'The Future of Day Support Services' - Why We Need To Talk To You
The Council has acknowledged that its 'Changing Lives' policy is contentious. Nevertheless it is clear that to 'continue to do what we have always done' is not possible given the future population pressures. It will result in all of us failing the future generation of vulnerable adults.
People with disabilities are a very varied group, and their needs vary too. As you might expect, they include people with physical disabilities, and those with sight or hearing loss. In addition there are also people with learning disabilities, people with mental health problems, those affected by HIV/AIDS, and people with problems of substance misuse (drugs or alcohol).
Many older people (i.e. aged 60 and over) are fit and active, but some will experience disability as they age - for example, losing sight, hearing, or mobility, or becoming frail or confused.
Despite their diversity, most older people and people with disabilities say they want to be as independent as possible. They want to live in their own homes and communities, in touch with their families and friends. They want to be able to use the same leisure, education, health, shopping and other facilities as everyone else. Many of them would like to continue to work. They want support to maintain or regain their health and fitness. And they want to contribute to their communities. In short, they want:
'independence, inclusion and a sense of well-being'.
What the Government is Saying
The changes we are proposing are not just local to Staffordshire - nationally there is a similar debate about the future of care and support services. What the government is clear about is that we need a new approach. The national vision is set out in the White Paper: "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" 2006. It has The 4 Goals:
What Staffordshire County Council is Saying
The County Council has embraced the goals in Our Health, Our Care, Our Say in our local change programme: Changing Lives is designed to deliver the The 7 Outcomes and achieve the personalisation of care.
The Challenges
The challenges posed to care and support services impact on all of our local communities. Traditionally, meeting the needs of vulnerable people has largely been seen as the responsibility of Social and Health Care Services. However the vision for the future must include a whole host of partners in the public and private sectors, in the voluntary and community sectors and individuals themselves within local communities. A "sustainable community" is one that sustains the independence and well-being of the vulnerable and disabled.
This is why we need a conversation. We need to plan for the future and all our thinking must be guided by what people tell us they need now and in the future. There needs to be wide agreement from all interested parties. This paper sets out what we think are the key questions which need to be answered in order to decide on a way forward.
A whole range of services and activities from Housing to Health, Transport to Leisure, Employment to Shopping are important to people's independence, inclusion and wellbeing. We need to know how these services and activities need to be developed to support people to live the lives they aspire to.
In initiating this conversation it is important to stress the continued commitment from the County Council that we will continue to meet the needs of vulnerable and disabled people using all our services including our day services. Whatever the outcome of this conversation, no services will be removed until new improved alternatives are up and running. Existing users of the Council's adult support services have been issued with a "Personal Care Guarantee" committing the Council to provide continuing care appropriate to their assessed needs.
In adopting this approach we are looking to achieve a gradual local development of new supports that better suit people's needs across the County. We know these will take time to develop and for the voluntary, community, private organisations to respond. This initial conversation is all about us talking and listening to find out how we can best develop alternatives for the future.
Nor is this process about saving money. Staffordshire County Council is investing more in Adult Social Care over the next few years. It is about the introduction of more suitable support services that are better tailored to the needs of the community in the 21st century.
In order to take support services forward we'd like to know your thoughts and ideas about the future of these services in Staffordshire, why not complete our questionnaire?
Complete our Questionnaire
To do this, please download the Support Services Questionnaire fill it in, save it and email the questionnaire back to us here. Your comments will be fed back to the Directorate and if you do have any queries, your District Director will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
How the Conversation will Happen
We have re-organised our management structure so that we are now located around the eight Districts within the County. This is in line with our belief that services are best designed and delivered locally. It is also our intention that this conversation about the future should be conducted at a local level. This will be led by the local District Director for Social Care and Health.
Between now and January next year the District Directors will be arranging a range of events/meetings to seek your views. These will include:
· Specific events to meet specific organisations and partners
· Meetings with people who currently use our services and their carers
· Partnership events aimed at bringing together the widest possible
range of interest groups
· Public consultation meetings to allow local people to have a say
· Meetings targeted towards people who may use our help in the future
· Is there anything else you would suggest?
Last Modified:
22/01/2008 13:28:34
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