Most council’s find themselves in the unenviable position of spending most of their budgets on services which very few of us use.
Reading is no different. The percentage of our overall budget being spent on adults and children’s social care reached 68 per cent this year and the demand from residents requesting and requiring assistance is increasing. We must manage the remaining budget for services other residents use and quite rightly value.
Just because they are not as visible as other services, like bin collections or resurfacing for example, it doesn’t mean these services are not absolutely essential.
Caring for Reading’s vulnerable or older residents and keeping them safe and well in their own homes, under the umbrella of Adult Social Care, makes up a third of the Council’s budget in Reading.
You don’t tend to hear much or see many headlines about the wide variety of adult services we provide. That’s because it’s usually about ageing, residents with a learning disability or mental health needs, things we do not think about until we must.
I am pleased to say however, that in Reading we continue to make significant strides into creating the Adult Social Care services you might one day need.
An essential element is the virtually invisible layer of unpaid carers – those admirable people who take on the responsibility of caring for a family member or friend who would not otherwise be able to live safely in their own home. It is estimated, across the country, carers in England and Wales contribute a staggering £445 million to the economy every day. But not everything should be measured in monetary terms, and Reading’s carers certainly come into that category.
The birth of a child, an illness or accident, and ageing can lead to a family member becoming a carer overnight. This can significantly change a family’s dynamics, finances, and mental and physical wellness.
It is important to say however, that our carers are themselves entitled to support, recognition, and access to services which support the life that matters to them.
That is why in Reading we have created a Carers Strategy. Sitting behind the document, are many hours of discussion and consultation with carers themselves, from right across the age spectrum. The three-year strategy tells a story what is happening now, what we are trying to achieve and an action plan on how we are going to get there.
A crucial aspect is that many carers tend not to reach out for assistance. That’s because they are parents, children, siblings, neighbours, and friends who feel they are just doing their duty.
The Council is working with carers, health providers, and the volunteer sector, to provide one approach for carers in Reading. We want to work with carers to support them in their caring role, preventing them from feeling isolated and prevent relationships deteriorating.
As a major employer in the town, we also strive be a workplace which understands, accommodates, and adapts to a carer’s personal circumstances, and we would encourage other employers in the town to adopt a similar approach.
Our approach to creating a new strategy for carers in Reading, mirrors how we intend to work with the wider Adult Social Care community in the future. We want to talk to the residents who use our services to build from the ground up to ensure they are tailored to what they need.
If you are a carer yourself, or know of someone who is, you can read more about our Carers’ Strategy at Reading’s Joint All Age Carers’ Strategy 2024 – 2027 – Reading Borough Council.
By Liz Terry
