Somerset Council reveals adult three year social care strategy
New plan focuses on early support, flexible workforce, and sustainable services
Somerset Council has unveiled its new Adult Social Care Strategy set to span from 2026 to 2029.
The strategy outlines plans to assist adults in maintaining healthy, safe, and independent lives within supportive communities.
Four key priorities are at the heart of the new strategy: providing early support, ensuring timely care in convenient locations, cultivating a skilled and adaptable workforce, and developing services prepared for future challenges.
Adult social care encompasses various types of support for individuals due to age, disability, illness, or mental health issues.
This includes advice, help to remain independent, support for unpaid carers, safeguarding, home care, recovery assistance post-hospitalisation, and residential or nursing care if necessary.
In the 2025/26 financial year, adult social care accounted for 38% of Somerset Council’s budget, amounting to £230.867 million.
The council expects demand for social care to rise significantly as the population in the area grows older.
Statistics indicate that approximately 25.31% of Somerset residents are over 65, compared to the national average of 18.69%.
Projections suggest that the number of individuals needing long-term care may increase from 4,400 to 6,000 by 2040.
The strategy is informed by extensive engagement with those who use care and support services, unpaid carers, staff, providers, health partners, community groups, and residents throughout Somerset.
Feedback underscored the necessity of making support more accessible, streamlining services, supporting unpaid carers, and ensuring the real-life experiences of individuals shape adult social care provisions.
Cllr Sarah Wakefield, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Adults Services, Housing and Homelessness, highlighted the importance of the refreshed strategy, stating that it builds upon ongoing efforts to improve adult social care in Somerset.
She emphasised, “It is not a response to the recent Best Value Notice or the outcome of our Care Quality Commission assessment. Rather, it formally sets out the direction of travel we had already identified to meet the challenges facing adult social care, including growing demand, changing demographics, workforce pressures, and increasing financial constraints.”
Cllr Wakefield also addressed funding challenges, advocating for long-term national investment in essential services such as adult social care rather than relying on Council Tax.
The council plans to collaborate with the NHS, housing bodies, care providers, voluntary and community organisations, unpaid carers, and residents to implement the strategy.