The Adult Care Services Cabinet Panel met on Tuesday 14 April 2026 to discuss the progress of the Connect and Prevent programme and review the Adult Care Services Local Account. The panel also considered a motion regarding the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy.

Connect and Prevent Phase 1 Update

The panel received an update on the Connect and Prevent programme, a major transformation initiative within adult care services aimed at improving resident independence and achieving financial savings. Phase one of the programme, which focused on five workstreams—Proactive Prevention, Community Connections, Effective Enablement, Preventative Transitions, and Progressive Reviews—has been successful in delivering positive outcomes for residents and exceeding financial targets. The programme has generated an annualised run rate of between £23.8 million and £30.5 million, surpassing its initial savings target.

Key achievements highlighted include:

• Proactive Prevention: Reaching over 250 carers to offer personalised support, with an annualised run rate of £0.7 million against a target of £1.2 million.
• Community Connections: Enabling older people to connect with community support, with an annualised run rate of £0.7 million against a target of £3.0 million.
• Effective Enablement: Deploying a reablement app across providers, leading to improved real-time updates on resident progress and more informed review decisions. This workstream has achieved an annualised run rate of between £6.4 million and £7.5 million, exceeding its target of £6.7 million.
• Progressive Reviews: Embedding new ways of working within Adult Disability Services (ADS), including collaborative case discussions and goal-based plans, resulting in significant measurable impacts. This workstream has achieved an annualised run rate of between £12.0 million and £17.6 million, exceeding its target of £12.0 million.
• Preventative Transitions: Launching goal-based planning and targeted reviews for young people transitioning into adulthood, with over 40 young people supported on these plans. This workstream has achieved an annualised run rate of £4.1 million against a target of £1.9 million.

The report also detailed the Effective Enablement workstream, highlighting the development and deployment of a reablement app that provides real-time updates on residents' progress towards independence. This has led to quicker, more informed review decisions and improved collaboration with care providers. Case studies, such as that of Peter, demonstrated how the app and associated processes helped individuals regain independence faster.

Phase two of the Connect and Prevent programme has now begun, aiming to deliver a further £24.2 million in savings through workstreams such as Proactive Prevention, Enabling Independence, ADS Strategic Commissioning, OP Strategic Commissioning, and Sustainable Accommodation.

Adult Care Services Local Account

The panel reviewed the Adult Care Services Local Account 2025, which provides an overview of the department's performance, achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement from April 2024 to September 2025. This report bridges the end of the previous ACS Plan (2021-2025) and looks ahead to the priorities of the new plan.

Key highlights from the Local Account include:

• CQC Assessment: Adult Care Services received a 'Good' rating in eight out of nine areas inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with an 'Outstanding' rating for partnership working. Strengths identified include preventative care, use of assistive technology, safeguarding, and positive resident experiences.
• Performance Data: Hertfordshire's performance against the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF) shows strong results in quality of life, overall satisfaction, feeling safe, and safeguarding outcomes, ranking in the top quartile nationally for these measures. Admissions to care homes are also better than regional and national averages. Areas identified for improvement include reablement effectiveness, social contact, and workforce turnover.
• Resident and Carer Feedback: The local surveys indicate high satisfaction levels, with 68.2% of adults satisfied with their care, and 80% feeling in control of their daily lives. However, only 42.1% reported having enough social contact, highlighting ongoing challenges with loneliness. Carers requested better access to information, involvement in planning, and more flexible support.
• Financial Overview: Adult Care Services had a budget of £518.5 million for 2025/26, representing approximately 42% of the council's total budget. Major spending areas include Adult Disability Services and Older People's Services.
• Key Strategies: The Local Account references several updated or new strategies, including those for Dementia, Sensory Needs, Autism, Physical Disability, Day Services, and Carers.

The report also detailed the significant achievements in partnership working, such as the development of Transfer of Care Hubs at Watford and Barnet Hospitals to improve patient discharge coordination.

Motion Regarding the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy

The panel considered a motion regarding the Hertfordshire Carers Strategy, which acknowledged the council's commitment to unpaid carers and the vital contribution they make. The motion requested a report on areas where future support for carers could be strengthened, including:

• The scale and characteristics of hidden carers and barriers to accessing support.
• Difficulties faced by carers at transition points, such as young carers moving into adulthood or when a caring role ends.
• Opportunities to improve workplace and education support for unpaid carers.
• Options for recognising carers' skills and supporting their voluntary access to training or employment.

The report indicated that many of these points are already being addressed within the refreshed Hertfordshire Carers Strategy (2026-2028) and its accompanying Action Plan. The strategy, developed through co-production with carers, focuses on five key outcomes: being informed, having a life beyond caring, maintaining health and wellbeing, receiving consistent, joined-up services, and being safe.

Specific actions mentioned include:

• Hidden Carers: Using AI-assisted tools to proactively identify carers at risk of breakdown and offering support, alongside public communications and improved awareness among frontline staff. The report noted that approximately 92,800 carers are estimated to be in Hertfordshire, with Carers in Hertfordshire registered with 45,994.
• Transition Points: The refreshed strategy includes work on young carers moving into adulthood, supporting carers through the move from children's to adult services, and longer-term planning for when carers are no longer able to care.
• Workplace and Education Support: Efforts are underway to strengthen the council's own approach to supporting carers in its workforce, promote support offers to external employers, and work with schools and further education settings.
• Recognising Carer Skills: Exploring national options for recognising carers' skills and supporting voluntary access to training or employment, with existing programmes like Step2Skills and the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association's Good Care Campaign being referenced.

The report confirmed that the Action Plan is a living document and will be updated with further co-production with carers. An update on the plan will be brought to the panel later in the year. The motion was generally supported by the panel, with members acknowledging the importance of carers and the ongoing work to improve support.