Our vision
Our Strategy sets out how we will work to deliver our vision in partnership to ensure we deliver the right kind of care and support for our communities, and the best possible outcomes within the resources available to us.
We aim to support people and communities in Somerset to be resilient and connected, so everyone can live healthy, safe and independent lives
Priority 1 - Prevention and early help
We will provide access to easy-to-understand information about their care and support options, in different formats that meet their needs so they can get the right help at the right time. This includes access to self-assessment tools to help people understand their needs, likely costs and the support available.
We will do this by co-producing our information by listening to people, learning from their feedback and adapting to what they need.
- We will recognise and support unpaid carers by providing access to clear information, helpful advice and support that we develop together with carers, helping them get the right help at the right time.
We will keep listening to carers regularly so we can co-produce our carers offer on what they tell us they need most.
- We will help people stay independent at home for as long as possible by offering support, including new digital solutions, so they can get the early help they need to maintain their independence.
We will learn from people’s experiences and feedback to continue building support that works for them and adapts as their needs change.
- We will help people stay independent at home for as long as possible by offering support, including new digital solutions, so they can get the early help they need to maintain their independence.
We will learn from people’s experiences and feedback to continue building support that works for them and adapts as their needs change.
- We will build strong partnerships with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) groups to create confident, well‑connected communities, making sure people can access the right support early and close to home.
We will work closely with community organisations, listening to them and strengthening our shared approach as local needs change.
- We will use trusted information to understand the needs of our local population, helping us identify issues early and provide the right help when it’s needed.
We will continue gathering insights from our communities and organisations to make sure our data reflects real experiences and helps guide better decisions and outcomes for people.
Priority 2 - Right Support, right place, right time
We will work together with local people and organisations to make sure adults receive the right support at the right time to stay safe from harm and abuse, by giving people choice and control over their care.
We will do this by working with our communities and organisations to spot risk early, act quickly, and help everyone to stay safe.
- We will make sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect and provide local and joined‑up care and support so people receive the right support in the right place as their needs change.
We will continue to listen to our communities and adapt our services so they continue to meet people’s needs.
- We will aim to carry out assessments, create personalised support plans and complete reviews in a timely way, so people get the right support at the right time to meet their needs.
We will do this through continuing to develop our workforce and by improving our processes to ensure people have timely and consistent support.
- We will work with our communities and organisations to design and provide a good range of care and support options within local communities, so people can choose the right support in the right place for them.
We will continue to develop services based on what individuals and our communities tell us they need.
- We will support young people and their families to build independence and achieve their goals as they move into adulthood, making sure they have access to timely information and advice and receive the right support at the right time to stay safe and confident.
We will continue listening to young people and families so we can improve the support we offer during the move into adulthood.
Priority 3 – A supported, skilled and flexible workforce
We will put in place a practical workforce plan that helps us attract, develop and keep a supported, skilled and adaptable workforce.
We will review our workforce needs regularly and adjust our plans based on what is working and what staff tell us they need.
- We will improve the way we recruit and induct staff to ensure that there is capacity within our workforce to meet the needs of our communities.
We will use feedback to continuously improve our recruitment and induction processes.
- We will build a skilled and adaptable workforce by offering helpful training and clear career pathways that support staff to grow and respond to changing needs.
We will update our training and development opportunities based on feedback and the changing needs of our services.
- We will make sure our workforce has the support, skills and confidence needed to deliver reliable, quality services that meet the needs of our communities.
We will monitor the quality of services and use staff and community feedback to make continuous improvements.
- We will create a positive and supportive workplace where staff feel valued, able to use their skills well and supported in their wellbeing and job satisfaction.
We will regularly check in with staff, listen to concerns and make practical changes that improve working conditions and wellbeing.
Priority 4 – Future focused
We will build a culture where staff keep learning and improving, using evidence, good practice and technology to shape services that work well now and in the future. This will include looking at other Local Authorities and learning from best practice and sharing innovation.
We will regularly review what is working, learn from others, and make continuous improvements based on real‑life experience and feedback.
- We will work with communities and organisations to design care that supports independence, reflects people’s goals, and reduces inequalities, now and in the future.
We will keep involving people in decision‑making so our solutions reflect needs and experiences.
- We will engage and co-develop services with residents that can adjust to future changes while staying inclusive, reliable and financially responsible.
We will use our resources carefully and design services that are sustainable.
- We will continue to work with health, housing and community organisations to design joined‑up local care and support that makes the best use of resources and is prepared for future challenges.
We will keep strengthening our local relationships and updating services as communities and local needs change.
- We will engage with national and local improvement programmes and use what we learn to make ongoing improvements and encourage new ways of working across Adult Social Care.
We will learn from assessments and reviews and use these insights to make practical, continuous improvements.