The Care Act 2014 is clear that our priorities as a care sector are to:

• Promote wellbeing and quality of life
• Promote independence
• Prevent, reduce or delay the onset of care needs
• Safeguard people from harm or neglect

This requires personalised services that reflect individual circumstances, as well as services that promote independence rather than dependence.  The market offer needs to better reflect this.

In line with national guidance, our aspiration is that people receive care and support in their own home, where they are happiest and most comfortable, and where they are closest to their family, friends and communities.  We want to see fewer people admitted into long-term residential care.  This has implications for a market sector, where there is already over-supply of care home beds.  It also has implications for supported living and domiciliary care, where we want to see greater choice and capacity.

There will always be some people whose care needs are so complex that they require greater levels of support, often in a residential care setting.  It is important that we can meet such complex needs in Essex, rather than people have to seek support out-of-county.

ECC sees the care market as a collaborative partner that will help shape these changes, as well as being shaped by them.