Family and our corporate plan

Our vision

We believe that strong families are the foundation of a thriving community. Through compassionate, proactive, and person-centred services, we will support people at every stage of life, ensuring they can live healthy, fulfilled, and independent lives for as long as possible.

From early years through adulthood and later life, we will work alongside families, carers, and our partners to create a system that promotes wellbeing, builds resilience, and reduces health inequalities.

In practice

Supporting people to live well, independently, and with dignity

We will reshape adult social care so that it focuses on prevention, independence, and personalised support.

We will work closely with partners such as the NHS and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) to reduce the reliance on formal care where possible and ensure help is there when it’s truly needed

Helping children and young people reach their potential at the earliest opportunity

We will strengthen services for education, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and family support to ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

We will work closely with the police, schools and community partners, adopting new approaches to help ensure our children and young people have the best start in life

Promoting better health and wellbeing for all

We will tackle health inequalities, improve mental health and wellbeing and empower residents to take control of their own wellbeing.

We will do this through integrated public health initiatives and closer collaboration with the NHS and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)

Recognising and supporting carers

Families, friends and carers provide vital care every day.

We will ensure they are valued, supported, and have access to the resources they need to balance caring with their own wellbeing

Stronger community networks that prevent crises before they happen

We will invest in prevention, early intervention, and community-based solutions that reduce the demand for high-cost, crisis-driven care, while strengthening informal support networks within families and neighbourhoods

Key commitments

Supporting people to live well, independently, and with dignity

Expand reablement and community support services that help people stay in their own homes longer
Make care services more personalised, focusing on what people can do rather than what they cannot
Work closely with health and other partners to modernise residential and nursing care provision to meet the needs of an ageing population
Support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) to ensure a wide range of services are available in the community that help people stay independent for longer
Explore opportunities for retirement villages, providing independent living with optional care and support services

Helping children and young people reach their potential at the earliest opportunity

Work more effectively as Corporate Parents across all council services to improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life and opportunities for children and young people
Improve educational outcomes by working closely with schools, early years providers, Children's Trust and other partners to provide targeted support. We will adopt innovative approaches to help accelerate progress in this important area
Provide safe, supportive homes and facilities for children in care and care-experienced young people
Deliver targeted support for SEND children and their families
Enhance youth opportunities and Family Hubs to strengthen early support
Work with parents, carers, schools, police and our community partners to focus on early support, positive opportunities and strong role models to lead young people to make positive life choices
Prioritise investment in school buildings and facilities, focusing on making sure there are enough school places to meet the needs of the growing population

Promoting better health and wellbeing for all

Address health inequalities by focusing on prevention and early detection of illnesses
Deliver targeted support for SEND children and their families
Enhance youth opportunities, help people to be more physically active in their daily lives, and expand the family hubs offer to strengthen early support
Work closely with the Local Area Partnerships to ensure services reflect the specific needs of local communities

Recognising and supporting carers

Support carers better by developing more effective joined-up approaches with health services, healthy lifestyle services and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)
Encourage more people into providing care, providing more support and financial advice to help them do so
Increase access to respite care services that enable carers to take a break from caring while the person they are caring for is looked after by someone else

Stronger community networks that prevent crises before they happen

Work with NHS partners to integrate health and social care pathways
Collaborate and where appropriate design services with Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) to build capacity for earlier intervention and local support networks. We will work more closely with the sector when designing new approaches, recognising the important role the sector plays in service delivery
Focus our efforts and service investments on embedding prevention and early intervention so residents remain healthy throughout life and don't require high-cost care

The change you will see

By prioritising Family, you will see:

more people living independently and with dignity for longer
children and young people achieving better educational and life outcomes
a healthier population with reduced health inequalities
families and carers who feel recognised, supported, and valued
healthier communities and a reduction in the increase of high-cost, crises driven care

Together, we will strive for every resident, regardless of age, background, or circumstances, so that they can live a healthier, safer and more fulfilling life.

Last updated 12 December 2025