Help shape the future of adult social care

Adult social care in County Durham plays a vital role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

From helping people live independently in their own homes, wherever possible preventing or delaying them from becoming dependent on care services, to providing support with daily activities and access to community services.

A new strategy for adult social care

We’re creating a new strategy for adult social care, that will guide how we deliver services in the future. This strategy will bring together our current work and set a clear direction for how we can improve outcomes and support better lives for adults with care and support needs and their families and carers.

Whether you have direct experience with adult social care or not, your views are important. We want to understand what matters most to you, what would you want from our services in the future, what do you think of our current services, and how we can do better.

Our vision

Our vision is simple but powerful:

'Ensuring adults and their carers receive the care and support they need, when they need it, to support them to live the lives they want'.

Our draft priorities

In consideration of our statutory (legal) duties and the underlining principles of The Care Act (2014), as well as our own values and principles, we have developed draft priorities that will drive the strategy which are:

• Prevention and independence: Helping people stay independent and connected in their communities for as long as possible.
• Care and support: Providing high-quality, personalised care that keeps people safe and supports their choices.
• Supporting people who look after others: Recognising and supporting the vital role of carers in a way that works for them.

The deadline for comments is 23.59hrs on 6 July 2025.

Email qualityassurancedevelopmentandlearningadults@durham.gov.uk if you would like this information in an alternative format and/or require a paper version of the survey.

Have your say

We invite everyone, including residents, carers, service users, professionals, partners, staff and community groups to take part in our consultation. 

In talking specifically with people who have direct contact with adult care and support, we will develop a strategy that will reflect and positively promote, a better understanding of people’s experiences. However, feedback from a range of people, including those who do not have experience of adult social care, is also important.

Your feedback will help us to ensure that people who use our services and our wider communities have a voice in the future delivery of adult social care services.

Key areas of feedback and views to support the development of the strategy include:

• Our vision: Does our current vision fit with your beliefs and views of what our Adult Social Care Strategy should aspire to achieve? Is there anything missing from our current vision?
• Our draft priorities: Do our priorities align to your views of what we should be focusing on? Are there areas you think are missing?
• Perceptions of adult social care in County Durham: Do people view our current service as accessible, contactable and supportive for everyone within all our communities?
• Direct feedback on peoples experiences: Do people who receive care and support feel their choices are considered? Are there any barriers to their care and support? Do their experiences help them to live life as they would like to?