Health and Social Care

When the social care system fractures, and is unable to deliver positive outcomes, there is a fundamental failure to recognises the inherent dignity of the individual. Our vision for social care in Newcastle is built on the belief that a city where everyone is cared for is the only sustainable foundation for a health economy and a stable society. 

Thinking Personal: The Single Trusted Contact

We believe that we need to dismantle the bureaucratic mazr that currently defines social care. For many in Newcastle, getting support feels like a struggle for recognition amidst a complex soup of services. 

• We will transition to a "Think Personal" model. Every adult requiring support, and their unpaid carers, will be assigned a Single Trusted Contact. This professional will be responsible for the assessment of needs and the coordination of support across all services.

Shared Services

Local government creates inefficient, overlapping jurisdictions that bear no resemblance to the everyday lives of people who access the Council's services. We believe that breaking down these walls will improve delivery and outcomes. We successfully share a Director of Public Health with Gateshead. Expanding this model will save money, break down siloes, and deliver for residents. 

• We will work, through the North East Combined Authority, to deliver shared services across Council boundaries. 
• By removing duplication, we free up resources to be spent on the frontline—on people, not on redundant administrative structures.

A Genuine Partnership with the Voluntary Sector

The social fabric of Newcastle is held together by our voluntary and community sector (VCS). For too long, the Council has treated these organisations as "service providers" rather than partners.

• We will reset the relationship with the VCS, moving to a model of genuine partnership. We will integrate their unique strengths and local knowledge into our new neighbourhood working models.

Championing the "Fair Deal" Nationally

Locally, we will be the loudest advocates for the national Liberal Democrat plan to fix the care crisis at the root:

• The Professional Career Pathway: We support the national call for a higher Carers' Minimum Wage and a clear career path for care workers, ensuring these essential members of our society are finally given the recognition they deserve.
• The Right to Respite: We will fight for the national Lib Dem pledge to give unpaid carers a statutory right to a break, preventing the burnout that threatens the very foundation of our informal care system.
• Free Personal Care: We stand with the national party in demanding that personal care be free at the point of use, recognising that care is a shared social responsibility.

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