Bury shares evidence to help shape national adult social care reform

The way adults in Bury are supported to live independently, stay well and recover at home has been highlighted to the Prime Minister ahead of the Government's expected announcement on social care reform.

Bury Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care has set out the lessons learned here that he believes can help shape a stronger national system as the Government prepares to announce plans for the future of adult social care.

In a letter to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform, has shared Bury’s experience of integrating health, social care and community services around residents’ needs.

Serving almost 200,000 residents, the Metropolitan Borough of Bury has developed an approach that brings together the council, NHS, care providers and the voluntary sector to help people remain independent, recover well and access joined-up support close to home.

Recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections recognised that approach, rating Bury’s adult social care services as 'Good' and highlighting the strength of leadership, safeguarding, partnership working and person-centred practice. Inspectors also praised Bury’s Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, describing them as an exceptional example of integrated working.

The borough’s council-run intermediate care service, Killelea, has been rated 'Outstanding' and the Bury Care Academy has helped strengthen the local care workforce and improve quality across care services.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq said:

“Adult social care is fundamental to people’s dignity, independence and quality of life. It is also essential to the long-term sustainability of the NHS.

“Our experience in Bury is that the best reforms begin with people’s lives and then organise services around them. When councils, the NHS, care providers and communities work together around residents, we achieve better outcomes for people and make better use of public resources.

“As the Government develops its reforms, we hope Bury’s experience can contribute to the national conversation and help shape a system that is sustainable, locally responsive and centred on people’s lives.”

The letter sets out five principles drawn from Bury’s experience:

• sustainable multi-year funding for adult social care;
• investment in prevention and community support;
• national consistency combined with strong local leadership;
• properly funded improvements to workforce pay and development;
• stronger support for unpaid carers and advocacy.

Ministers and Department of Health and Social Care officials have been invited to visit Bury to see how Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and intermediate care services are supporting residents while reducing pressure across the wider health and care system.

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