Strategic priorities
We have developed the following key priorities for the next 5 years and these are based on the requirements placed on us by central government and the challenges set out above. The 4 priorities over the next 5 years are as follows.
Priority 1 – Promoting independence and wellbeing
Our aim is to enable people to live independent and fulfilled lives with strong networks and personalised support. We want to:
- support people by intervening early to help prevent or reduce the escalation of health issues and help them remain independent
- listen to what matters to the person and ensure that they have an equal voice in their care and support
- ensure people receive the care and support they require at the right time and in the right place by working closer with health services, independent care providers and the voluntary services
- take a holistic approach across social care and housing to ensure that people have access to the right sort of accommodation and live in a place that’s right for them
Some examples of the work we are doing to deliver this priority includes:
- we will look to expand our programme of establishing Integrated Health and Care Hubs to provide high-quality health and social care services, close to where people live
- we will review our approach to strengths-based practice and the model which our Social Care Teams use, to ensure that we focus on what a person can do
- we will continue to support and work with the voluntary and community sector who play a key role in providing prevention services in Central Bedfordshire
- we will fully engage with the new Integrated Care System and ensure that funding is allocated equitably so that residents benefit from the new arrangements
Priority 2 – Building resilient communities and keeping vulnerable people safe
We want people to access information, advice and guidance that helps them to take their care into their own hands. We want to capture the voice of residents and people who use these services as they are best placed to help us improve services in future. We want to:
- enable people to stay connected and live safely in their community
- capture the voice of residents and people who use our services to help us make improvements for the future
- support unpaid carers through delivering key priorities set out in the Carers Strategy
- working with partners to ensure people have equal opportunities to access services to stay healthy, active, and safe
- enable people to get help early on and make information accessible for everyone
Some examples of the work we are doing to deliver this priority includes:
- we will focus on listening to the voice of residents and people who use services to ensure their views are included as we improve existing services and co-design new models of care
- we will continue to work with unpaid carers to deliver the key priorities that they told us were important to them as set out in the Carers Strategy
- we will play an active part in the Local Safeguarding Adults Board for Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire to ensure people are protected from harm
- we will work with our colleagues in Children’s Services to ensure that the pathway for people transitioning to Adult Social Care is clear for all involved
Priority 3 – Making best use of available resources
We will look at new ways of working and how we make the best use of the available budget for Adult Social Care in Central Bedfordshire. We want to:
- develop the use of technology to enable people to remain independent where appropriate, for example provide more online information to access and request services using assistive technology
- work with people who receive services, partner organisations, local businesses, and the voluntary sector to develop new ways of working
- take a more holistic view when assessing the best way of achieving outcomes to meet each person's needs
- replace older and outdated facilities with modern purpose-built accommodation which meets new energy efficiency standards
Some examples of the work we are doing to deliver this priority includes:
- we will invest in the use of assistive technology such as equipment with built in sensors that automatically detect a fall and telecare equipment which lets others know when help is needed in a person’s home
- we will continue with our programme of developing new independent living schemes such as All Saints View in Houghton Regis
- we will work with the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes Health and Integrated Care Partnership to support economic development, improve health and care services, and deliver value for money for residents
- we will consider the impact our accommodation projects make on the environment to ensure they are sustainable, energy efficient and make a significant impact on lowering our carbon footprint
Priority 4 – Supporting the care market and social care workforce
We will aim to provide support to ensure the care market is sustainable and that the social care workforce can grow and develop. We want to:
- work in partnership with care providers so that residents receive the best quality of care in Central Bedfordshire
- ensure we have an inclusive adult social care workforce that feels valued and supported
- help ensure the care market is sustainable and the social care workforce grows and develops
- help build an experienced and qualified social care workforce in Central Bedfordshire
Some examples of the work we are doing to deliver this priority includes:
- we will refresh our market position statements across all areas, so that developers, care providers and housing providers understand the future capacity requirements in Central Bedfordshire
- we will work with our care providers to focus on identifying themes and trends related to the quality of care to enable us to identify issues at an early stage and share learning
- we will continue to develop new ways of attracting more people to the social care profession by creating opportunities, such as through our apprenticeship schemes
- we will build on the good relationships we have with our care providers and work in partnership with them to improve the quality of care and establish areas in which they would like more support and training.
For the full breakdown of priorities, and the work we are undertaking to deliver these, please refer to the draft Adult Social Care Strategy 2024 – 2029.