The Adult Care and Health Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Information Briefing on 19 June 2025, included updates on the Adult Services Transformation and Improvement Programme, and a Market Position Statement for older people's care homes and housing with care. The committee noted the progress made in delivering Adult Services Transformation and Improvement Programme.

Adult Services Transformation and Improvement Programme Update

The committee reviewed a report providing an update on the Adult Services Transformation and Improvement Programme. The programme aims to deliver a new, lower-cost operating model and improve residents' lives by focusing on four key areas:

• Improving the initial point of contact with adult social care, prioritising a person's independence.
• Expanding the use of assistive technology¹ to promote independent living and reduce reliance on high-cost care packages.
• Enhancing community support by providing better information about local resources to reduce loneliness and social isolation.
• Empowering staff by ensuring they have the necessary data and support to deliver high-quality, timely services.

The report noted that in July 2024, the Executive approved the Adult Social Care Digital Transformation Strategy 2024 to 2034 and an 'invest to save' proposal, allocating £2 million of Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding and £1.628 million from the improved Better Care Fund (iBCF) to support the strategy's delivery.

The council has contracted with the Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) to act as a Strategic Delivery Partner to support the transformation and improvement of Adult Social Care.

Key achievements highlighted in the report include:

• The launch of a new front door model on 12 May 2025, designed to create a more seamless experience for residents, increase the number of people who can remain at home, and strengthen safeguarding measures.
• Progress in delivering the priorities outlined in the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy 2024 – 2028, including organising provider forums and sharing information through a monthly newsletter.
• Bromley Council Adult Services, in partnership with Skills for Care, have delivered a targeted promotional campaign to increase the number of care providers in the Borough using the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC WD).
• The implementation of five priority projects within the Adult Services Digital Transformation Programme: AI Transcription pilot, Online Improvements, enhanced Assistive Technology investment pilots, process changes to underpin the change programme, and improved decision making through new performance dashboards.

The report also addressed potential risks and issues, such as delays in the assistive technology project and the need to embed skills within the service to maintain performance dashboards. Mitigation strategies were outlined, including accelerating progress in key areas, embedding new ways of working, and exploring alternative models of care.

Market Position Statement for Older People Care Homes and Housing with Care

The Market Position Statement for Older People Care Homes and Housing with Care was listed on the agenda, but the document was not available at the time of publication.