Decision made on adult social care in Torbay – what it means for local people

• The current agreement between the NHS and the Council will begin a 12-month notice period
• During this time, services will continue as they are now
• By April 2027, responsibility for adult social care will move back to Torbay Council
• A new model and contractual arrangement will be developed during the transition.

The Trust has said this decision is about changing the contractual and financial arrangements, not ending partnership working.

Why this decision was made

The Board papers and discussion set out that:

• The Trust is currently carrying the full financial risk for adult social care
• The cost of services is higher than the funding available
• This has created a significant financial gap (around £35 million per year).

The Trust has said that continuing with the current arrangement is not sustainable under these conditions.

It has also stated that this change will allow responsibilities to sit with the correct statutory organisations, while still working in partnership.

What the Trust says will not change

The Trust has been clear that:

• There will be no immediate changes to anyone’s care
• Health services will continue to support joint care packages
• Integrated working will continue where it benefits people.

Key questions raised – and responses

Healthwatch and others submitted questions ahead of the meeting. Below is a summary of key responses.
 

1. Will care stay the same in practice?

The Trust says it will monitor this during the transition by tracking:

• Caseloads
• Waiting times
• Assessments
• Outcomes
• Any issues raised.

These will be overseen jointly by the Trust, Council and NHS Devon.
 

2. Will people experience disruption during the transition?

The Trust says:

• There will be no immediate changes
• The 12-month notice period allows time to plan
• Existing staff and services will continue
• Any changes will be planned and communicated in advance.
   

3. What happens to the “single point of access”?

The Trust recognises this as a strength of the current system.

• There will be no immediate change
• Any future changes will be agreed jointly
• Support such as shared triage and signposting will continue.
   

4. What about people with complex needs?

The Trust says:

• These groups are a key focus of planning
• Specialist teams and named workers will continue
• Joint oversight between health and social care will remain.
   

5. How will people be kept informed?

The Trust has said there will be a joint communication approach, including:

• Direct communication with people using services and carers
• Updates through community and voluntary organisations
• Clear contact points for questions or concerns.

More detailed responses to all public questions are available by clicking here

What happens next

• A 12-month transition period will now begin
• The Trust, Council and NHS Devon will develop a new model for April 2027
• A joint transition programme will oversee this work
• The Trust has said it will:
  • Continue engaging with communities and partners
  • Update its Equality Impact Assessment
  • Publish a timetable for engagement.

Healthwatch view

This is a significant system change. While no immediate changes to care are planned, it will be important to understand:

• How this affects people’s experience of services in practice
• How well services continue to work together
• How clearly changes are communicated to the public.

Healthwatch will continue to monitor this closely and share updates to help people understand what it means locally.