Adult Social Care prevention strategy
Our focus on prevention
We want to prevent, reduce or delay people’s need for adult social care services. This does not mean we want to stop people accessing the care and support they need. Instead, we want to avoid situations that call for care and support, where possible.
As a result, we want to progress our vision for adult social care:
Every person in East Sussex lives in the place they call home. With the people and things they love. In communities where we look out for each other. Doing the things that matter to them.
People’s wellbeing is at the heart of this strategy,
Why does prevention matter?
Under the Care Act, we have a legal duty to:
- prevent, reduce, and delay people’s need for care and support
- maintain and improve people’s wellbeing and independence
Prevention is one of our priorities because:
- We want to support people to have the best lives they can.
- East Sussex is changing. The county has an aging population. This means the number of people with multiple long-term conditions is likely to grow. The number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is increasing. This could also increase the demand for care and support.
- We can work together to influence how people experience later life. Getting older happens to everyone, but how we feel as we age is shaped by our lifestyle and environment.
We all want to stay as well and independent for as long as possible. This is a strategy for everyone, including people who:
- are living with a long-term condition
- have a disability
- use adult social care services now or in the future
- care for others
What have we done?
We have talked to over 160 people, including:
- local residents
- voluntary and community organisations
- care providers
- staff working in health and social care
Together, we’ve identified nine aspects of life that affect wellbeing and independence:
- Personal resources – like skills, knowledge and experience. Our attitudes towards ourselves and ageing, and our values.
- Physical wellbeing – caring for our bodies through physical activity and self-care.
- Mental wellbeing – how we feel (our emotions and life satisfaction) and how we function (relationships with others, personal control, purpose in life and independence).
- Social wellbeing – healthy relationships and meaningful interaction with other people.
- Economic wellbeing – having enough money to meet basic needs and cover unexpected expenses.
- Family wellbeing – day-to-day living and wellbeing in a family.
- Housing wellbeing – living in a suitable home.
- Community wellbeing – how a community can help people to pursue their own goals and experience positive outcomes in life.
- Enabling infrastructure – facilities and systems that help us to live our lives. These include transport, digital inclusion, and local services.
People’s experience of wellbeing will vary. They may have high satisfaction in some areas of their life and issues in others. We aim to help people improve their wellbeing across all areas of life. We will do this by helping them to stay well and independent, and making sure the right care and support exists.
What are we doing next?
The Council, alongside our partners and local organisations already do a lot. There are hundreds of local services that support people’s wellbeing and independence.
We have three main priorities for 2025 to 2026:
Personal resources
We will be developing initiatives to help people live and age well. This includes:
- a new online resource
- a new digital and print magazine
- extending our free life transitions service that helps people to prepare for their later life
Physical wellbeing
Working with Active Sussex, we will be helping residents, social care and health workers and volunteers to:
- understand the importance of physical activity
- encourage others to be physically active
We will also:
- develop ways in which people can be more physically active
- work with organisations like care homes to help people get more active
Community wellbeing
Alongside our partners and local organisations we will explore:
- what skills and knowledge do communities need to maintain and grow their wellbeing and independence?
- how can volunteering give people new opportunities to improve their wellbeing?
Get involved
Ultimately, wellbeing cannot be ‘delivered’. It needs people, organisations, and the public sector to work together.
In 2025 (and beyond) there will be opportunities to get involved. You can help us shape new prevention and wellbeing initiatives, and use the results.
You might want to:
- get involved in designing and testing our new online wellbeing resource
- subscribe – or write for! – the new magazine to help people stay well and independent
- use our free life transitions service to help you prepare for your later life
- get involved in helping people become and stay more physically active
Contact us
To find out more about how to get involved in our work, or receive a copy of our background document: