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Looking ahead - our priorities for 2026/27

As we close this year’s annual report, our message is clear: we are determined to keep making the difference that matters for adults, carers and communities across Gloucestershire. 

We are proud of the progress made this year - strengthening prevention, improving access to support, and using data, feedback and lived experience to guide improvement. At the same time, we remain honest about where more needs to change, particularly in improving people’s experience of care and support.

Looking ahead, we will build on this progress while recognising the challenges ahead, including rising demand, increasing complexity of need and continued financial pressure. We welcome challenge, assurance and inspection as part of our improvement journey, helping us show what has changed, what we are learning, and what we will do next. Our focus will remain on people’s experience, timely access to support, strong partnerships, prevention, and consistent strengths-based practice.

People should get the right help, in the right way, at the right time.

  • Fewer repeated conversations and clearer information about what matters to each person.
  • Faster advice and support through an improved contact service (often called the “Front Door”).
  • Better recording of information so staff can see what matters most.

People should get the right help, in the right way, at the right time.

  • Fewer repeated conversations and clearer information about what matters to each person.
  • Faster advice and support through an improved contact service (often called the “Front Door”).
  • Better recording of information so staff can see what matters most.

People who use care and support should help shape services.

  • Embedding our Co-production Charter so lived experience shapes what we do.
  • Involving people in boards and improvement programmes.
  • More opportunities for feedback and co-production to shape change.

People who use care and support should help shape services.

  • Embedding our Co-production Charter so lived experience shapes what we do.
  • Involving people in boards and improvement programmes.
  • More opportunities for feedback and co-production to shape change.

Services should be easier to use and better joined up.

  • Online Financial Assessment so people can understand costs more quickly.
  • Joined up systems so staff have the information they need.
  • Technology-enabled care, such as sensors and alarms, to support independence at home.

Services should be easier to use and better joined up.

  • Online Financial Assessment so people can understand costs more quickly.
  • Joined up systems so staff have the information they need.
  • Technology-enabled care, such as sensors and alarms, to support independence at home.

People should be supported to stay well and avoid crises in their own communities.

  • Earlier help so people can stay well and avoid crisis.
  • Know Your Patch networks connecting people to local groups and support.
  • Closer working with GPs, hospitals and community organisations to spot issues earlier.
  • Equipment, home adaptations and reablement to support recovery and independence.

People should be supported to stay well and avoid crises in their own communities.

  • Earlier help so people can stay well and avoid crisis.
  • Know Your Patch networks connecting people to local groups and support.
  • Closer working with GPs, hospitals and community organisations to spot issues earlier.
  • Equipment, home adaptations and reablement to support recovery and independence.

Staff should feel skilled, confident and valued.

  • More training in strengths based practice, safeguarding, the Care Act and digital skills.
  • Clear career pathways and development opportunities.
  • Working with providers through a Care Academy to strengthen the wider care workforce.

Staff should feel skilled, confident and valued.

  • More training in strengths based practice, safeguarding, the Care Act and digital skills.
  • Clear career pathways and development opportunities.
  • Working with providers through a Care Academy to strengthen the wider care workforce.

We need a strong and sustainable range of care and support.

  • Regular forums with care providers to share updates and solve problems.
  • Support for new and innovative approaches to care and support.
  • A long-term Market Position Statement to plan services around local needs.

We need a strong and sustainable range of care and support.

  • Regular forums with care providers to share updates and solve problems.
  • Support for new and innovative approaches to care and support.
  • A long-term Market Position Statement to plan services around local needs.

We want to understand what is working and where we need to improve.

  • Better use of data to spot trends and issues early.
  • A clearer approach to quality so we can plan improvements and act quickly when needed.
  • Learning from feedback, complaints, compliments and audits to improve services.

We want to understand what is working and where we need to improve.

  • Better use of data to spot trends and issues early.
  • A clearer approach to quality so we can plan improvements and act quickly when needed.
  • Learning from feedback, complaints, compliments and audits to improve services.