Council's Annual Report 2024-2025

In Summary

Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to tackling poverty through a wide range of targeted initiatives:

• The Actif Places project reached over 117,000 people with inclusive health and well-being programmes, including support for mental health, older adults, and the homeless.
• The Tackling Poverty Advisory Panel focused on winter support and benefit awareness campaigns.
• The Carmarthenshire Public Services Board advanced the ‘Making Every Contact Count’ (MECC) initiative, promoting health and well-being through everyday interactions and coordinated training.
• Hwb advisors helped nearly 6,000 residents claim over £7.5m in benefits. Additionally, the Council’s proactive revenue work ensured families accessed vital financial support, including Discretionary Housing Payments and homelessness prevention grants.
• The Pre-Accommodation Team supported over 750 new tenants, securing over £730,000 in savings, and extended support to the private rented sector through targeted training and benefit access.
• The energy efficiency of homes was improved through retrofits, insulation, and renewable energy installations, whilst the ECO Flex scheme delivered heating and insulation upgrades to hundreds of homes.
• Procurement and economic development teams engaged local businesses through surgeries and events, enhancing access to public sector contracts.
• Apprenticeships and employability programmes like Fit2Employ empowered young people with skills and career pathways.
• Adult Community Learning expanded access to essential skills and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) education, with strong progress noted by Estyn.
• The Shared Prosperity Fund supported thousands in training and qualifications, whilst the Ageing Well Network advanced Carmarthenshire’s application to the WHO’s Age Friendly Communities initiative.
• Hwb Fach y Wlad delivered vital rural services, and Theatrau Sir Gâr improved cultural access through discounted ticket schemes.
• Despite a slight decline in homelessness prevention success, new early intervention strategies and landlord engagement efforts were introduced. We also brought 239 empty homes back into use and secured major funding for Gypsy and Traveller site improvements.
• The My Safe Place pilot supported domestic abuse survivors with home security upgrades, and the Wallich programme combined fitness and education to support individuals experiencing homelessness. These collective efforts reflect a comprehensive, community-driven approach to reducing poverty and supporting vulnerable residents across the County.

 

How are we Doing? 

• 30.7% of all households in Carmarthenshire are living in poverty. This translates to around 25,800 households. This is a reduction on last year (34.6%) which mirrors trends seen nationally.
• There has been a further significant increase in the average Gross Weekly Earnings in Carmarthenshire, from £617.80 (2022) to £664.20 (2023) to £700.00 (2024). With the 6th highest figure in Wales, Carmarthenshire figures continue to be higher than Wales (£684.40) but continue to be below the UK (£728.3).
• Our 2024 residents survey indicated that there was overall agreement to the statement; ‘Poverty is a problem in my area’.

 

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Help and support to alleviate the effects of the ‘cost of living’ crises and poverty in the County.

Actif Places Project

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Actif Places project boosted health and well-being in some of our most deprived communities by expanding access to physical activity and inclusive programmes. Key initiatives included Mindful Movement for mental health, gym access for the homeless, Motiview for older adults, and intergenerational fitness. Digital upgrades enabled virtual classes, and partnerships tackled loneliness and dementia. Reaching over 117,000 people, the project created 13 initiatives and laid a foundation for sustainable, inclusive health programmes across many of the County’s deprived areas.

 

Tackling Poverty Advisory Panel

Over the past year, the Tackling Poverty Advisory Panel has had a busy and productive period, dedicating its efforts to supporting residents across Carmarthenshire through a range of initiatives.

A key focus has been on addressing the challenges around winter fuel payments, warm places, and community hubs, ensuring that residents had access to safe, supportive environments during the colder months. The Panel have worked closely with the Council’s Hwb and Hwb Fach y Wlad services, as well as supporting awareness campaigns like ‘Claim What’s Yours’, informing people about the benefits and entitlements available to them. Our partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has brought valuable insight, with presentations to the Panel enhancing members' understanding of Universal Credit and enabling them to better support constituents. In parallel, the Council’s Tackling Poverty Action Plan has been reviewed and fully updated to reflect current priorities and actions.

 

Carmarthenshire Public Services Board (PSB)

The PSB established a Task and Finish Group to look at Making Every Contact Count (MECC) and Hwb services as part of its Well-being Objective to address poverty and its impacts. The group focused on:

• evaluating the opportunities and challenges of MECC across PSB organisations,
• exploring the opportunities and barriers around advice and support provision,
• understanding key issues facing residents and communities, especially those dealing with socio-economic disadvantages and protected groups,
• reviewing how different organisations are tackling poverty and their action plans.

MECC uses everyday interactions to support positive changes in physical and mental health by sharing healthy lifestyle tips during daily conversations at work or in the community. It empowers staff, particularly in health services and partner organisations, to promote healthy lifestyles and support behaviour change. Not just for clients or patients, but also for their friends, families, and colleagues. 

PSB Members agreed to develop a joint web presence to ensure that advice and support services provided across the PSB organisations are promoted and coordinated; and that key front-line members of staff within PSB organisations are encouraged to complete the MECC Level 1 training (e-learning).

 

Support and Advice

During the last 18 months, our dedicated team of Hwb advisors have helped 5,745 residents referred to its service to claim over £7.5m in support and benefit payments. Hwb advisors have supported applications for a range of Council and third-party support schemes, including blue badges for disabled parking, council tax discounts, personal independence payments (PIP), and grants to help parents purchase school essentials, such as school uniforms.

In addition to supporting residents who are referred to our advisors, the Council has also accommodated almost 90,000 visits from people seeking advice at our three main Hwbs in Carmarthen, Ammanford, and Llanelli; Hwb Fach y Wlad surgeries; and focused events.

 

Revenues Proactive Work for those in Poverty

We support families in claiming all the financial assistance they are entitled to and actively seek the information needed to process Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme claims as efficiently as possible. We also promote Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP), working closely with the Housing Department and Housing Associations to encourage take-up. An additional £31,000 was allocated to the DHP fund for 2024/25.

We ensure appropriate signposting and referrals are made so that families receive the advice and support they need. In collaboration with the Housing team, we make timely referrals for applications to the Homeless Prevention Grant—a discretionary scheme administered by Housing.

