Warwickshire News Mine

Councillor Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, welcomed everyone and mapped out a future for social care in Warwickshire of personalisation, individual budgets and technology.

He explained: “This is a priority for Warwickshire County Council. Older people have a right to lead safe, dignified and independent lives with accessible services to support this.”

Leading the presentations was Dame Tanni Grey Thompson. Her inspirational speech focused on the need to take control and the importance of making your own decisions.

Dame Yves Buckland, leader of the Warwickshire Putting People First taskforce formally opened the conference and explained that the role of the taskforce is to identify where a difference can be made in people’s lives.

She said: “Warwickshire has made a commitment to implement the Putting People First agenda by 2011. I am thrilled to be to be a part of this, ensuring people can remain living independently by taking control and making their own decisions. Putting people first is about real things for real people.”

Mike O’Brien, MP for North Warwickshire and Minister of State for Pensions Reform concluded the formal launch presentations with a speech on the Putting People First concordat. He emphasised the need for Social Care providers to respond to the enormous demographic changes that will take place in the population by 2025.

Further presentations included a question and answer session with key stakeholders, Elizabeth Phillips, Chief Executive of Warwickshire Age Concern, Dave Nash, Strategic Director – Stratford District Council, Helen King, Director of Public Health for Warwickshire and Liz Bruce, Head of Local Commissioning for Warwickshire County Council.

Staff, service users and carers were all represented and contributed with their views on the new agenda. All were unanimous with their support for a system that will give individualised support for people’s needs.

Over the next few years everyone in Warwickshire, who is eligible for adult social care support, will move to a system of personal budgets. This will increase the opportunity for independent living for all adults in the county. 

Putting People First in Warwickshire aims to ensure adults with disabilities and older people achieve a better quality of life. The only way this will be achieved is by public sector bodies in Warwickshire working in partnership with users and carers.

Graeme Betts, Strategic Director for Adult, Health and Community Services for Warwickshire County Council, added: “This is the most exciting and challenging change that social care has faced. The conference was a memorable event with communities and agencies all working together to make Putting People First a reality.

“Many Warwickshire’s statutory, care and health agencies, private and voluntary care provider services were represented. It was also encouraging to see so many service users, carers and staff taking part in the launch.”

Link to WCC