Investing to save

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By investing in more efficient and effective processes and services, we reduce our costs. For example, we can use the Council’s resources to invest in local facilities to support and care for children and adults, rather than purchasing those services elsewhere. We also have a strong track record of working with children, families and adults to get support in place before their needs escalate and they require more intensive and costly services. By acting early it is possible, in certain circumstances, to prevent the need for children to go into care, for people to be made homeless, or for adults to require ongoing social care. Not only is this the best result for the individual but it's also more cost effective. New proposals that relate to this theme will save £3.3 million over the next two years and include the following.

Proposals

(2.1) Helping people to recover from a crisis: Our reablement team supports individuals when they have a crisis such as a fall or hospital stay. By supporting in a timely way, we know it reduces the numbers of people whose needs get worse and require more long-standing care. With a refocused team, we believe we could be more responsive and be better placed to enhance the independence of our residents. This could save £2.4 million in the next two years.

(2.2) Local accommodation to support children and young people that require care and support: We are committed to providing more local accommodation options to meet a range of care needs for children and young people. This includes provision for children with disabilities and group and solo living accommodation for those who leave care when reaching adulthood. In many cases, this is the best option for the young person and it is also more cost effective compared to purchasing accommodation placements outside the local area. In total, including the necessary investment required, this could save £811,000 over the next two years.

Further ideas for the future:

To meet future challenges the following are being considered, but work is at an early stage.

(2.3) Growing early intervention approaches: We are considering ways in which we can expand our current early help models for children and families. Providing more targeted, short-term support will help to reduce the currently increasing demand for more intensive services, such as child protection and placing children in care.

(2.4) Reviewing accommodation options for adult social care: We are currently consulting on a plan to improve accommodation options for adult social care service users. We may choose to extend supported living schemes which provide a level of support for people with care needs where support from a care home is not necessary. This could save money as well as enhancing independence.

(2.5) Further investment in accommodation options for children’s social care: We are reviewing whether we could invest in more accommodation within the borough to support children and young people that require social care. We would look to build on progress to date and see if we could take this further. This will enable more local provision at a lower cost.

By investing in more efficient and effective processes and services, we reduce our costs. For example, we can use the Council’s resources to invest in local facilities to support and care for children and adults, rather than purchasing those services elsewhere. We also have a strong track record of working with children, families and adults to get support in place before their needs escalate and they require more intensive and costly services. By acting early it is possible, in certain circumstances, to prevent the need for children to go into care, for people to be made homeless, or for adults to require ongoing social care. Not only is this the best result for the individual but it's also more cost effective. New proposals that relate to this theme will save £3.3 million over the next two years and include the following.

Proposals

(2.1) Helping people to recover from a crisis: Our reablement team supports individuals when they have a crisis such as a fall or hospital stay. By supporting in a timely way, we know it reduces the numbers of people whose needs get worse and require more long-standing care. With a refocused team, we believe we could be more responsive and be better placed to enhance the independence of our residents. This could save £2.4 million in the next two years.

(2.2) Local accommodation to support children and young people that require care and support: We are committed to providing more local accommodation options to meet a range of care needs for children and young people. This includes provision for children with disabilities and group and solo living accommodation for those who leave care when reaching adulthood. In many cases, this is the best option for the young person and it is also more cost effective compared to purchasing accommodation placements outside the local area. In total, including the necessary investment required, this could save £811,000 over the next two years.

Further ideas for the future:

To meet future challenges the following are being considered, but work is at an early stage.

(2.3) Growing early intervention approaches: We are considering ways in which we can expand our current early help models for children and families. Providing more targeted, short-term support will help to reduce the currently increasing demand for more intensive services, such as child protection and placing children in care.

(2.4) Reviewing accommodation options for adult social care: We are currently consulting on a plan to improve accommodation options for adult social care service users. We may choose to extend supported living schemes which provide a level of support for people with care needs where support from a care home is not necessary. This could save money as well as enhancing independence.

(2.5) Further investment in accommodation options for children’s social care: We are reviewing whether we could invest in more accommodation within the borough to support children and young people that require social care. We would look to build on progress to date and see if we could take this further. This will enable more local provision at a lower cost.