Proposed decision: To adopt the Making a Difference Every Day Our Strategy for Adult Social Care in Kent 2022 to 2027; delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to refresh and/or make revisions as appropriate during the lifetime of the strategy and
delegate authority to the Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health to take relevant actions, including but not limited to finalising the terms of and entering into required contract or other legal agreements, as necessary to implement the objectives of the Strategy.
Reason for the decision: The existing Strategy comes to an end in December 2021 and it is recognised that there is a need to set a new strategic direction for Adult Social Care which better responds to the changing expectations of the people we support and the operating environment. This Strategy sets out the vision and ambitions for how adult social care plans to make changes, working with the people we support, their carers and our partners to develop our new Strategy as the bedrock for turning these ambitions into reality. Our person-focused vision and Strategy summarises how we plan to make changes over the coming years to put the person first, improve all the time and measure what matters.
Therefore, it is important to set a renewed strategic direction for Adult Social Care, so that staff can understand the value and reasons for continuous improvement in Kent, based on the lasting principles of Practice, Innovation and Meaningful Measures. The Strategy will help adult social care to move away from a process-driven approach to being a more personal and accessible ‘new ways of working model’ for the people we support, and by improving their experience of adult social care and the wider system and will provide the right environment for many people within the directorate with fantastic ideas, and the opportunity to put them into practice.
It will also help us to demonstrate our renewed commitment to addressing equality, diversity and inclusion issues in both our practice and in decision making.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Affects more than two Electoral Divisions;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: (All Division);
Notice of proposed decision first published: 18/10/2021
Decision due: Not before 16th Nov 2021 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: in order that the proposed decision can be published for a minimumof 28 days, in accordance with statutory requirements
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Richard Smith
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Michael Thomas-Sam, Corporate Lead Adult's and Children's Policy and Strategy Email: michael.thomas-sam@kent.gov.uk Tel: 03000 417238.
Consultation process
The proposed decision was considered and endorsed by Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 1 December 2021.
Consultees
The proposed decision will be discussed by the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 1 December 2021. The outcome of this discussion will be included in the decision paperwork which the Cabinet Member will be asked to sign.
Financial implications: The implementation of the new Strategy will be taken forward based on the budget allocation to the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate. Service delivery arising from this Strategy for future years will be determined by the approved budget and the Medium Term and Financial Plan (MTFP) requirements.
Legal implications: The implementation of the Strategy will be in line with Kent County Council’s adult social care responsibilities, set out in relevant legislation such as the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983.
Equalities implications: As part of the planning process for the Strategy development work, an initial equalities impact assessment was developed. This has been updated to reflect comments made during the engagement events and will be updated following the consultation exercise. A final version will be drafted to support the proposed decision. Data Protection implications: The development of the Strategy does not require a Data Protection Impact Assessment to be completed.