Service changes announced as adult social care improvements continue

Scheduled to come into effect in the next year the plans will see several adult social care services brought back under the direct management of the council to enhance quality and efficiency. 

The mental health social work, occupational therapy services, and mental health supported accommodation (housing-related support) currently funded by the council but delivered by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, will in future be fully council operated services. It was also decided that community reablement services will also operate partially within the council and partially through care providers in local communities.   

This stage in the redesign of Gloucestershire adult social care services comes as part of an ongoing and wider improvement plan for adult services that has been gathering pace over the past year. Today’s announcement addresses a challenge set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in January to bring forward these plans and will help see change achieved sooner.  

The council will be working closely with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and other partner organisations to ensure a seamless transition, prioritising care and high-quality services delivery alongside fully supporting all staff affected by the changes.  

Cllr Dr Kate Usmar, cabinet member for Adult Services and Independence at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I believe these changes will lead to significant improvements to how we deliver Adult Social Care in Gloucestershire. There is a clear plan and vision for how we will improve these vital services that truly make a difference to people's lives across the county.  

“While we will always seek to save public money, this is not a cost-cutting move. While it is motivated by the need for efficiency, it is with the intention of delivering care to more people and to an even higher standard. I see this as a significant step on our way to building a model of adult social care that we can be truly proud of.”

Sandra Betney, Deputy Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our priority will always be ensuring that our communities receive high quality care and support and we will therefore be working alongside Gloucestershire County Council in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. We are very proud of our colleagues who work within these services – their skill, dedication and commitment has benefitted many thousands of people across Gloucestershire for many years. We will do everything we can to now support them as they go through the change process.”