Our Personal Budgeting Officer provides direct support to individuals facing financial hardship. This includes targeted campaigns aimed at residents who may be struggling, based on their engagement and payment history. We maintain strong partnerships with colleagues in the Hwbs and the third sector to signpost customers to appropriate services such as food banks, debt charities, and the Discretionary Assistance Fund.

We adhere to the UK ‘Breathing Space’ Scheme and work with customers to establish affordable and sustainable payment arrangements for Council Tax arrears, in line with the Welsh Government’s Council Tax Protocol.

 

Procurement

Procurement have supported colleagues in economic development to appoint a supplier for period dignity products. Work is on-going to explore a longer-term arrangement for a subscription service and free products in schools and, potentially, wider locations across the County.

 

Pre-Accommodation Support

The Pre-Accommodation Team played a vital role in sustaining tenancies and maximising tenants’ access to their entitlements. During 2024/25, the team supported 751 new tenants across various tenures, helping them secure a total of £731,063 in supported savings through income maximisation, grants, and benefit entitlements.

Staff provided direct assistance with income maximisation and completed numerous benefit applications that had a significant financial impact on tenants. As trusted partners of the Welsh Government’s Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF), the team facilitated grants for white goods, off-grid fuel, and Emergency Assistance Payments totalling £145,668. Additionally, as verified assessors for Welsh Water, we’ve enabled qualifying households to access reduced water rates amounting to £70,106.

Support was also extended into the Private Rented Sector, where 97 tenancies were sustained through Housing Support Grant funding.

Private Rented Support Officers have designated slots in Job Centres, accepting referrals from individuals claiming for Universal Credit and have housing costs, providing them support to prevent them falling into financial difficulty. We provided specific training to:

• 31 vulnerable at-risk young people.
• 28 people in temporary accommodation.
• 8 vulnerable young people in temporary or shared accommodation
• 28 households from referrals from the Gateway, Housing Options Advisors, or other agencies.

In addition, home readiness training was delivered in schools, reaching over 1,000 pupils from Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Strade, Bro Myrddin, and youth access schemes.

Support was also provided to 1,603 applicants with a homeless duty, enabling them to navigate the system and access settled accommodation.

The Housing Planned Programmes Team successfully packaged and delivered a range of major construction projects aimed at enhancing the structural integrity and energy performance levels across hundreds of properties. These initiatives have not only contributed to energy efficiency improvements but also supported sustainable development across the region. Key achievements include:

• Completion of deep retrofits under the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) with complete refurbishments, significantly improving energy efficiency in 15 properties and setting a benchmark for future projects.
• Installation of External Wall Insulation (EWI) and associated upgrades on 50 properties, reducing heat loss and enhancing comfort for residents.
• Re-roofing and the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on over 120 properties across the county, combining structural upgrades with renewable energy solutions to reduce carbon footprints. 

 

ECO Flex Scheme

The ECO Flex scheme in Wales (ECO4 Flex) is a government initiative for improving energy efficiency in private sector housing. The aim is to help reduce fuel poverty, particularly for low-income and vulnerable households. In partnership with Warm Wales, we have delivered 641 ECO Flex schemes, generating an additional £110,000 in income for the service. These schemes have supported insulation and heating improvements in privately owned and rented homes, enhancing living conditions and reducing energy costs for residents. Approximately 900 properties are expected to benefit from the ECO4 Scheme, with around £16m invested in private sector housing.

 

Outcome: People are supported to take advantage of local opportunities whether it be through starting a business, gaining qualifications, or gaining meaningful employment.

Procurement and Business Surgeries

The Council’s Procurement and Economic Development Teams engaged with local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and third sector organisations through a supplier engagement initiative - Procurement and Business Surgeries throughout Carmarthenshire. This Supplier Engagement Surgery was linked to the Council’s “Ten Towns” Economic Development Initiative which aims to support the economic recovery of rural towns across the County.

The purpose of the surgeries is to offer professional procurement advice, guidance, and support to interested businesses/organisations on funding, training, business support projects and initiatives, and referral options to partners. These sessions aim to ensure suppliers can compete for any potential business to enhance their trading. By developing a procurement link between contractors, suppliers, and providers with relevant officers within the Council, we can make relevant introductions, bringing potential buyers and sellers together.

In 2024/25, the Surgeries were held in May, June, and July and followed the success of the surgeries held towards the end of 2023/24 in the main towns of Carmarthen and Llanelli. The surgeries in 2024/25 were held in the smaller, more rural towns of Kidwelly, Llandeilo, and Llandovery and across the three rural surgeries, where 22 businesses attended. 

 

Economic Development

The Economic Development team continued to support the corporate procurement Unit and various services to raise awareness of our upcoming tenders / contracts among the business community. Engagement is done through email, our business newsletter and occasional telephone calls. Recent contracts include the substantial Property Works contract where the business team engaged with the dozens of businesses who were awarded contracts. Case studies are to be drawn up of the positive outcomes.

We continue to work on future tender exercises to promote them to local businesses who may be interested. We also share our work programme on a quarterly basis to identify further opportunities to promote these opportunities to Carmarthenshire businesses.

 

Fit2Employ Programme – Llanelli and Carmarthen

The Fit2Employ programme, delivered in partnership with Communities for Work+, supported young people in Llanelli and Carmarthen to gain practical skills and explore career pathways. Participants received training in TAG Rugby and First Aid, volunteered at local events, and engaged in a ‘World of Work’ tour at Llanelli Leisure Centre. These experiences helped build confidence, develop employability skills, and increase awareness of local job opportunities. Two participants are now pursuing qualifications in the leisure industry, with ongoing support provided to help others access volunteering, training, and employment—empowering them to take advantage of future career opportunities.

 

Outcome: Improved opportunities for all residents in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to upskill for employment.

Post-16 Review

We have completed a comprehensive review of post-16 education provision across the County that has moved to a very positive operational planning stage. We are in the process of realising the recommendation to develop cluster based collaborative working across our sixth forms. We will continue a holistic approach to experiences development including careers, and local and global political engagement.

 

Adult Community Learning

Following the successful inspection of the Adult Community Learning (ACL) provision in November 2023, Estyn returned in December 2024 to review the progress achieved in relation to the two recommendations. Estyn concluded that:

‘The adult learning in the community partnership in Carmarthenshire has made good progress in developing its strategic procedures and practices following the core inspection in November 2023. It has established a strategic group, which is made up of core partnership members from the local authority, Coleg Sir Gâr, the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership and Careers Wales. Within the local authority, adult learning in the community is part of the education directorate, enabling it to be seen as a valued and essential part of the lifelong learning continuum.’

