The good news is that most people will live longer healthier lives, be independent and enjoy the many riches that Kirklees has to offer. However with more people living longer than before we can expect to see more needing support, particularly in the latter stages of their lives. We may also see more people with dementia - some may even experience this in their 50s. People also have different expectations from those their grandparents and parents may have had in the past. When needing care and support many are less inclined to accept the old traditional and sometimes institutional ways of receiving that support. Many will want a personal service. Most will want to remain in their own homes close to family and the communities they know.

You can find out how we intend to support people with dementia by viewing our dementia strategy at:

Dementia Strategy (PDF 914KB)

We want to offer you better quality services that are personal to you and give you more choice and control over decisions that affect your life. We can tell you about using Direct Payments or Personal Budgets to pay for support or a personal assistant to help you in daily living. You can pay a friend or relative as long as they don't live in the same house as you. We want you to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of whether you pay for a service or not. We want to make you feel part of a community and experience the friendships and care that can come from families, friends and neighbours. We want you to have a say in how your allocated money (if you are eligible) is spent in supporting your needs. If you are eligible you can now have a person - led assessment, your own support plan and a personal budget.

You can find out more about our vision for supporting people with a learning disability at:

Kirklees Learning Disability Partnership Board Our Vision (PDF 221KB)

It is likely that one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some time in our life. The most common mental health concerns are anxiety and depression. For those who experience mental health distress in Kirklees, our intention is to obtain the highest level of self-sufficiency within their communities, through the use of valued, quality support networks and services. Find out more about our vision for supporting people with mental health needs plus other useful guidance including the Kirklees joint mental health commissioning strategy at:

www.kirklees.gov.uk/mentalhealth

The demand for support is growing faster than the funding available. This is true both at a national and local level.

• Millions of pounds are needed over the next 10 years to fund the growth in demand for care
• Nationally all political parties recognise this funding gap
• The recession during 2010 and beyond may mean that the funding gap grows wider
• If not addressed this could mean that all those people requiring support may not get all they need
• Kirklees Council Adult Social Care needs to find new cost-effective ways of delivering support

We are already starting to do things differently. We will buy more of some things and buy less of other things!

We will invest more in:

• Quickly getting to people and offering up to six weeks of reablement*.
• Encouraging people to use Telecare** when appropriate.
• Asking those needing support what would help make a difference so they gain a personalised*** support service.
• Offering people opportunities to direct how they are supported
• Make more personal budgets available
• Purchasing more support at home from our preferred quality independent sector providers
• Improving access to more luncheon clubs, social gatherings, and opportunities for people to avoid isolation and loneliness - keeping old friends and making new ones
• Facilitating more communities and neighbourhoods to work together to support and protect vulnerable adults in their communities
• Using our Libraries and Information Centres and other valuable community venues to share information about and promote health and well-being in Kirklees localities

• More people are helped each year to remain independent, healthy and well
• People who are vulnerable are safeguarded from abuse
• People who receive support can say they have been treated with dignity and respect
• There is greater equity in health and well being across Kirklees
• People are provided with opportunities to contribute to the community
• People have the chance to keep old friends and make new ones

You can see a range of information advice and guidance for our adult social care providers in Kirklees at:

www.kirklees.gov.uk/careinkirklees

• Find smarter more efficient ways of buying and delivering care and support
• Ensure this remains high quality and continues to treat people with dignity and respect
• Adopt a partnership approach to minimise duplication in how things are done, in structures and approaches.
• Develop better integrated services within geographical zones and across similar organisations
• Achieve better returns on investment- better outcomes for more people particularly where greater inequalities in health and well-being exist
• Ensure that all sections of Kirklees communities can access services
• Continue to focus on safeguarding vulnerable people and improving service quality

The use of timely and focused intensive support so that people can maximise their long term independence. This approach focuses on reabling people in their homes so they achieve their optimum level of independence with the lowest appropriate level of ongoing support care.

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Telecare is the use of technology and support to assist people to live at home. It can improve and maintain well-being, self-esteem, and independence. Telecare enables individuals to live safely and securely at home. It is a cost effective way of giving people more control over their lives.

Personalisation is about creating more opportunities for self directed support. It is a process that will change the way adult social care is planned, managed and delivered. People will be given more choice and control over their care with the freedom to assess their own needs, plan their support and manage their social care money. You can find more information about personalisation at:

www.kirklees.gov.uk/puttingpeoplefirst

Contact us for more information or to discuss anything raised here.

• By Phone: Gateway to Care Tel 01484 223000
• By Email: gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk