About
Between January and March 2026, we carried out a wide range of engagement, including community conversations, workforce sessions and an online survey. This helped us understand what is working well, where people face challenges, and what needs to improve.
The feedback consistently highlighted the importance of earlier help, clearer communication, more joined-up support, and a well-supported workforce. There was also a strong message that Adult Social Care should be easier to understand, more accessible, and shaped by people’s real experiences.
These insights have directly informed the refreshed strategy and will guide how services are improved, helping more people in Somerset to live independently, stay well, and access the right support at the right time.
You can read a summary of the engagement below.
Prevention and Early Help
We heard that help should be easy to find, easy to understand and available before people need more urgent support[EB1] . Community support such as Talking Cafés, Village Agents, peer groups and small local charities are highly valued, especially in rural areas. Communities asked for clearer information about support, costs, carers’ help, advocacy and times of change, such as leaving hospital, becoming a carer, more moving to adulthood, so they can get the right help sooner.
Right Support, Right Time, Right Place
We heard that care and support should be easy to access, more joined up and available when it is needed. The feedback highlighted the importance of timely assessments, clear communication while people are waiting, smooth hospital discharge, better coordination between services and support that reflects people’s individual circumstances. Transport, rural access and local service availability were also raised as important issues.
A Supported, Skilled and Flexible Workforce
We heard that good care and support depends on a supported, skilled and stable workforce. Our communities value staff who listen, communicate clearly, understand their needs and provide consistent support. The feedback also highlighted the importance of staff wellbeing, training, supervision, recruitment and retention, as well as recognising unpaid carers, micro-providers and voluntary organisations as important partners in care.
Future Focused
Reisdents, carers, staff and partners support the ambition to keep improving Adult Social Care and want future services to be flexible, inclusive and shaped by lived experience. The feedback highlighted the need for clearer communication, stronger partnerships across health, housing, social care and the voluntary sector, and more visible feedback on how people’s views lead to change. The feedback showed that people also recognised the importance of planning ahead for future demand, financial pressures and the need for sustainable, preventative support.