In addition, Estyn found that the improved website communication provides potential learners with ‘an easily navigable’ portal, enabling clear access to the range of learning opportunities available.

The joint observations of learning provision across the partnership were noted as beneficial, securing high expectations. Whilst the sound progress achieved in relation to developing the Welsh language provision and family learning programmes was said to be valuable.

The service continues to deliver across the County supporting English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners from a range of backgrounds including refugees and asylum seekers, as well as learners improving their literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. A cohort of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeker Children study on one of our five full time courses. Learners on literacy and numeracy programmes study up to GCSE level and can take other qualifications appropriate to their level.

A range of opportunities for digital skills continue to be offered including use of social media to promote sustainability (e.g. using Vinted) and for well-being (e.g. working with MIND). Engagement classes using crafts continue to be popular this year and are now available bilingually. The service collaborated with the Multiply team on legacy and transition, including open days and visits to Multiply classes to encourage learners to progress on to adult learning classes. 

One significant project is the Family learning/Rhif Crif project, using Multiply legacy activities and resources to work with parents and teaching assistants in schools. The essential skills and ESOL team actively promote the service through the Hwbs, Hwb Bach y Wlad, community open days and meetings, college open days, and networking opportunities such as the Neurodivergence Support Event.

New Learner Ambassadors are undertaking training and becoming involved in the strategic partnership. Collecting and acting upon the learner voice is a high priority for the service in terms of delivering provision to engage new learners and for appropriate progression opportunities. The partnership is working together to refer learners between partners for progression and to highlight all partners' provision available to learners across the County.

Learners on Council courses have access to careers advice, Communities for Work Plus and Workways for employment preparation and support.

 

Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF)

In 2024/25, the SPF has contributed by supporting Carmarthenshire’s residents. 

• Attended Training: 7,611
• Gained a Qualification: 1,264
• Adult Numeracy Courses Delivered: 209
• People Engaged with Keyworker: 2,185

 

Outcome: Recognise and seek to limit the disproportionate barriers faced by marginalised groups in accessing services and support which allow them to live and age well.

Ageing Well Network

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Age Friendly Communities initiative aims to create environments that support healthy and active ageing. This involves making cities and communities more inclusive and accessible for older adults, ensuring that they can live safely, enjoy good health, and participate fully in society. 

With financial support from the Welsh Government, our Age-Friendly Communities Policy Officer has been working to finalise the strategy and action plan that will form part of the application to gain membership to the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities during 2025/26. Our key stakeholders include around 1,200 members of our Carmarthenshire Ageing Well Network, Carmarthenshire Public Services Board, and others we have engaged with through various events and consultations.

 

Hwb Fach y Wlad

Since its launch in September 2023, Hwb Bach y Wlad has surpassed expectations by supporting over 11,646 customers and making more than 484 community visits across Carmarthenshire. The project has provided vital assistance to rural communities, offering a wide range of services that have profoundly impacted the lives of its customers.

The project offers key services such as housing benefits, council tax assistance, waste and recycling information, housing-related enquiries, trading standards support, and employability resources.

Additionally, Hwb Bach y Wlad has made a tangible difference through its "Claim What’s Yours" programme, helping individuals understand and access their financial and well-being entitlements. Beyond this, the team has arranged emergency food parcels, organised transport for medical appointments, and provided critical support in times of mental health crises and housing insecurity. This tailored approach has been instrumental in ensuring that each customer receives the specific help they need.

A key driver of the project's success has been its close collaboration with a wide range of both local and national partners. Working alongside numerous partner organisations, Hwb Bach y Wlad has been able to offer a comprehensive care package to those in need. Routine visits to community hubs such as food banks, leisure centres, and local farmer’s marts have made these services highly accessible.

 

Theatrau Sir Gâr

Theatrau Sir Gâr is working with over 50 local organisations across Carmarthenshire to make theatre more accessible to individuals who may face barriers to attendance. Whether financial, physical, mental health-related, or due to a perception that theatre is not for them.

A key initiative in this effort is the Community Rate Ticket Scheme, which offers highly discounted tickets priced at just £5.50 regardless of the original price for 20 shows every two months. Since its launch in November, the scheme has seen a purchase of over 500 tickets, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community. 

 

Outcome: A reduction and working towards an end to homelessness.

Homelessness Prevention

There was a decline in the percentage of households successfully prevented from becoming homeless during 2024/25 with 69.1%. This is down on 72.1% in 2023/24 but continues to be above the 2023/24 Welsh rate of 57.9%. 

During 2024/25, there were significant challenges, notably in resolving relationship breakdowns and preventing homelessness within the private rented sector. These issues have highlighted some critical areas that need attention and improvement. By reallocating resources, an Early Intervention Team was established and dedicated to conducting in-depth affordability assessments, developing bespoke support packages tailored to the needs of private landlords, and offering comprehensive support to prevent relationship breakdowns. 

Engaging with landlords has been key through offering assistance and incentives for maintaining tenancies and implementing proactive measures to identify and address potential issues before they escalate. We believe these actions will improve our ability to prevent homelessness and support those in the private rented sector. By focussing on early intervention and tailored support, we aim to create a more robust and responsive system that addresses the root causes of homelessness.

 

Landlord Offer

Our Private Sector Housing Team continues to make strong progress, particularly through the implementation of the new ‘Landlord Offer.’ This initiative is designed to sustain the involvement of existing private landlords whilst also attracting new ones to help meet ongoing housing demand. The offer includes tailored support and engagement to encourage long-term participation in the local housing market by strengthening relationships with landlords and improving tenancy support. 

 

Empty Homes

Through direct intervention and assistance, we successfully brought 239 private empty properties back into use, representing a 130% improvement on the previous year’s performance. As a result, the overall number of empty homes across Carmarthenshire has been reduced to below target levels. 

