Cambridgeshire County Council has launched its new Adults, Health and Commissioning Strategy, a three-year plan designed to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities and help residents live safe, healthy and independent lives.
The strategy was approved by the Council’s Adults and Health Committee on Thursday, 9 October, and has been shaped by the voices of local people. More than 300 residents, carers, providers, partners and staff contributed through surveys and workshops, ensuring the plan reflects the real needs and priorities of the community.
The new strategy is built around six key priorities, collectively known as ASPIRE, which provide a clear framework for delivering care and support. The first priority, Access, focuses on improving information, advice and support to ensure residents can easily get the help they need. Safety aims to strengthen safeguarding, provide safer transitions between services, and support people to remain in their homes with technology-enabled care. Place-based support emphasises delivering services closer to communities, improving demand forecasting, and building strong local partnerships.
Innovation encourages the use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence to improve service efficiency and adopt a technology-enabled care-first approach. Reducing inequalities seeks to improve outcomes for communities facing poorer health, using public health principles, trauma-informed approaches, and learning from lived experiences. Finally, Enhanced carer support focuses on identifying and supporting unpaid carers, as well as implementing the All-Age Carers Strategy to strengthen their role in the community.
Cllr Graham Wilson, Chair of the Adults and Health Committee, said the new strategy represents a step forward for inclusive and responsive care across the county.
“This strategy is about delivering the right support in the right place and at the right time,” he said. “Its strength lies in the fact that it has been shaped by the people who use our services, and built around clear and measurable outcomes. Our goal is to deliver real and lasting change, helping people across Cambridgeshire live healthier, safer and more independent lives.”
The strategy is aligned with the Council’s recent Care Quality Commission assessment, where Adult Social Care services were rated “Good,” and with the medium-term financial plan to ensure long-term sustainability. Each priority area will have a clear delivery plan, supported by evidence, performance data and feedback from residents and carers.
Progress will be monitored using an evaluation framework guided by nationally recognised “Making it Real” statements, which describe what good care and support looks like from the perspective of those who use it.
Over the next three years, the Adults, Health and Commissioning Strategy will guide service delivery across Cambridgeshire, helping the Council achieve its vision of a fairer, more caring county where residents can live independently and thrive.
