Care model puts people and communities at its heart

Lancashire County Council's Cabinet will be asked to endorse Better Care, Better Lives, the county's future Model of Care, when it meets tomorrow (Thursday 1 October).

The model sets out how people could get the right support earlier, closer to home and in a way that reflects what matters most to them.

The model follows the direction agreed by Cabinet in May 2026 and was shaped by working together with people who use care and support, carers, families, staff, providers and community organisations – a process called co-production.

People said trusted relationships, familiar faces, choice and staying connected to their local area make a real difference to them. Their experiences have shaped an approach that starts with the person, not the service.

For individuals and families, this could mean finding help more easily, having joined-up conversations without repeatedly telling their story and receiving support built around their strengths, relationships and goals.

There would be more emphasis on early help and neighbourhood support, as well as greater choice for people who need formal care.

Options would include flexible support at home, specialist housing and high-quality 24-hour care, with specialist services available closer to home wherever possible. Community and voluntary organisations will allow for more support to be provided to people.

County Councillor Tom Pickup, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: "Good care is about much more than services. It is about helping people hold on to their independence, relationships, routines and sense of belonging.

"People have told us they want to be listened to, to have real choice and to get help before things reach crisis point. Nobody should have to tell their story over and over again to get help. This model is built around what they told us.

"This is the start of the detailed design, not the end of the conversation.

"Nothing in this report closes any service or building. The people who shaped this model will keep shaping it, alongside the staff and partners whose care people already value."

Under the model, the will work with health partners, care providers and community organisations to make local help easier to find and strengthen services where people need more specialist support. This includes dementia care, help to regain independence after illness or a stay in hospital and support for people returning home.