 

My Safe Place – Pilot Project

In partnership with Dyfed-Powys Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, we delivered the My Safe Place pilot project. This initiative enables survivors of domestic abuse to remain safely in their homes through the installation of tailored security measures such as locks, alarms, and fencing. Between April and October 2024, the scheme supported 76 individuals across various housing tenures. Funded through the Safer Streets initiative and match-funded by the Council, the project addresses a critical gap in support for those in privately owned or rented homes. It has received strong feedback from service users and is being considered as a model for future domestic abuse prevention strategies. The initiative aligns closely with Carmarthenshire’s priorities around homelessness prevention, early intervention, and community safety. 

 

Wallich Housing, Health, and Well-being Programme

In partnership with The Wallich, Actif Llanelli provided weekly gym access to individuals experiencing homelessness, linked to participation in educational sessions. The eight-week programme promoted routine, physical health, and social inclusion whilst supporting learning around budgeting, housing, and well-being. Participants reported improved mental health and lifestyle habits, with some continuing their fitness journeys through corporate memberships. This initiative highlights how inclusive leisure access can support vulnerable individuals in rebuilding their lives.

 

Implementation of the Social Housing Allocation Policy

Building on the success of the Emergency Allocations Policy, we successfully implemented the Social Housing Allocation Policy, enabling us to directly match available homes to individuals and families in the highest housing need. This targeted approach has played a key role in alleviating homelessness across the county.

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

The Council’s Street Football project has been shortlisted for an award at the 2025 Welsh Sports Association Sport Awards. 

Shortlisted for the Best Social Impact Initiative award, the project was kickstarted in 2024 and is coordinated by Actif Sport and Leisure. The project was established to support individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by using the power of sport to improve their physical, mental, and social well-being.

But sessions go beyond football by offering a safe and inclusive space where participants can not only be active but engage directly with partner organisations that attend sessions to offer help and support with housing, mental health support, and other services these individuals may need. The sessions enable weekly contact between housing advisors and participants to maintain consistent support. Each session also includes a cooked meal.

 

Support and Advice - Hwbs

Case Study: Mrs H - Mrs H is now £800 a month better off after seeking advice from our Hwb advisors. A single mother of three children, Mrs H is a homeowner who is in receipt of ESA, PIP, and child benefit payments. Mrs H visited a Hwb centre to speak with an advisor as she was struggling to pay her household bills. During her meeting with a Hwb advisr, Mrs H was made aware that she was eligible for council tax reduction and was backdated three months of payments. She was also made eligible for a single person discount and received a refund of £1,200, awarded universal credit, an enhanced rate of PIP, a blue badge, free school meals for her children, and a uniform grant of £200.

Case Study: Mr S - Mr S visited one of our Hwbs having recently suffered a stroke and was reliant on a friend to help him apply for universal credit. Due to their lack of knowledge in completing the relevant forms, Mr S was deemed fit for work. A Hwb advisor was able to help Mr S to successfully apply for a discretionary housing payment, which cleared £600 in arrears. A temporary council tax reduction was recalculated, and a council tax reduction for severe mental impairment cleared his council tax debt of £1,440. Mr S was awarded a blue badge, a disabled bus pass, and received an extra £400 every 4 weeks after his capacity to work was reassessed. He was also awarded an enhanced PIP rate of £184 per week.

How can we do better?

We will continue to deliver and update our Tackling Poverty Plan through the Tackling Poverty Advisory Panel, ensuring our actions respond to the current challenges faced by residents and communities. This includes supporting people to access the benefits and services they are entitled to, working with partners to provide targeted help, and using feedback from the panel to shape future initiatives.

In Summary

Over the past year, the Housing service has achieved notable progress, with a strong focus on increasing the supply of affordable homes and improving the overall quality and sustainability of housing throughout the County. The 2024/25 programme contributed 361 additional homes, focussing on acquiring private sector properties, repurposing empty homes, and developing new units, including the transformation of the former YMCA Building in Llanelli into eight apartments.

This year substantial grant funding has been acquired from the Welsh Government, including over £17,000,000 in Social Housing Grant. These funds have been instrumental in contributing to the delivery of additional affordable homes.

The Housing Regeneration Development Programme continues to drive forward the vision of delivering over 2,000 homes by 2027. Aligning with broader regeneration priorities such as Town Centres, Rural Ten Towns, and strategic projects like Pentre Awel and Tyisha.

Additionally, the recommissioning of the County-wide floating support service has yielded £500,000 in savings over four years, enabling reinvestment into temporary supported accommodation. A new Estate and Tenancy Management offer has also been introduced, enhancing tenant engagement and satisfaction through increased visibility and regular estate visits by housing officers.

 

How are we Doing? 

• It took an average of 20 calendar days to complete all Council housing repairs during 2024/25. This is higher than expected as demands for responsive repairs continue to increase and impacts our ability to meet the target. A new service improvement plan has been developed that will adopt a phased approach to ensure the delivery of the service is sustainable into the future. This will initially involve detailed work around understanding the current demand and backlog of responsive repairs, a greater focus on packaged minor works, and a re-alignment of existing resources to meet current priorities and risks.
• 239 of private sector properties in Carmarthenshire that have been empty for more than six months were brought back into use through direct action during 2024/25. There were 1,868 properties in Carmarthenshire that had been empty for six months or more at the end of March 2025, compared to 2,144 at the end of March 2024 this is a 13% reduction.
• The percentage of rent lost due to Council properties being empty reduced further in 2024/25 to 1.9%, compared to 2.2% the previous year. This is primarily due to the expanded contractor base established through the new Property Works Framework. This has significantly enhanced overall contractor capacity. 

 

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Availability of good quality and energy efficient affordable homes in the County.

We have delivered around 2,500 additional affordable homes since the beginning of our ambitious plan to increase the supply of affordable homes in the county. Good quality affordable homes are the bedrock of healthy and sustainable communities. We have continued to exceed targets every year by increasing our supply of homes using a range of solutions to maximise external funding opportunities and meet housing need. We will continue with this approach, but our focus is to ensure that the Council new build programme plays a more significant role developing large sites of more than a hundred homes at pace. 

 

Housing Regeneration Development Programme

Our housing regeneration development programme sets the vision to support the delivery of over 2,000 homes for rent and sale over the next five years (February 2022 to December 2027). The plan is based on meeting housing need and stimulating economic growth across the County, creating jobs, building strong sustainable communities, and growing the green economy. The programme for 2024/25 delivered 361 additional homes, focussing on buying private sector homes for general and specialist housing need, bringing empty homes back in to use, and developing new homes, including the conversion of the former YMCA Building in Llanelli into eight apartments.

