Purpose

Update of the Bucks Better Lives Strategy informing people of how they should expect to receive services

Decision

The Council’s Better Lives strategy was as relevant today as it was when first introduced in 2018. It provided a consistent and person-centred framework for enabling people to live at home and as independently as long as possible. Enabling people to stay independent delivered better outcomes, improved wellbeing, reduced the need for long term care, and supported a sustainable service model for the future.

The strategy had been updated and built on this strong foundation, setting out the Council’s vision for a future where all residents were empowered to live well in their communities with minimal reliance on long term support. People would experience care that was planned around individual need across health and social care services, would have greater choice and control, and would benefit from strong community networks.

The Better Lives Strategy was structured around three core pillars that underpinned all the work:

·       Living Independently - supporting people to access the right information, advice and community networks to stay well for longer.

·       Regaining Independence - providing timely, practical, short-term support that helped people recover skills and return home safely following illness, injury or a change in circumstances.

·       Living with Support - ensuring people who needed longer term care received personalised, high-quality support that promoted choice, control and dignity, with strong recognition of the vital role played by carers.

The current version of the Better Lives Strategy was adopted by Cabinet in January 2022. Following review, the strategy had been updated to reflect changes in the national and local policy context. There were no substantive changes to the approach and three pillar model. The updates included more detail on how the Council commissioned for better lives, supported the workforce and evidenced impact. An action plan was in place to support delivery and would be updated annually.

RESOLVED that the Better Lives Strategy 2026 – 2031 be approved.