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Social Care Future

Wokingham Borough Connect 

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Signing up to a new future for Adult Social Care 

Four local residents who are members of our local Social Care Future Core Group came along to January’s Council meeting to talk about their experiences of social care services, and present our new Social Care Future Charter.

The charter sets out what we want to change about social care in the borough, and how we want to do this, placing an emphasis on the importance of finding a way to ensure people who draw on social care services are central to the decisions being made about their support. 

It was inspired by the national Social Care Future movement whose vision is for everyone to have the support, resources and opportunities to live in a place they call home, with the people and things that they love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing the things that matter most.   

The charter has been developed with groups of residents and organisations with different experiences of social care in the borough, who were brought together at a launch event last summer to talk about what mattered to them – perhaps you were there? 

Council was very impressed by the presentation and voted unanimously to adopt the charter and work with the community to embed the principles into the way we work. By signing the Charter and opting into these emails, you are also showing your support for the Social Care Future vision. Do encourage your friends, family, colleagues or supporters to consider getting involved too - your stories, experience, and ideas will help us make positive changes to adult social care.

Making people’s first interaction with adult services a positive experience 

How local residents access adult care services is set to improve following the launch of a series of ‘front door’ workshops. They will help make it easier for people to take their first step to getting the support they or a loved one need. 

The first workshop took place in early December with more planned for the coming months. They are being run in partnership with Involve Community Services, an organisation which supports the voluntary and community sector across the borough. 

People who have recent experience of approaching the council for support, as well as local voluntary and community organisations, are part of the workshops.  You can see some of the topics we discussed at the first workshop in the photograph. 

By involving people with experience of contacting adult social care, the project offers a great opportunity to share their thoughts on what worked and what could have been better. The groups can also discuss ideas and opportunities to help improve the process. 

If you have recent experience of contacting adult social care services for yourself or someone you care about and want to help find shared solutions for the wider community, email getinvolved@wokingham.gov.uk. 

Your views on travel 

Wokingham Borough Council want your views on our Local Transport Plan, which sets out how all kinds of transport provision will be offered in future, and where we should seek funding for improvements. 

It aims to create opportunities for people to walk or wheel, cycle, or take the bus or train for everyday trips, supporting the Government’s goal of making these the natural choices for shorter journeys and parts of longer ones. 

It’s important that your views are taking into account in important decisions like this, so we’re encouraging everyone to share their thoughts.

You can find out more about the Local Transport Plan, and have your say, on our Engage Wokingham site or complete this easy read online survey.