It is important that this plan links with wider corporate and departmental priorities such as Town Centres, Rural Ten Towns, and key regeneration projects e.g. Pentre Awel, Tyisha, Carmarthen West and Wauniago House (Carmarthen). A significant amount of additional grant monies has also been drawn down from Welsh Government to support the delivery of additional affordable homes this includes over £17m Social Housing Grant and £12.1m of other grant funding including Transitional Accommodation and Capital Programme Funding (TACP) and Housing for Care. 

 

New Build Developments

Over the next five years, our current pipeline of Council new build developments will deliver over 900 homes. Our new build homes will meet the individual needs of our communities and include houses, bungalows, and apartments for both individuals and families. All our new build developments follow a clear set of design principles that create new communities that are sustainable with a real sense of place.

 

Support Service

We have successfully recommissioned the County-wide floating support service, achieving savings of £500,000 over four years. These savings will support the delivery of new temporary supported accommodation options within the Housing Support Grant programme, thereby reducing the Council and Housing Revenue Account burden on the provision of temporary accommodation. 

 

Estate and Tenancy Management Offer

A new Estate and Tenancy Management offer is being delivered, aimed at improving tenant engagement and satisfaction. This approach increases the visibility and accessibility of housing officers on estates, something tenants have identified as a key priority. Through regular home checker and estate visits, the service ensures a more consistent presence within communities. 

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Resident Experience Following Improvements to Their Home

“Since the improvements to my home were completed, my home feels noticeably warmer for longer, which means I’ve been using the heating less. The house is comfortable, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it performs through the colder months.

Switching from oil to gas has been a smooth transition. I’d wanted gas for a while, so I was pleased to finally have it installed. I also use the Solis Cloud app to monitor how much energy my home is generating and using—it’s straightforward once you get the hang of it.

The work itself didn’t take long, and the team were great—they cleaned up after themselves and kept me informed throughout. Yes, there was some noise and dust, but a few weeks of disruption was well worth the result.

During the last 6 months, I’ve saved £714 on my energy bills. On a sunny day recently, I only spent 46p despite using the air fryer, washing machine, dryer, and all the usual appliances. I’m excited to see the total savings after a full year.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s been a no-brainer for me."

 

How can we do better?

We are committed to delivering the Council Housing Investment Programme to meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standards (WHQS) 2023, based on stock condition surveys and our Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2025–28. We will continue to implement actions to improve turnaround times for repairs, voids, and adaptations, and will appoint an in-house team to deliver small adaptations more efficiently. We will also support Care and Repair in assisting private homeowners. In addition, we will expand access to affordable homes by developing a greater range of low-cost home ownership options, contributing to the delivery of over 2,000 additional homes across the county as part of our Affordable Homes Strategy.

In Summary

• There has been a significant reduction in hospital admissions, improved health outcomes, and shorter hospital stays, enabling individuals to return home sooner with the right support in place.
• Early intervention and prevention are central to our approach. Our initiatives clearly reflect this, ensuring individuals receive timely support before needs escalate and statutory intervention becomes necessary.
• Reducing reliance on residential care remains a key priority, with a strong focus on expanding supported living options that promote independence, personal choice, and better long-term outcomes.
• A wide range of inclusive and community-focused initiatives have promoted physical activity, mental well-being, cultural engagement, and lifelong learning across Carmarthenshire. This supports healthier, more connected communities.

 

How are we Doing? 

• We remain in a stable position with a decrease in the numbers waiting in hospital for domiciliary care (five people to the end of March 2025). This is despite increased complexity in our caseloads. This demonstrates that our preventative community pathways are working to manage the demand coming through the system. 50-day challenge funding awarded via Welsh Government in the latter part of 2024/25 contributed to creating additional capacity in the system that has, in turn, reduced the numbers waiting for domiciliary care.
• There were 1,460 referrals to the National Exercise Referral Scheme during 2024/25. Slightly lower than the previous year (1,537), but numbers continue to be high. Sadly only 43% (233/542) of those that started the scheme completed the 16-week programme during 2024/25 compared to 70.2% (316/450) in 2023/24.
• The average number of calendar days taken to deliver a Disabled Facilities Grant continues to be high at 272 days during 2024/25. A very slight improvement on 273 days the previous year. 
  Removing the means test in February 2022 significantly increased demand for Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs). To control spending, we introduced Delayed Payment Approvals. However, this measure has also slowed down the pace at which contractors’ complete projects, potentially impacting delivery times in 2025/26. The recent reintroduction of the means test has reduced the number of new DFG requests, and the budget for 2025/26 has increased. Demand will continue to be managed within the available budget.

 

Progress Against Outcomes

Outcome: Seamless integrated services between Health and Social Care.

The Integrated Home First Pathway is an example of integration between Health and Social Care at its best. The Home First pathway seeks to do three things:

1. Provide safe alternatives to hospital admission.
2. Support discharge from hospital (particularly where an individual requires an assessment for ongoing care and support; and that assessment does not need to be undertaken in an acute hospital bed).
3. Stream individuals out of statutory services and into preventative services that will maximise independence.

The pathway is a single point of access for community-based Health and Social Care, a co-located multi-disciplinary team working alongside the Information, Advice, and Assistance function at the front door. They provide robust screening and triage for each referral that comes into the Home First hub. This is a partnership approach across health, social care, third sector, Delta Wellbeing, and the Welsh Ambulance Service. 

Home First manages to support around 225 people each month, which is a combination of admission avoidance, supported hospital discharge, and virtual ward assessment (people who do not need hospital-based treatment, but require medical oversight can be supported to remain at home with the virtual ward). 

The Home First pathway has had huge interest from Welsh Government and across other Health Board and local authority areas in Wales. It has won two NHS Wales Awards (Integrated Person-Centred Care and Overall Winner in Transformation of Health and Care) and a National Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise (iESE) award.

