Warwickshire News Mine

The aim of the event was to progress Warwickshire’s ‘Putting People First’ initiative to give those in need of social care - including older people and those with disabilities - much more power over their lives. Putting People First in Warwickshire will give people the choice and control to commission their own care and support.

Organised by Warwickshire County Council and hosted by Dave Nash, Strategic Director of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, the conference brought together the District Council, the County Council’s Adult, Health and Community Services Directorate, local health agencies, carers and more than 30 people representing service users.

Over the next few years everyone in Warwickshire, who is eligible for adult social care support, will have greater control over their own care and support. For instance, instead of local authorities buying services on behalf of an individual, that person will be offered their own budget and can direct how it is spent, allowing the care package to be tailored to their needs.

This will increase the opportunity for independent living for all adults in the county. Among those affected will be older people and people who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities, impaired vision or hearing.

Dr Graeme Betts, Strategic Director of Adult, Health and Community Services at Warwickshire County Council, said: “The success of Putting People First is all about engagement with customers, staff and agencies who deliver to local communities. We want to build on existing partnerships between public sector bodies, carers and users to ensure all services are accessible and contribute to a better quality of life.”

Dave Nash, Strategic Director at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said: “The rural nature of our district makes it hard for people, particularly those in isolated communities, to access the support and services they need. 

"The Putting People First programme is based on the principle that the customer knows best.  It’s our job to ensure that people get the support that they think will make the biggest difference to their quality of life.” 

He continued, “This approach will challenge local service providers to work together more effectively, and at our conference we made some good progress on this.  Once we are truly ‘Putting People First’, this new way of working will succeed in transforming people’s lives.”

Putting People First in Warwickshire is headed up by Dame Yve Buckland who has chaired a county-wide taskforce to look at how services might be delivered differently and most importantly, brought together to meet the needs that exist in the community. Putting People First in Warwickshire was launched last year by Dame Yve Buckland and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, one of the most successful disabled athletes in the UK.

Regional Putting People First conferences are taking place across the county to engage with all partners at a local level.

Link to WCC