Our key objectives

Our key objectives are to support people with particular needs to:

• Live as independently and fully as possible
• Access advice, information and services easily
• Manage their own care and support, with help where needed
• Feel part of their local community, and
• Achieve the seven outcomes set out in 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say':
  - Improved health
  - Improved quality of life
  - Making a positive contribution
  - Exercise of choice and control
  - Freedom from discrimination or harassment
  - Economic well-being
  - Personal dignity

We will achieve this through:

• Putting people who use our services and their carers first
• Ensuring the availability of high quality services
• Valuing, developing and supporting staff
• Working in partnership
• Making the best use of our resources
• Creating the conditions, with others, for equality of opportunity

Active Lives thus envisages a Kent in 2016 where:

• The views of people who use services, and those who care for them, shape service developments
• People who are caring for others are supported in doing so
• Staff are valued, developed, and supported
• People choose and control the support or care they need to live full and independent lives:
  - People are supported to live independently in their own home
  - People with long-term illnesses or conditions are supported in managing their own medical needs
  - People who want to work are supported in doing so
  - People have access to social and leisure activities within their local community
• People who are vulnerable to abuse receive the support they need to maintain their personal safety and independence
• Public, private, voluntary and community services work together to:
  - Provide convenient services which meet individuals' needs
  - Be as efficient and effective as possible
  - Make sure that communities are good, safe places to be
  - Invest in services and action which prevent problems arising and promote good physical and mental health and wellbeing
• There is much greater equality of opportunity
• KCC leads by example and lobbies for change