What Matters To You: new adult social care strategy for East Sussex

A brand new adult social care strategy for East Sussex has just been launched: ‘What Matters To You: care, support and independence for adults in East Sussex’.

The title reflects the approach taken to developing the strategy: asking people who need care and support, their carers and families, what was important to them to live well. Around 700 local people responded to surveys or came along to focus groups and interviews to share their opinions and help develop the strategy.

The long-term plan sets out what people said, the six key priorities based on people’s feedback, and how those priorities will be taken forward by adult social care.

Mark Stainton, Director of Adult Social Care and Health in East Sussex, said: “We wanted this plan to be driven by what people told us were their priorities, rather than what professionals might think people need.

‘What Matters To You’ is specific to the county, puts local people at the centre of our plans and gives direction for colleagues who work within or alongside adult social care. It will help everyone know what to expect from adult social care and what our strategic priorities are.”

Adult social care also worked with a panel of local volunteers to guide the development of the strategy. This group is called the Citizens’ Panel and they met regularly as the plans were being developed.

Speaking about her involvement as a Citizens’ Panel member, Mary said:

‘‘First and foremost, it was really good to be asked and to know that what I had to say was of use.

“Meeting other people who’ve got different needs from mine, and hearing their ideas and views – I think those are the things that I’ve enjoyed the most. Finding out from people directly what their experience has been has to be better than other people guessing or making decisions without any information. I think people who have been on the panel have felt heard and feel as if their thoughts and experiences will contribute to whatever the strategy is.’’

Staff from Adult Social Care & Health, the NHS, district and borough councils, the private sector, and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations were also all involved in working on the strategy.

The six priorities based on the broad range of feedback are:

  1. Right support, right place, right time
  2. Information and communication about care and support
  3. Cost of living and cost of care, now and in the future
  4. A suitable home
  5. Personal connections with others
  6. Group activities, hobbies and volunteering

The strategy also has 15 ‘we will’ statements, which describe how adult social care will respond to these priorities. The action plan setting out the details on how this will happen is now being developed.

If you’d like to know more about the new strategy, you can: