County Council publishes its Adult Social Care Plan for 2026-28

The Plan explains what matters most to people in Nottinghamshire about their experience of using social care, what has been achieved so far, and what the focus will be for the next two years.

People said that what matters to them is getting the basics right. They want help at the right time, clear information about support and services, to spend less time waiting for assessments, better communication with staff, and support that feels joined up. Carers said they need to be recognised, listened to, and supported in their own right. People also said they want to stay connected to their family, friends and community, to have more choice and control about decisions which concern them, and be supported by workers who know them, listen properly and treat them as a person.

The achievements in the council’s adult social care services over the 12 months include improving the support people receive while they are waiting for assessments, strengthening work with unpaid carers, expanding the use of Technology Enabled Care to support people’s independence, offering more local and community-based support, improving the information and advice that is available, and continuing to build stronger working relationships with health, service providers and voluntary organisations.

However, there is more to do and the focus for the next two years involves working to deliver a number of priorities which are grouped into six themed areas. These are:

• Wellbeing and independence including using technology, where it is appropriate, that supports independence.

• Information and advice including making information about care and support easy to find and understand for all groups of people

• Active and supportive communities including improving support for unpaid carers

• Flexible and integrated support such as developing teams and services that work locally so staff develop stronger neighbourhood connections

• When things need to change for example, supporting people to make contingency plans for when life changes

• Workforce, including looking at where a named social care worker approach could work best to provide consistency for people who use services.

Councillor Barry’s Answer, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care said:

“Adult Social Care matters because people matter. It is about supporting people to live the life they want to lead with dignity, independence, purpose and connection. This Adult Social Care Plan sets out our commitment to the people of Nottinghamshire: to be open about how we are performing, honest about where we need to improve, and ambitious about the future of adult social care.

“We have a lot to be proud of: dedicated staff, strong partnerships, strong communities and examples of care and support making a positive difference to people’s lives. But we also know there is more to do. People rightly expect support that is timely, personal to them and responsive, and this Plan shows how we are working to meet that expectation.

“Our ambition is to support a stronger, fairer Nottinghamshire where people can thrive within their communities, where support builds on strengths, and where we continue improving and provide the support and services that people expect.”

Further information on the 2026 – 28 Adult Social Care Plan can be found on the county council’s website at Adult Social Care Plan 2026 to 2028 | Nottinghamshire County Council

The Adult Social Care Plan 2026-28 was co-produced with Our Voice and staff, drawing on what local people said was important to them during the Big Conversation events which took place in September last year.

 In December 2025, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessed Adult Social Care as good, highlighting areas where improvement was required. The feedback from the 2025 Big Conversation and the CQC assessment have been used to develop the new priorities for the next two years.