we share information on our webpages and
expanding the ways we engage on and co-produce our services.
Adult Social Care partnerships
This will include;
- Change and transformation – We will continue to build relationships with partner agencies. Working jointly with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) within the Section 75 Agreement we will find new solutions and ways of working to support people experiencing mental health problems
- Improving lives for older people – We will work in partnership with health and voluntary sector organisations to implement the improvements identified by this programme to ensure older people can live independent lives in good health in Coventry.
- Integrated Care Record – We will use new joined-up records to deliver, better, safer and more timely care and support to people.
- Voluntary Sector and Communities – We will work in partnership with the voluntary sector and community groups to improve the support available locally to adults.