Published on
1 August 2025
Making a difference with innovative social care approach
Better transport options, more decision-making power and helping recruit new staff have all been achieved through collaborative working in adult social care.
Social Care Future is having a real impact in transforming how adults with disabilities live in Wokingham Borough.
The initiative ensures people who use these services shape the support they need, sharing power and making choices alongside providers, community groups and council teams.
The progress made during the last 18 months, since councillors adopted the Social Care Future charter, was showcased at a council meeting last week where a progress report was given by four residents who have been part of the work done so far.
Jay, Callum, Yvonne and Gregg, who are all members of a local Social Care Future Core Group, talked about how they have been involved.
“I’m really pleased that bus passes now work all day, every day,” Callum said. “This makes it easier for people with jobs to get to work.
“This change happened because many people said the old bus passes didn’t work well. It came up a lot in our community conversations.
“For me, this change means I can now get to work and appointments more easily.”
Jay said: “I helped with interview questions. I listened to each person who came in for the job. I got to ask questions and give my views on who I thought was right for the role.
“I know what it’s like to need support. I know how important it is to be treated with kindness and respect.
“So I look for that when we’re choosing new staff. We don’t just want people with the right skills. We want people with the right values.
“Being involved gave me confidence. I felt like I was making a difference—not just for me, but for other people who use services.”
Councillors unanimously agreed to act as ambassadors for the programme, encouraging residents and other groups to support the movement.
Achievements so far include:
- More than 1,300 people have joined as supporters of the programme
- More than 100 people attended the Social Care Future Big Gathering at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley
- Almost 200 people involved in community conversation events to identify local priorities
- Extension of times for concessionary travel for people with disabled bus passes – enabling people with a disabled bus pass and companion bus pass to access public transport whenever they need and live the lives they want
- Workshops in partnership with family carers to shape the support that’s needed so they can live fuller, less stressful lives
- New direct payment training and peer support, to give people more control and choice over their care
- Lived expert interview bank – helping recruit people with the right values to support residents
- More than 50 residents have been paid for their contributions to Social Care Future projects, directly shaping services and decision making
Yvonne said: “As you can see, it has been a busy 18 months since we were previously in front of you.
“An amazing amount of work has been going on to try to improve the lives of local residents, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far.
“When we signed up to the Social Care Future vision, we knew it was part of a long-term movement for change. We’ve come a long way, but we also know there’s more to do.”
The Social Care Future movement, launched nationally in November 2021, promotes a vision of social care that is co-produced and inclusive.
The council adopted the Social Care Future charter in January 2024. Wokingham Borough Council was the first to do so and is a leading voice in the national movement, which now includes more than 40 councils.
The council’s charter reflects this ethos, focusing on equal partners, respecting the diversity of people, and treating everyone with honesty and fairness. This ensures people shape the support they receive.
Priorities, co-created with people who receive care, their friends and families, for the year ahead are:
- Create a resident-led group, bringing together people with a wide range of disabilities to give simple, honest, and practical feedback to help make community spaces and transport welcoming and accessible for all
- SPARKS fund established to help people in the borough who have great ideas to support the Social Care Future vision and make life better for others – helping them run events or create a new service
- Make applying for housing more simple and less stressful, and the information that’s available easy for everyone to understand
- Gloriously Ordinary Language initiative to make sure social care conversations, recorded information and job descriptions use language that’s clear, kind and human
Gregg added: “Our approach isn’t to attack or complain — it’s to show the everyday barriers and work together to find solutions.”
Cllr David Hare, executive member for adult services and public health, said: “We are proud to be leading the way nationally in reshaping social care.
“Our commitment to co-production and listening to those with lived experience is driving real change.
“From improving transport access to embedding values-based recruitment, we’re making social care more responsive, inclusive and empowering.
“This is about creating a system that works for everyone, and I’m incredibly grateful to our residents and partners who are helping us build a better future together.”
Sign up
You can find out more and sign up to the charter on the Wokingham Borough Social Care Future webpages.
