The Adult Care Services Cabinet Panel is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to consider the proposed Adult Care Services Plan for 2026-2028, review a refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy, and discuss the allocation of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Approval of Adult Care Services Plan 2026-2028

The Panel is set to consider the proposed Adult Care Services Plan for 2026-2028. This resident-facing document outlines the strategic direction for adult social care in Hertfordshire over the next two years, focusing on five priority themes: people's experience of social care and information and advice; wellbeing and resilience; providing care and support; supporting unpaid and family carers; and organisations working together to support people. The plan has been developed following extensive engagement with residents, partners, and staff, and aims to deliver improvements to adult social care services, aligning with Hertfordshire County Council's Corporate Plan priorities. The Panel will be asked to comment on the proposed plan and endorse it to Cabinet for approval.

Approval of Refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy

A proposed three-year refresh of the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan is also scheduled for consideration. This multi-agency, all-age strategy has been developed through co-production with unpaid carers, partners from the NHS, voluntary sector, and carer representatives. It focuses on five key outcomes identified by carers as most important: being informed, having a life beyond caring, maintaining health and wellbeing, receiving consistent and joined-up services, and being safe. The strategy aims to better identify and support unpaid carers across Hertfordshire, aligning with various existing council and NHS strategies. The Panel will be asked to comment on the proposed strategy and action plan and endorse them to Cabinet for agreement.

The Crisis and Resilience Fund

The Panel will receive a detailed delivery plan for the use of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). This fund, which replaces the Household Support Fund, provides £9.1 million per year for three years, increasing to £11.4 million in the third year. The CRF aims to support vulnerable households facing immediate financial crisis with essential living costs, while also strengthening longer-term household resilience. The proposed plan outlines how the funding will be allocated across four categories: Crisis Payments, Housing Payments, Resilience Services, and Community Coordination. The report details a proposed spending plan, developed jointly by Adult Care Services and Children's Services, informed by local intelligence and a multi-agency Cost of Living Response Group. The plan includes a three-year commitment for some projects, such as advice services, and a more flexible approach for others, allowing for adjustments based on demand. The Panel will be asked to note and comment on the proposed allocation plan and endorse it to Cabinet for agreement.

The meeting will also include the agreement of the minutes from the previous Adult Care Services Cabinet Panel meeting held on 22 January 2026, and an opportunity for public petitions. There are no items of Part II ('closed') business scheduled for this meeting.