Key Points
- Haringey Council announces a new improvement plan for adult social care to transform service delivery.
- The plan focuses on practical actions involving residents, families, carers, and staff to support independent living.
- The council faces challenges like a budget shortfall, an ageing population, and growing demand for services.
- Financial difficulties experienced by the council may impact the improvement plan but also drive change.
- The co-produced Carers Strategy aims to recognise and support carers, launched on Carers Rights Day.
- The strategy is based on inputs from thousands of carers, focusing on quicker, fairer assessments, better information access, and tailored respite options.
- It emphasises carers’ health, wellbeing, employment support, and tackling health inequalities.
- The strategy reflects lived experiences across diverse carers balancing caregiving with personal and community challenges.
- Haringey Council vows commitment to continual improvement and partnership with residents for a supportive borough.
What Has Haringey Council Announced About Adult Social Care?
Cllr Lucia das Neves, a key figure in Haringey’s local government, recently outlined a new improvement plan for adult social care in the borough. Despite facing some challenges, she stated,
“We are clear eyed about what is needed to improve the quality of service we provide and are fully committed to making it happen.”
This plan aims to transform the way care services are delivered over a three-year period by involving key stakeholders including residents, families, carers, and staff. The objective is to provide services that best support local people to live independent and fulfilling lives. The council recognises that the pressures they face, such as managing a budget shortfall, an ageing population, and increasing demand for services, require urgent and practical action.
What Challenges Are Affecting Haringey’s Adult Social Care?
According to statements made by Cllr Lucia das Neves, the council is navigating significant financial challenges. These fiscal pressures have the potential both to impact the implementation of the care improvement plan and to act as a catalyst for change within the system. As the council strives to achieve financial recovery, there is a strong emphasis on ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in delivering value to residents. The council must balance the competing demands of maintaining quality social care services amid budget constraints and demographic pressures, which include an ageing population and increased service demand.
How Is the Carers Strategy Featured in the Improvement Plan?
A central component of the improvement plan is the co-produced Carers Strategy, which was launched by Cllr Lucia das Neves on Carers Rights Day. She described carers as
“the quiet champions of our borough – often unseen, always important.”
The strategy is deeply personal and rooted in the input and experiences of thousands of carers, who shared their frustrations, hopes, and realities. Those voices have directed the council’s focus towards three key priorities: faster and fairer Carer’s Assessments, clearer and more accessible information, and respite options that genuinely meet community needs. This new chapter of support aims to enhance carers’ health, wellbeing, and employment opportunities, recognising the importance of helping carers maintain their own lives while caring for others. Tackling health inequalities is also highlighted to ensure no carer is left behind.
What Makes This Carers Strategy Different?
What stands out about Haringey’s Carers Strategy is its emphasis on lived experience. It acknowledges the varied situations carers find themselves in, whether balancing work and family commitments, managing their own health problems, or providing care within communities that may be overlooked. Cllr das Neves emphasised this approach as embodying “The Haringey Deal”: a model of service co-designed, co-delivered, and deeply connected to residents. The council is committed to building a borough that recognises, values, and supports every carer, signalling that while progress has been made, this is only the beginning of ongoing efforts.
What Is the Council’s Commitment Going Forward?
In conclusion, the council’s adult social care improvement plan sets out a clear and practical roadmap to enhance service quality in Haringey. The pledge from Cllr Lucia das Neves reflects a conscientious approach to addressing current difficulties while making systemic changes that benefit vulnerable residents, carers, and the wider community. The emphasis on collaboration, respect for carers’ lived experiences, and tackling both financial and demographic challenges underlines the council’s dedication to delivering better outcomes. This multi-year plan represents a significant step toward creating a more responsive, fair, and supportive social care system in Haringey.
