The Essex Story - Independence
Independence
The administration is committed to promoting independence. At one level this means recognising the value the individual places on self-sufficiency and, when the need for assistance grows, being supported to be able to remain in one's own home. Yet independence without security is meaningless. For this reason, freedom from fear is a key plank of our commitment to independence for all.
Supporting people to stay in their own homes
Since 2001, the administration has been committed to supporting older people to stay at home. The Audit Commission acknowledge this increase in its 2004 report. As this policy became increasingly common, the 2005 commitment to enable more people to stay at home sought to embed this focus on independence in the way the authority did business. Currently (2007/08) some 64 residents per 1,000 adults aged 65 or older are able to retain their independence through living in their own home - up from 55 in 2000/01.
Our adult social care has seen continuing improvement. In 2001 we were assessed as a one star service (service some people well) - by 2007 we were a three star service (the highest category) with excellent prospects for improvement.
This is backed up by the Audit Commission, who have tracked the progress of the service over the years:
"Annual reviews of social service performance over the last 2 years report a trend of improvement in areas which directly impact on the quality of life of vulnerable adults. For example the council has reduced the number of delayed discharges to home from hospital for older people, supported by strong partnerships and joint working with health. One primary health trust partner reports that delayed discharges in their area reduced from 200 to 20 over the last two year...the March 2002 PAF report shows a 20% improvement in the number of older people helped to live at home...following a highly critical inspection report in 2000 the council has made significant improvements in its meals on wheels service and in April 2002 launched a new countywide service with explicit quality standards and clear eligibility criteril... Overall, the Council’s social services have been rated as amongst the twenty top improved nationally. " (2002)
"Achievement mapped against the county council’s political priorities shows improving performance.. there has been an increase in the number of older people helped to stay at home..the county council is making good progress on its priority of increasing the number of vulnerable people, particularly those with physical or learning disabilities, helped to live at home.. The county council is making good progress on improving outcomes for older people.. the numbers of delayed transfers of care between 2002/03 and 2003/04 have reduced significantly … Residential intermediate care provision has doubled and community based provision is up by 30% over the last 12 months ...Over the last 12 months, the number of admission to residential and nursing home care have reduced significantly.. and the numbers supported to live in the community has equally improved .. The numbers of older people receiving intensive support is also up" (2004)
"Key services such as adult social care are making significant improvements in some areas. This has been achieved while restructuring the service and reducing the budget overspend." (2006)
"Strong improvement is evident in adult social care services. Improvements in adult services have been sustained with the service score increasing from 2 star to 3 star. Outcomes for people using services are judged to be good and the service has moved from having promising to excellent capacity for improvement...The service is having a positive impact on the quality of care for older people." (2007)
Crime, fear of crime and the causes of crime
While Essex County Council and partners have been able to reduce crime per se - the number of crimes committed in Essex has fallen by some 7,500 (12.6%) since 2005/06, the Western paradox of increased fear of crime accompanying a fall in rates of crime remains prevalent. In 2001 the Conservative manifesto committed to work to reduce the fear of crime – a focus that has been retained and strengthened, leading to an EssexWorks pledge to make Essex the safest county in Britain within five years.
Given the inter-relationships linking anti-social behaviour, alcohol abuse, and drug misuse with crime, efforts to reduce these have a knock-on effect on perceptions of community safety and criminality. And, if an individual feels safe, they feel more able to enjoy their independence.
Pledges to reduce drug dependency and improve access to drug services have seen the numbers of adult drug users in treatment increase to 2,968 - up from just over 2,400 in 2005/06. The percentage of those in treatment for 12 weeks or more has also increased - from 59% in 2005 to 87% in 2007/08 - and, importantly, relatively few citizens feel drug dealing and drug use is a problem in our county.
In 2006/7 the Essex Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) was rated as excellent in a review conducted by the Healthcare Commission (HCC).
Commitments to reduce anti-social behaviour in 2001 and 2005 have seen improvements on the ground as evidenced by the declining proportion of people who feel anti-social behaviour is a problem: from 21.5% in 2006/07 to 17% in 2007/08. Moreover, citizens feel informed as to what is being done to combat anti-social behaviour, with
Our 'Be Identified Throughout Essex' proof of age scheme, coupled with intelligence-led enforcement has led to a reduction in the numbers of children who are able to purchase alcohol. We reduced the proportion of traders supplying alcohol to underage persons from 34% in 2005/06 to 27% in 2006/07 and again to 21% in 2007/08.
