The future of adult social care is looking bright, as Wokingham Borough Council signed up to a new Social Care Future Charter at last week’s Council meeting.
The charter was inspired by the national Social Care Future movement which seeks to change the way people think about social care. The charter has been developed with groups of residents and organisations with different experiences of social care in the borough, who were brought together at a launch event last summer to talk about what mattered to them.
Four residents from the Social Care Future Core Group, which has been established to support the delivery of the vision, presented the charter to council and talk about the importance of being heard and what this means to them.
The new charter sets out a vision for social care in the borough with an emphasis on finding a way to ensure people who draw on social care support are central to the decisions being made about their support, sharing power as equals and enabling everyone to live ‘gloriously ordinary lives’.
The council is now encouraging residents, organisations and businesses across the borough to sign up to the charterl, showing their support for a rethink to how care is perceived and delivered, not just by the council but across the community.
The Social Care Future vision set out in the charter is that everyone in the Wokingham borough should have the support, resources and opportunities to live in a place they call home, with the people and things that they love, in communities where we look out for one another, doing the things that matter most.
“Social Care Future is an initiative I’m very proud to be part of,” said Cllr David Hare, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult services.
“It’s been my dream for many years that everyone should be treated as equal and those needing support are given a stronger voice.
“This charter marks a real change to how social care is perceived and delivered within the borough. We’re at the start of a journey which we know will bring challenges, but, by continuing to work closely with the individuals who both access support and deliver services, we believe we can achieve a much brighter future for care.
“I’d encourage everyone to join the Social Care Future movement and show their support by signing up to the charter on our website. I’d also encourage residents with lived experience of social care to consider getting involved, signing up to our new newsletter and coming along to one of our workshops or events. Your stories, experience, and ideas will help us shape adult care and improve the offer together.”
Local resident Jay, who draws on care and support and attended the Council meeting to talk about his experiences said: “I go to the Social Care Future meetings and we talk about what needs improving.
“It is a friendly meeting, where people are treated with respect. My views matter and I am listened to. I would like more people to get involved in Social Care Future, because it’s a great way to work together to make things better.”
You can find out more and sign up to the charter on our new Wokingham Borough Social Care Future webpages. In doing so, you can also opt in to receive the Wokingham Borough Social Care Future newsletter, which will share the latest news and information, events, gatherings and opportunities to get involved.
