Denise Carr: Working for Residents in the Council's Cabinet

• [Apr 09]: SINCE May 2006 I have served as the Cabinet member for Adult Services, Health & Housing. In 2006 our manifesto priorities were to promote the health, wellbeing and independence of all our residents and we have been able to do this as a leader in Self Directed Support and the personalisation of care; . .

. . delivering joint services with health and other partners; investing in affordable housing and the borough's first "extra care" housing scheme for older people; supporting carers; targeting health inequalities, particularly in the five areas of relative disadvantage in our borough; and securing better value for money for local residents through modernised day and home care services.

The Borough's Community Plan 2007-17 and the Council's updated Corporate Plan 2009-2012 set out our vision. Lib Dems want Richmond upon Thames to be the best place in London to live, work and learn in, and we put sustainability, tackling disadvantage and promoting equality and diversity at the heart of everything we do as a Council. Our Corporate Plan has 5 service priorities:

• supporting the community through the recession/post recession

• keeping the environment at the heart of our decision making

• maintaining a safe environment for all

• improving schools

• PROMOTING THE INDEPENDENCE AND WELLBEING OF OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, and ensuring that they are able to participate in and contribute to life in the borough.

Our Lib Dem Manifesto for 2010, under the heading: Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of all, reflects the Lib Dem approach of promoting independence and choice; providing good information, advocacy and support; providing locally based, easily accessible services; listening to users, carers and advocates; working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector partners; planning for quality and value for money; and closely monitoring performance and user/carer satisfaction.

Our "Lifelong Opportunities Strategy for Aging Well in Richmond upon Thames 2010-2013" promotes quality of life and investment in preventative and support services which will help people remain as active and independent as possible for as long as possible.

1. We are a leader in the personalisation of services, with over 1,300 people on Personal Budgets, and we have been awarded "Excellent" by the Care Quality Commission for delivering increased choice and control for people needing support.

2. We are one of fewer than 25 % of Councils which continue to provide support for people with moderate needs.

3. 89 % of residents over 65 are satisfied or very satisfied with home and neighbourhood in Richmond upon Thames (2009 Place Survey)

4. We have invested £40million in new affordable housing, including the provision of 40 family sized houses on former Council sites and the borough's first Extra Care Housing Scheme in partnership with RHP (Richmond Housing Partnership

For 2006-2014, our Health and Wellbeing Commitments include:

• Balancing independence and choice with safeguarding vulnerable residents.

• Continuing our programmes to prevent homelessness and invest in affordable housing.

• Developing a wide market of support services to provide real choice.

• Extending Personal Budgets and promoting Direct Payments.

• Focusing on supporting people into work.

• Further investment in prevention, befriending, information and advocacy services which will enable people to remain as active as possible in their communities, access mainstream housing, education, employment and leisure activities; and plan ahead for future care and support needs.

• Improving mental health recovery services and the provision of support for people with dementia.

• In partnership with Richmond CVS, develop a new office hub for voluntary organisations to reduce costs and provide modern, flexible accommodation.

• Integrating health and social care community services in both commissioning and delivery to ensure services are simple to access, reduce waste and duplication and make best use of resources.

• Promote the health and wellbeing of all our residents.

• Supporting the voluntary sector to be the voice of users and carers, partners in planning services and innovators in the delivery of advice and support.

Personal Background: I have lived in Twickenham since 1976 and have been a full time councillor since 2002. My background in finance and administration has helped, but my knowledge of the ward and local people and services is much more important. Recently, I became a carer for my elderly mother, which is giving me first hand experience of what it feels like to be one of an estimated 15,000 unpaid carers in the borough. I believe that it is important that policy decisions are taken by elected representatives who bring skills, experience, commitment and passion to the role and are willing to scrutinise the evidence and act in the best interests of the whole community of which we are a part.