Introduction to Adult Social Care
The delivery of Adult Social Care is the responsibility of the Local Authority which interacts with a range of other local authority functions to support people in our communities, including Housing, Public Health, Children’s Services or Culture and Leisure to name but a few. Our work is also closely connected to health organisations and the voluntary and third sector who work with many of the same people who come into contact with Adult Social Care.
Although Adult Social Care has a distinct identity, so much of what we do is achieved through working with others. Our success is increasingly intertwined with our health partners. New partnerships ‘Integrated Care Systems’ (ICS) are bringing together; Acute, Community Health Trusts, GPs, Primary Care services with Local Authorities and other care providers. These aim to bring organisations together to redesign and improve support and outcomes for residents.
Adult Social Care in Coventry is one of several health and care organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire, making up the Coventry and Warwickshire Health and Care Partnership. This Partnership is working to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents. In all our efforts to achieve this we share a common vision:
‘We will do everything in our power to enable people across Coventry and Warwickshire to pursue happy, healthy lives and put people at the heart of everything we do.’
In working to this vision, we believe that all our residents deserve to:
- lead a healthy, independent and fulfilled life
- be part of a strong community
- experience effective and sustainable health and care services
As part of this Partnership, NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board is now responsible for commissioning health and care services on behalf of people in Coventry and Warwickshire (this replaces Clinical Commissioning Groups).
From an Adult Social Care perspective, we do not have a complex strategy but at every level, we intend to provide support to the residents of Coventry, in the least intrusive manner possible, based on the assets, resources and abilities available to them. Our focus is on the promotion of independence, and this continues to be at the heart of the way we work and provide support. Progressing this overarching objective is delivered day in, day out through the many interactions between our staff and people with care and support needs and through a series of developments and future planning overseen by the Director of Adult Services aimed at constantly improving what we do.
During the last year we have made significant progress in our plans for the future including;
Adult Social Care reform
As part of reforms local authorities were required to complete a Cost of Care exercise to arrive at a shared understanding with providers of the local cost of providing care. The outcome of this exercise can be found in our Cost of Care Reports. In addition, authorities were required to produce and publish a Market Sustainability Plan for the next 3 years. This plan was developed following a programme of consultation and engagement with local providers to better understand emerging challenges and the most meaningful way we can offer support. One of our methods to support the market is our Provider Support Pack, a free guide for providers with tools in a range of areas including recruitment, business and quality improvement.
Supporting our residents
A new Communicator-Guide service is now available to support deafblind people or those with dual sensory needs. This service will enable deafblind people to have a fully qualified Communicator-Guide. This person will provide effective communication, safe guiding and essential support to allow deafblind people to actively take part in everyday activities, such as accessing information, going shopping, attending social/educational activities in the community promoting choice and control. The service is provided by Deafblind Enablement (DBE).
Adult Social Care partnerships
Funded through the Commonwealth Active Communities Fund which is part of Sport England’s wider investment into the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Adult Social Care has been working with CVLife on a ‘Coventry Moves Programme’. This has involved working with 9 care homes, to tackle and reduce isolation and increase physical activity for residents. This work has included co-designing activity schedules and forming new friendships with homes, connecting and planning activities and trips together. Plans are in place for the coming year to help sustain these activities and to develop a Coventry Moves toolkit that can be shared amongst care homes.