Council launches new commission into the future of adult social care

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s commission into the future of adult social care is to meet for the first time next week and the council is seeking people’s views on their experiences of social care.

The commission is working to ensure that adult social care provision in the borough is ready for future challenges and opportunities. It will be considering the vision for adult social care in the borough at its first meeting on Tuesday, 16 November.

The commission is made up of Labour, Conservative and Independent councillors along with representatives of the local community and voluntary sector and the NHS.  A range of other partners will also be invited to participate as expert witnesses, with findings and recommendations to go to the Council’s Cabinet.

The first meeting will hear from the Cheshire Disabled People’s Panel about local people’s experiences of drawing on social care, the North West Association of Directors of Social Services about the Care Vision 2030 that they have developed, and Wigan Council about their approach to delivering social care.

The Commission is collecting evidence and a public call for evidence was launched in September asking for local people, partners and care providers to share any evidence that the Commission should consider. People have been asked to share their views and ideas using the email address:

FutureOfSocialCare@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

They can also write to:

Future of Social Care, Cheshire West and Chester Council, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port CH65 0BE.

The Commission has a webpage at:

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/futuresocialcare

...where it will be publishing material shared at the Commission and hosting recordings of meetings.  The page also includes a forward plan of meetings dates and the themes for discussion.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Val Armstrong, said: “We would like to invite anyone with experience of adult social care to get in touch with us to share their views as we look at how we can ensure that our social care provision in west Cheshire is ready for future challenges and opportunities. Please do get in touch to share your views as by doing so you can help make a difference.”

Commission meetings are being held virtually and are open for anyone to attend and observe.  There will be public speaking time available at the start of each meeting for anyone to ask to speak briefly on a topic related to the theme under discussion.  Anyone wishing to speak here needs to request to do so by noon the day before the meeting. 

The first part of each meeting will also be dedicated to hearing about the experiences, views and ideas from those who draw on social services, their families and carers.  Anyone wishing to speak to the Commission can share their experiences, request to use the public speaking time or propose themselves as expert witnesses via:

FutureOfSocialCare@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

Or by writing in to the address given above.

The Council is currently engaging with a variety of local groups and communities to raise awareness of the Commission and to understand and explore how else they might wish to share their expertise with Commissioners.