Shropshire Council

Strategies, policies and procedures

Use the links on this page to find out more about the various policies, procedures, strategies and directories available that relate to adult social care services.

Market position statement

Our market position statement is designed to:

  • Inform providers, and future providers, of adult social care services about the existing and future demand for care services
  • Be a starting point for discussions between us and providers about how we can best work together to shape a diverse, flexible market for care, which achieves the best possible outcomes for Shropshire residents, in line with our key principles
  • Be updated on a regular basis, as a live, transparent resource for providers, where market information, including best practice, can be pooled and shared

The 2023/24 market position statement is due to be published in April 2023.

Local account

This is a new take on our Local Account for Adult Social Care. We've tried to include in this publication a wide range of people who are involved with adult social care in Shropshire, and were keen to avoid ourselves being the main character in the story.

Adult Social Care Strategy

Adult Autism Strategy

In 2010 the government published a national strategy for autism entitled Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives. A strategy was developed for Shropshire, which outlines the key priorities for achieving the changes that are needed locally, so that people with an autistic spectrum condition have access to the opportunities, support and services to enable them to live a full and rewarding life.

In April 2014 the government published Think Autism, an update to the national strategy published in 2010. This update was produced as a result of major changes to many parts of the system since the 2009 Autism Act and the 2010 strategy as part of the important programme right across government to reform public services.

In Shropshire we continue to be committed to working closely with partners in the county, and in the region, to deliver the vision in this update to the strategy, and to improve the lives of people with an autistic spectrum condition and their families. We've been working on an updated strategy, and currently have a draft action plan which continues to evolve as services and the needs of local people change.

The updated strategy and plan are being produced with the help of people on the autism spectrum, parents and carers, the voluntary sector, the police and care providers. It will be available here soon.

If you'd like any further information on the progress we're making, or would like to know how to become more involved in the development of the strategy, please email Drew Gilkes, Autism Lead at Drew.Gilkes@shropshire.gov.uk.

As well as updating the strategy, we agreed with one of our contracted organisations, A4U, that, as part of their contract with us, they would set up and run an 'autism hub' in a council-owned building in Shrewsbury.

Please feel free to come along and see what the hub can offer you or someone you support. The aim of the hub is to support both individuals with experience of autism or Asperger’s and their carers. Representatives from various organisations will be on hand to offer support and advice, but most importantly we want the hub to be shaped by the people who use it.

Assistive Technology and Telecare Strategy

The Assistive Technology and Telecare strategy is a part of the following ‘golden thread’ so that all plans and strategies link:

  • Partnership plans and strategies
  • Shropshire Council corporate plan
  • Vision and strategy for adult social care
  • Service/team plans
  • Individual staff appraisal objectives

Dementia Strategy

The Dementia strategy has been developed by the Shropshire Autism Partnership Board. Its purpose is to provide the strategic direction for statutory health and social care organisations in Shropshire with regards to supporting adults and young people with an autistic spectrum condition.

Fair Cost of Care

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) is delivering a national exercise to consider the 'Fair Cost of Care'. In December 2021, DHSC shared information on the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund as part of the local government financial settlement. This has been described as the first stage of a move "towards a fair cost of care". This information set out additional funding available to councils to support its programme of reform. There are some main requirements placed on councils in relation to cost of care and section 18(3) of the Care Act 2014 in order to meet eligibility requirements for the fund.

The Fair Cost of Care process aims to address under-investment in care and prevent reliance on self-funders subsiding state-funded care. The drive towards reform follows criticisms in some areas of the country where those receiving care have raised concerns about reductions in service due to cost concerns, eg domiciliary care visit lengths.

Local authorities are required to deliver sustainable care markets but this brings challenges, particularly for county areas and those with older populations where there may be higher proportions of people who arrange and pay for their own care and funding allocations may not be sufficient to achieve significant change.

To be eligible for the Fair Cost of Care Fund councils were asked to complete two cost of care exercises by the 30 September 2022:

  • A cost of care exercise for home care (for people aged 18+)
  • A cost of care exercise for care homes (residential and nursing for people aged 65+)

In addition, councils must prepare and submit a market sustainability plan.

To effectively deliver the process locally, and work together to address challenges, we work in close partnership with Shropshire Partners in Care (SPiC) and other care representatives.

Home Care – Phase 1

National resources are available from the Department of Health and Social Care and Local Government Association.

All home care have been receiving direct communication by email and through local networks. Available materials include: a toolkit, covering letter and frequently asked questions with links to national and local support. The deadline for responses is 5pm on the 17 June 2022.

Care Homes – Phase 2

A national portal is available for Care Homes for ages 65+ to complete the Fair Cost of Care tool. You can read more in these frequently asked questions or visit the iese website. The deadline for responses is 5pm on the 27 June 2022.

If you'd like to find out more about this exercise, or copies of materials produced locally in Shropshire, please email: TellUs@shropshire.gov.uk

Learning Disability Strategy

There are approximately 1,400 adults living with a learning disability in Shropshire who we want to enable to engage and participate meaningfully in all aspects of our community. The Learning Disability Strategy explains how we plan to do this.