 

Social Care

• The Mental Health Well-being Service continue to provide vital early intervention and prevention support. In autumn 2024, a new Hoarding Service launched in collaboration with third sector partners. This model is proving successful in preventing escalation.
• We have strengthened our partnerships with health, housing, and third sector colleagues to support a more joined-up approach to commissioning. The Regional Commissioning Group brings together commissioners from Hywel Dda University Health Board and the three local authorities. Through the Board, we continue to collaborate on long-term care and adult services. This group feeds into the Regional Commissioning Board, which is part of the Regional Partnership Board’s governance structure.
• On 19th March 2025, an event was held to celebrate Social Prescribing Day, held at the Living Well Centre, Parc Dewi Sant. Highlighting the impact of social prescribing in Carmarthenshire, the event brought together patients, referral partners, community organisations, and staff to share experiences and highlight collaborative successes. 

Outcome: Accessible, inclusive, sustainable services, which promote and facilitate learning, culture, heritage, information, well-being, and leisure.

Day Opportunities 

Over the past year, we have worked closely with local community projects, leisure services, and third sector organisations like Arts Gofal Celf to broaden access to day opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities and mental health issues. Day opportunities are structured activities designed to build skills, confidence, and independence. Our key objective is to increase the number and variety of opportunities to enable individuals to engage in meaningful activities, develop social connections, and work towards personal goals. This has resulted in seven individuals with a learning disability gaining valuable experience by volunteering at Llyn Llech Owain Café.

 

The Passport to Leisure Initiative

This initiative provided unpaid carers with free access to leisure facilities across Carmarthenshire. The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to enhance well-being, reduce isolation, and offer respite from caring responsibilities. During 2024, this enabled 78 carers to access the Council’s leisure services, resulting in over 700 visits. Some participants explored new activities, whilst others made significant long-term lifestyle changes. 100% of carers reported improved well-being, reduced isolation, and complete satisfaction with the offer. 

 

Reducing Reliance on Residential Care

A key objective in Adult Social Care has been to reduce the reliance on residential care by developing a broader range of supported accommodation options which would improve outcomes and promote independence and choice for individuals. Over the past three years, nine new supported living settings have been developed, with seven more currently underway. In the last two years alone, 45 individuals have successfully transitioned into supported living. 

The Shared Lives Adult Placement service has expanded across the region and is working to transition individuals from residential placements into Shared Lives arrangements. This approach offers a more personalised and community-based alternative to traditional care and directly supports our goal of reducing reliance on residential care. 

Innovative approaches have been adopted by the Substance Use and Recovery Team, who have supported individuals with alcohol-related brain damage to step down from residential care through the creative use of accommodation. Continued partnership working with housing and third sector organisations is enabling the development of a recovery house to further enhance step-down options for people with alcohol and substance use issues. 

In addition, Adult Social Care is enhancing the planning and support available for young people moving from Children to Adult Services. This work is being delivered in close collaboration with Children’s Services, Housing, and Commissioning teams to ensure that young people can remain in their home communities and access the right support at the right time. Several new supported living schemes have been established, offering more independent and tailored settings for young people in transition. 

As part of our wider respite offer, Y Caban has been used for short breaks. It provides flexible, person-centred support for individuals and their carers. This initiative supports our commitment to offering alternatives to residential care and ensuring timely, community-based support during periods of increased need.

 

Online Services

We have seen an increase in residents and businesses accessing information, support, and Council services online. Throughout 2024/25, the number of sessions on our website has increased yet again to over 4.5 million. 

Accessibility of information is very important to us. This year, we worked with DAC (Digital Accessibility Centre) to audit our website to make sure our digital products and services are usable and comply wherever possible with level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2). This is in line with the requirements of The Equality Act 2010. It is important to remember that residents, visitors, and businesses are now accessing the website in various ways, with 62.9% using a mobile device. This is key when considering how to present information to ensure we engage to as wide an audience as possible. We also monitor our websites through Silktide, a platform that automatically scans websites for accessibility and content. 

 

Sport and Leisure Initiatives

Actif Gold Card Scheme

The Carmarthenshire ‘Gold Card’ Scheme allows residents who represent our country, as unpaid athletes within their chosen sport, to supplement their current training programme with free access facilities within Actif’s Leisure Centres. During 2024/25, Actif received 94 Gold Card applications, with 79 awarded. Applications reflect the diverse range of sports available within the County, with 26 different sports featured.

 

Scarlets Sporting Memories – ‘Scarlets Stories’

Actif Llanelli supported weekly Sporting Memories sessions at Parc y Scarlets, engaging over 520 attendees and offering walking rugby every three weeks. The initiative combats loneliness, dementia, and isolation through sport, storytelling, and social interaction. Participants have formed strong community bonds, organising trips and activities beyond the sessions. This project exemplifies how inclusive, culturally rooted programmes can enhance well-being, preserve heritage, and foster lifelong engagement in leisure and community life.

 

Foothold Cymru – Bike Maintenance and Cycling Access

Actif Llanelli collaborated with Foothold Cymru to enhance cycling access and education in local schools. The initiative began at Ysgol Heol Goffa, where adapted bikes were repaired and pupils received hands-on bike maintenance training, equipping them with practical skills. This supported sustainable transport and active lifestyles. Actif Llanelli also funded the purchase of new bikes, which were distributed to schools across Llanelli in Spring 2025. The project promoted inclusive learning, well-being, and long-term engagement with cycling, a designated focus sport through 2027.

 

Llanybydder Community Hub – Digital Fitness Access

Llanybydder’s community hall introduced digital fitness classes through new infrastructure, offering free access as part of membership. This led to increased participation and financial sustainability, with seven new members joining in the first week. The initiative promotes inclusive, local access to health and well-being services, especially in rural areas, and supports the long-term viability of community-run facilities. Face-to-face sessions are planned in future to further expand engagement.

 

Women and Girls Weightlifting / Menopause Education

The Learn to Lift programme empowers women and girls aged 14 and over to build strength and confidence in a supportive environment. The sessions challenge stereotypes, promote bone health, and encourage intergenerational participation. Many have progressed to advanced classes. A new partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board is piloting menopause-focused education and fitness, highlighting the programme’s potential to support women’s health across life stages and expand sustainable, inclusive fitness opportunities.

 

Cycling for Seniors – Motiview Pilot

Actif Places introduced Motiview, a virtual cycling technology for seniors, promoting physical activity and reminiscence therapy. Participants cycle through familiar landscapes, sparking conversation, nostalgia, and improved mobility. The pilot has shown strong potential for enhancing well-being in care settings. Plans to develop Carmarthenshire-specific routes will deepen local engagement and cultural relevance, supporting sustainable and inclusive leisure for older adults.

