Maidenhead & Windsor

Shaping social care services to meet the needs of adults in the Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough over the next 10 years is at the heart of a widespread consultation – aimed not only at current users and carers but at everyone in the community who has an interest in services planned for the future.

And to make it as easy as possible for people to take part, three public consultation events are scheduled for later this month in South Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor.

The council is developing an Adult Plan that will set the framework for services used by people over 18 years until 2018.

Cllr John Story, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult services, said the council is keen to get the widest possible range of views to help the borough decide on:
· the services it needs to provide itself or commission from other organisations
· how services can be developed to meet the needs of the adult community
· areas for improvement and innovation and how existing good practice can be extended.

Cllr Story explained: "Services for adults include a vast range of different elements. All support people to live as independently as possible, ideally in their own homes and communities, or when that is no longer feasible in comfortable, homely settings where they are treated as individuals and care tailored to their assessed needs.

"One of the council's top priorities is to ensure that our already high quality services continue to develop to meet the changing needs and aspirations of the adults who use those services, their families and carers and the many statutory and voluntary organisations who are closely involved. That's why this consultation is so important. It gives everyone the chance to put forward valuable, constructive comment and feedback on where they believe we should be heading in the future.

"It is also the opportunity for all adults not currently involved in social care to give us their ideas about how services can be made even better and more responsive in the next decade.

"The council encourages everyone who has a view to take part in the consultation. All responses will be considered and by working together, we can help improve the lives of all adults living and working in our borough."

The consultation is now underway and anyone who would like to take up Cllr Story's call to get involved is invited at attend one of the three public events:
· 1.30pm Monday September 24 South Ascot Church Hall
· 2.30pm Tuesday September 25 Desborough Suite, Town Hall, Maidenhead
· 10am Wednesday September 26 Windsor Leisure Centre.

A consultation questionnaire is also posted on the council's website www.rbwm.gov.uk, with the link signposted from the home page. Views will also be accepted either by email to ed.thompson@rbwm.gov.uk or in writing to Ed Thompson, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, York House, Sheet Street, Windsor SL4 1DD. Closing date for responses is Friday October 12.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead