Proposed decision
To approve changes to the Community Wellbeing Services, including service redesign, contract updates and funding changes.
A review of certain adult social care preventative services has been undertaken, namely the Wellbeing Services in the Community, and Community Navigation services, funded by KCC and delivered through contractual arrangements with partners in the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. KCC arranges for the delivery of a wide range of Wellbeing Services in the Community, in addition to Community Navigation.
KCC consulted on proposed changes to its preventative services from 26 November 2024 to 27 January 2025. The consultation proposals were to reduce the funding and redesigned the Wellbeing Services in the Community for older people (55+) delivered by Social Enterprise Kent (SEK), Involve Kent and Imago Community. The consultation explained that the service redesign would incorporate elements of the Community Navigation activity and consequently the separate Community Navigation contract would be ended. The redesigned Wellbeing Service would focus on people assessed as needing medium to higher levels of support. The proposals also included ceasing to fund the Innovation Fund and back-office support and removing unallocated spend in the Shaw Trust in the Mental Health Community and Wellbeing Service.
There are services which would not be affected by this decision which are:
How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
The consultation proposals align with priority 4 of Framing Kent’s Future – Delivering New Models of Care and Support and our commitment to reshaping our commissioning practice to ensure we build strategic partnerships with our providers, through earlier engagement, more consistent and proactive commissioning practice, and a stronger focus on co-designing services.
Options (and options considered but not taken forward to consultation)
The table below shows the different options considered.
|
Alternative option considered |
Why the option has not been taken forward to consultation |
|
Maximise potential savings by ending KCC’s investment in all Wellbeing Services in the Community and Community Navigation contracts.
Total saving: £8.74million This is based on the Adult Social Care contribution for the financial year 2024-2025 as outlined in section 3 of the consultation document.
|
Ending all Wellbeing Services in the Community and Community Navigation without an alternative approach and support would have a significant negative impact and increase the risk in more people needing social care more quickly.
This would also require KCC to consider how to fulfil the statutory responsibility for carers as the commissioned services undertakes carers’ assessments. Therefore, this has not been taken forward.
|
|
To stop funding the Community Navigation Contracts and reduce funding for the Wellbeing Services in the Community that support people 55+, to only support people assessed as needing medium to higher levels of support. And stop the Innovation Fund, back-office support and remove the unallocated spend of the Shaw Trust. This would save a total of £3.45million.
|
In discussions with providers in scope of the proposal it was felt that elements of Community Navigation need to be incorporated into the Wellbeing Services in the Community for people aged 55+ as it supports some of the most vulnerable and socially isolated people in Kent, and often people with multiple and complex needs, including frailty. Therefore, this option has not been taken forward. |
|
Do nothing. |
This option has not been taken forward as this will not achieve the strategic objectives of:
|
Financial Implications
An estimated £3.45million full year saving were attached to the consultation proposals, achieved by:
The table below shows the current contract values and funding that would be available to the organisations if the proposal is implemented.
|
Service |
Annual contract value (million) |
Proposed funding (million) |
|
Wellbeing Services in the Community for older people (55+) |
||
|
Involve Kent (West Kent) |
£0.99million |
£0.42million |
|
Involve Kent (North Kent |
£0.66million |
£0.28million |
|
SEK (East Kent) |
£1.24million |
£0.52million |
|
Imago Community (Ashford, Canterbury and Swale) |
£0.98milion |
£0.41million |
|
Total |
£3.87million |
£1.63million |
3. Mental Health Wellbeing Services in the Community (Live Well Kent) - delivered by Porchlight and Shaw Trust.
Innovation Fund: This would be a saving of £0.28million.
Back-office support: This would result in a saving of £0.04million.
Removal of Shaw Trust unallocated spend: A total of £0.04million is the spend that is unallocated.
Together, this would total £0.36million. The rest of the services commissioned with Live Well Kent and Medway are not affected by this proposal.
However, there are potential costs to social care which could reduce the anticipated savings. The consultation explained that KCC estimated that these costs would be between £18,000 to £180,000 (full year costs), based on modelling the potential demand and financial impact on adult social care. This has been informed by professional knowledge, experience and data provided by providers.
Intended decision
Following the consultation, there has been consideration to consultation feedback and further work and analysis on the proposals undertaken. It is now intended that the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health will take a key decision regarding the future of the relevant services, i.e.: Community Navigation Services for older people (55+); Wellbeing Services in the Community for older people (55+); and Mental Health Wellbeing Services in the Community (Live Well Kent).
It is intended that this decision will be taken at the same time as a decision on the adoption of KCC’s draft Adult Social Care Prevention Framework: 2025-2035. The Cabinet Member will be asked to consider the papers relevant to both decisions before taking either decision.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 02/09/2025
Decision due: Not before 30th Sep 2025 by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Executive Decision regulations
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health
Lead director: Richard Smith
Department: Social Care, Health & Wellbeing
Contact: Georgina Walton, Design and Learning Centre Manager Email: Richard.Ellis2@kent.gov.uk Email: georgina.walton@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
The proposed decision was discussed at the Adult Social Care Cabinet Committee on 10 September 2025 and the recommendations were endorsed.
Decision makers are to first consider and decide whether to adopt the draft Prevention Framework. The Prevention Framework cabinet report (and supporting documentation) provides details on how the Framework sets out a longer term (2025-2025) ambition which is built on five approaches to prevention.
Financial implications: Please see detail above
Legal implications: Please see detail above
Equalities implications: Equalities implications An initial Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was completed at the consultation stage and was available on the consultation webpage: www.kent.gov.uk/wellbeingconsultation The EqIA has been updated following the consultation. A decision stage version will be published as part of the decision-making documentation at the relevant point