 

Health Referral and Prevention Programmes

As part of our commitment to improving population health and reducing health inequalities, we have expanded our health referral and prevention programmes across the County. Programmes include NERS, Falls Prevention, and Pre-Diabetes. 

 

Aquatic Therapy and Fitness Programmes

Good Boost has received valuable support from the Health Board, recognising its innovative approach to improving musculoskeletal (MSK) health through personalised, technology-assisted aquatic and land-based exercise. The programme uses clinically designed sessions to support individuals with conditions such as arthritis, chronic pain, and those awaiting or recovering from joint replacement or injury. Notably, a combination of Aqua Therapy and Good Boost has already led to tangible NHS savings, with some participants seeing such improvement that they have been removed from joint replacement waiting lists. These individuals have since maintained their active lifestyles by continuing with Actif’s wider leisure centre and community-based activities, demonstrating the long-term benefits of the programme for both personal well-being and healthcare demand. Support offered by the NHS has now enabled Actif to commence a community-based programme to aid in the management of MSK conditions in rural and hard to reach areas.

Your Health Matters (YHM) is a 16-week health intervention programme supporting adults to improve their physical and mental well-being. Delivered by trained instructors and guest experts, YHM combines education, exercise, mindfulness, and dietary guidance, with access to Actif Anywhere and local activities. Targeting preventable conditions like type 2 diabetes and smoking-related illness, it achieved notable outcomes:

• 94% of participants improved mental well-being,
• 76% reduced waist size, and
• 70% lowered or maintained BMI.

Overall, 81.6kg of weight was lost, and average blood pressure improved. Participants reported increased confidence, reduced cravings, and sustained healthier habits. A key strength was the supportive group environment. Participant feedback highlighted the programme’s holistic impact, shifting focus from weight loss to lifestyle change. Journals and monthly one-to-one sessions were used to encourage goal achievement and track individual progress. Many continued physical activities after the programme, with inspiring personal transformations and improved mental health, showing the value of targeted, supportive health interventions. 

 

Actif Anywhere Service

The Actif Anywhere service was launched as a bilingual online platform to support schools and rural communities across Carmarthenshire. Offering a wide range of extra-curricular classes and activities, the platform has been further developed with support from the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). This helps ensure access to healing and wellbeing opportunities regardless of location.

 

Actif Sport and Leisure Facility Programmes

A comprehensive offer of programmed and pay and play sessions are available across all sites to enable people to get active and improve the quality of life, health, and overall well-being. Popularity of membership schemes has seen growth in the uptake of those benefits, with a growth of 8.5% to the year ending March 2025 and a whole membership level of 8,720. Recorded attendances of the 18 to 59 age group rose by 28% to 673,069.

 

Theatrau Sir Gâr

Theatrau Sir Gâr has continued to champion inclusivity in the arts through innovative partnerships and programming. In collaboration with InclusAbility Swansea and Breaking the Box, we developed tools to make theatre more accessible for individuals with disabilities and anxiety. Recognising that traditional theatre environments can be overwhelming for some we introduced free sensory bags. Available at the box office, these include a visual story of the theatre, ear defenders, sunglasses, and fidget items. We are also developing relaxed spaces during standard performances, providing a quiet, safe area where individuals can decompress and return to the performance when ready. These efforts aim to build trust and ensure that everyone feels welcome and supported in our venues.

In addition, Theatrau Sir Gâr hosted The Ancient Oak of Baldor by Frozen Light – a multisensory theatre experience designed specifically for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Over 80 guests and their carers attended, many experiencing theatre for the first time in a space created just for them. 

 

CofGâr

CofGâr launched its new reminiscence service, Cofio. This service uses carefully curated Memory Boxes filled with familiar items from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s to spark meaningful reflection and conversation. Designed for use in support groups, care homes, and community gatherings, each box includes historic objects, printed materials, discussion prompts, and quizzes to encourage engaging and enjoyable interactions. CofGâr has already delivered sessions across the County, including a successful partnership with the Libraries Service, where reminiscence boxes were used during 1940s-themed tea dances held in spring 2025.

 

Outcome: Improved preventative services to meet the demands of an ageing population.

• Over the past year, Integrated Services has successfully implemented personalised care plans for over 5,000 residents. This has contributed to a significant reduction in hospital admissions, improved health outcomes, and shorter hospital stays - enabling individuals to return home sooner with the right support in place.
• The Home First Team, a co-located multidisciplinary team of health and social care professionals working together to support people leaving hospital, has established a successful triage arrangement that is having an impact on hospital flow and reducing waiting lists.
• We continue to support older people to live independently for as long as possible, focussing on early intervention and personalised care. Our “releasing time to care” approach ensures the least intrusive support is provided, freeing up capacity for others. Over the past year, 851 hours of care have been released, helping reduce domiciliary care waiting lists to their lowest in years and resulting in 30 fewer people in residential care despite rising demand.
• Over £1 million in additional grant funding has been secured to further support the preventative agenda. The investment will be used to target issues such as improving the accessibility of services for diverse communities, tackling transport gaps and improving community safety through the provision of tailored technology packages. 

 

Social Prescribing Service

Our social prescribing service is an essential component of our preventative strategy, linking patients with community resources to support their health and well-being. The Social Prescribers work as integral members of the locality community teams, working closely with individuals that either self-refer, or are identified by their GPs or members of the Community Resource Team and wider primary care contractors as needing support to connect with their communities in order to promote self-worth and integration; providing a patient focused service, which promotes health and well-being. 

This service connects individuals with non-clinical support to improve their health and well-being, such as community groups, physical activities, and advice services. Between April 2024 and March 2025, the service received over 1,100 referrals, primarily for low-level mental health support (68%) and social isolation (50%). The service supported individuals aged 18 to 100, with the largest group aged 55 to 64. Of those who completed a patient experience form, 95% felt that their well-being had improved.

 

Connecting Carmarthenshire

Connect Carmarthenshire Community Hubs are a partnership of third sector organisations delivering a preventative support service designed to help residents across Carmarthenshire more easily access advice, support, and local resources. Confidence in the service continues to grow, with over 4,500 referrals made during 2024/25. 
The Connecting Carmarthenshire digital platform has continued to evolve throughout 2024/25. Ongoing software enhancements have focused on: expanding functionality, improving the user experience; and tailoring the platform based on resident feedback. The platform has 213 community activities listed and 1,341 registered members. In 2024/25, the partnership received accolades at four award ceremonies.

