Why are we doing this?

Introduction

Doncaster Council’s approach to adult social care is changing. Responding to the growing pressures of rising demand and reduced financial resources, we have developed a new plan of how we will change the way we care and support adults by improving outcomes and choice.

Our plan means we will have a health and social care system that delivers value for money, improves access locally to a wider service offer, provides opportunities for people to improve their health, puts people in control of their care and support and protects those who are most vulnerable. People tell us that they want to live independent, healthy and fulfilling lives based on choices that are important to them. People tell us that they want to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Our new approach will make sure that people have the opportunity to do just that.

What will this mean for you?

Together with our partners and communities, we will work with people to help them identify what they can do for themselves, and build on this. Finding new ways for people to seek solutions wherever possible, rather than only with traditional council services, will be at the heart of everything we do. We will be making information and advice more accessible and relevant to individuals at a local level. A series of hubs will be opened in communities across the borough and will provide a local point of information and advice that will be specific and personal to that relevant area. These hubs will also offer a central point where you can easily access professionals when needed. We know that when people feel part of a community they feel less lonely, more able to manage their own needs, and less likely to need social care and health support. We will work differently with partners - including the NHS, housing, and social care providers - to enable groups and people to help each other, providing opportunities for them to gain the skills they need to live independent lives including, where appropriate, help to find or keep work. Supporting people to recover from illness or accidents will be important. Giving older people the tools and support to regain their confidence and physical skills after a fall, for example, is something we are working closely with our NHS colleagues on. If people do need to access help from us directly we are still here for you, but we will provide you with that help in a way that maintains your independence where we can. For example, by accessing a direct payment from us people can have total control over the type of care and support they receive, or it might be we explore using technology to help people stay safe and independent at home.

Why are we doing this?

There are several reasons why we need to change how we work: • People’s changing expectations about what they need and how they want to live their lives. • The growing number of older people in

Doncaster – by 2020, 60,650 residents will be over 65. • An increase of 11.2% people who have a limiting long term illness. • The number of people predicted to have dementia will increase by more than 20% by 2020.

❝I want to live an independent, healthy and fulfilling life based on choices that are important to me.❞

• The availability of new technology that can help us to work more quickly and efficiently. • Changes in national social care policy, including the Care Act, the biggest change to social care law in over 60 years. By the end of the four year programme of change we will have: • Implemented and embedded requirements of the new Care Act. • Implemented a revised customer journey, with clear and accessible information to help people decide how they live their lives; with an embedded community led model to support people • Become more efficient in the way we work, making more use of technology to produce better results for people. • Supported new and existing providers of public health and social care to increase the range and quality of services. • Developed a confident, skilled and

knowledgeable workforce that works flexibly with a range of partners to provide services. • Worked jointly with partners to integrate service delivery where appropriate. • Reviewed our approach to performance and quality management. We are confident the plan we have in place will deliver all of this. We have already seen some great progress over the last few months, with a significant reduction in the number of people in long term care in favour of more suitable options such as supported living or extra care housing schemes. A good example is Spring Lodge, a purpose built supported living accommodation in Askern, where four adults with a range of disabilities are supported by a team of staff who provide flexible care and support to meet each individual’s needs and promote independence. We want to help you to live ‘YOUR LIFE, YOUR WAY’.