Promoting individual and community independence for the most vulnerable

The Local Account showcases Sutton Council's ambitions and achievements in a year severely impacted by the pandemic. It highlights the support provided to the most vulnerable adults in the borough and the approach to care, which is adaptable, responsive and keeps people safe. 

The Council’s commitment throughout the year remains putting people first, to maximise wellbeing by bringing together the right services, to deliver the right support, at the right time and place.

Key achievements in 2020/2021 include:

• The Council supported 2,392 people with a long-term support service.
• 96 permanent admissions made to a nursing and residential care home compared to 107 admissions in 2019/20 as services have supported more people to live independently for longer in their homes.
• During the period 2019/20, we helped 779 people to continue in their caring role. In 2020/21 we have assessed many more carers than we did the previous year, a total of 928, primarily as a result of checking carer wellbeing during the height of the pandemic.
• Our Admiral Nursing Service supported 326 families and carers, where a close family member has dementia; particularly enabling carers to continue in their caring role.
• There were 1,705 referrals made to the START service during 2020/21 (an increase of 10.73% from the previous year). We have delivered over 50,000 hours of care to people in their own homes. 

A local resident whose family member has received support from the START team said:

“I’d like to thank you all for the amazing support you’ve given my aunt since her discharge from hospital. I think you are all doing a fantastic job under very difficult circumstances and your dedication and support to your elderly vulnerable clients is awesome. Sincere thanks.”

Councillor Marian James, Chair of the People Committee at Sutton Council said: 

"Our ambition in Sutton is to make sure that everyone has access to the right information to help them make the right choices for themselves and their families. I want to thank the individuals, teams and organisations who have worked tirelessly throughout a very challenging year so that people can continue to live safely in their community."

"We will continue to face challenges next year, however I am confident that by taking the right steps and working together with our partners to transform our services, we will overcome these, to provide the highest quality of care and support."

Nick Ireland, Strategic Director of People Services at Sutton Council said:

"Through the combined hard work of our staff, partners, volunteers and carers, we can continue to be ambitious and ensure that Sutton's most vulnerable people and their families living in our communities are given the support they need. Our Local Account provides some great examples of our achievements as well as some inspiring personal stories which demonstrate the value of working together as a community to protect those most in need."

The results and achievements from 2020/21, as well as future plans for Adult Social Care 2021/22 are available in the Local Account Annual Report.