 

Direct Payment Support Service

Direct Payments (DPs) empower individuals eligible for care and support to take control of their services by receiving cash payments to arrange care that meets their assessed needs. This approach promotes flexibility, independence, and personal choice. Since bringing the Direct Payment Support Service in-house in 2021, uptake has increased by 51%. The service continues to evolve to ensure best practice, legal compliance, and value for money, whilst supporting individuals to manage their arrangements confidently and effectively. Key milestones in 2024/25 include:

• The launch of a refreshed Direct Payment Policy, providing a clear and consistent framework for delivery.
• The introduction of Micro Enterprise services, expanding the care market and enhancing choice and control for service users.

 

The Catalysts for Care project

The project supports individuals in establishing their own small, independent care services – known as micro-enterprises. These services offer personalised, community-based care, often tailored to local needs. As of 2024, 63 micro-enterprises are operating in Carmarthenshire, with 73% providing personal care. The project has led to a significant reduction in Home Care waiting lists, improving access and flexibility in care provision.

 

Care Home Development

Plans have been announced to redevelop the former Plas Y Bryn care home in Cwmgwili into a new 60-bed, state-of-the-art, dual-registered nursing and residential care facility – the first of its kind in Wales. Subject to part-funding through the Welsh Government’s Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF) Programme, the proposed development will double the capacity of the original home and address a significant gap in local authority care provision. The new facility will be designed to Net Zero Carbon standards, supporting the Council’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030. In addition to expanding care capacity, the project is expected to deliver wider community benefits, including local employment and skills development. A Pre-Application Consultation is scheduled for December 2025, with construction anticipated to begin in October 2026. 

 

Living Well in Carmarthenshire

As part of the development of the Living Well in Carmarthenshire Strategy, six community events were held in rural Carmarthenshire communities which offered opportunities to engage with the public to understand what living well meant to them. These events brought together a wide range of services focused on prevention, well-being, and self-care, helping individuals understand the support available to help them to stay well and live independently at home. A total of 260 people attended the events. Participating organisations highlighted that this had been an excellent opportunity to network and raise the profile of their services to other professionals, as well as the public. Feedback from the public praised the variety of information available with one stating: 
‘I have accessed valuable information about the disposal of medical items, had a health check done, will be having my fire alarm checked and support with blocking nuisance calls.’

 

Case Study

The Well-being Team is an early help and preventative service supporting adults and their carers with mental health and well-being needs. The team works across the county and collaborates with GPs, housing services, the Department of Work and Pensions, Dyfed-Powys Police, Hywel Dda Health Board, and various third sector organisations, like Mind and West Wales Action for Mental Health.

This year, the team has helped an individual facing the repossession of his home. With the support provided, the repossession was successfully prevented, as it was having a significant negative impact on his mental health. The individual was supported in communicating with his mortgage company and decided to place his home up for sale. 

The individual also had hoarding tendencies, with his home overwhelmed with belongings. At times of support, the Well-being Team arranged more short term mental health support. The team helped him organise and sort through his possessions through both practical and emotional support. 

Ongoing support has been provided by the Well-being Team. The individual has also attended a hoarding support group at Mind, where he received peer support from others in similar situations, as well as guidance from professionals leading the group. This empowered him to leave his home regularly to attend sessions, where he connects with others and continues to make progress in his journey. 

 

Seraphim trueCall© Nuisance Call Blocking and Monitoring

238 vulnerable residents are subject to enhanced telemarketing fraud prevention services under the Trading Standards trueCall© telemarketing fraud prevention programme. Residents’ trueCall© nuisance call blocking devices are monitored monthly using Seraphimbeta©, an innovative software solution designed by Trading Standards to alert officers where vulnerable residents are suspected of engaging with telemarketing criminals. 
     
Last year, the programme blocked 31,374 nuisance calls, of which 6,756 were identified as being from numbers associated with telemarketing criminals. From that, 2,421 monitoring actions were undertaken leading to 74 welfare intervention alerts initiating direct contact interventions from the team. 

It is estimated that the programme has prevented around 40 telemarketing frauds and generated savings to vulnerable households of £184,554. This led to a reduction of £109,297 in public service costs (NHS, Social Care, and Police).

 

Is Anyone Better Off?

Two Carmarthenshire residents, Mark and Lesley, who have benefited from direct payments through Carmarthenshire County Council’s Social Care services, were honoured guests at the Royal Assent Ceremony of the Health and Social Care (Wales) Bill on Monday, 24th March, at Cathays Park, Cardiff.

Mark and Lesley’s powerful testimonies about their positive experiences with direct payments in Carmarthenshire influenced the development of this landmark legislation. Their contributions were recognised by the Welsh Government, who invited them to witness this historic event, where the First Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, formally applied the seal to the Letters Patent, enacting the new law.

Mark and Lesley were accompanied by their personal assistant, funded through direct payments, and their senior social worker, Catherine James, who had supported them throughout their journey. They felt it was important that those who had played a key role in their care were present to share in the moment. Lesley said: "We were honoured to be invited to the Royal Assent Ceremony and to know that sharing our story has helped shape a law that will give others the same independence and choice that we’ve had. It's encouraging to see our experience valued in this way and we're pleased to share the ceremony with the two individuals who are so instrumental in allowing us to live our best possible lives.”

The Health and Social Care (Wales) Act introduces significant reforms, including ending private profit in children’s residential and foster care, making Wales the first UK nation to legislate this change. This has enabled the introduction of direct payments within continuing NHS healthcare, giving disabled people and those with long-term health conditions greater control over their care. 

 

How can we do better?

We will continue to listen to carers and service users, hosting a “You Said, We Did” event to share progress and shape future improvements. Our new Adaptations Policy will help us deliver timely home adaptations, supporting independent living and quicker hospital discharges. We will also strengthen our suicide prevention work in response to rising concerns and reviewing services in line with the Market Stability Report to ensure priorities remain aligned with current needs. This includes enhancing foster care, expanding home provision, investing in preventative services, continuing with our Growing Shared Lives programme, increasing specialist care home capacity, and strengthening domiciliary and community care.