Information from Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Council launches Big City Conversation on the future of adult social care
Residents, carers and community organisations are being invited to help shape the future of adult social care through a new Stoke-on-Trent-wide engagement programme called the Big City Conversation.
The initiative forms part of the council’s work to develop its Adult Social Care Strategy for 2027-2030 and links into the themes emerging from the national review of adult social care being led by Baroness Casey.
The Big City Conversation will give people who access care and support services, unpaid carers, families and residents the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas about how services should be delivered in the future. At the heart of the conversation is a simple ambition – helping people to “live a life that matters to you”.
Residents will be able to complete an online questionnaire and take part in a series of engagement events and community conversations taking place across the city over the coming months. The council will also work with voluntary, community and faith organisations, healthcare partners and community groups to ensure as many voices as possible are heard.
The engagement will explore a range of topics including independence, prevention and early support, care quality, support for unpaid carers, community connections, technology and innovation, and how people can have a stronger voice in shaping services.
The council wants to hear what is working well, what could be improved and what changes people would make to help residents stay healthy, connected and independent for longer. The feedback gathered will help shape future priorities and services.
Councillor Lynn Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and All Age Commissioning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Adult social care is about much more than care services. It’s about supporting people to maintain their independence, stay connected to their communities and live the lives they choose.
“We want to hear directly from people who use services, as well as carers and families about what works well, what needs to change and what support will make the greatest difference in the future.
“The Big City Conversation is an opportunity for residents to help design services with us, not for us. Whether you receive support yourself, care for someone else, work in the sector or simply have ideas about how we can help people live independently for longer, we want to hear from you. Together, we can help shape an adult social care system that enables more people to live a life that matters to them.”
The Big City Conversation recognises that people are experts in their own lives and that future services should be developed alongside those who use them. The council is committed to ensuring the engagement is accessible and inclusive, with both digital and non-digital ways for people to take part.
To get involved click on the online survey here – Join the Big City Conversation | Big City Conversation | Stoke-on-Trent
More details on the upcoming programme of engagement events will be published on the council’s website and social media channels.
