Making Social Services sustainable

A sustainable community is "a development which meets the need of existing generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs" - KCC Vision for Kent

Kent is facing a significant increase in population with an extra 138,420 new dwellings planned by 2026 across the county. Together with this, there is a growing ageing population. This means that our services and infrastructure must be aligned with the long-term planning process so that the people of Kent receive adequate social services.

For Kent Adult Social Services (KASS) the increase in the number of older people presents challenges. Our primary objective is to "help the people of Kent live independent and fulfilled lives safely in their local communities" and we also must provide care and support to the most vulnerable people in society:

• older people
• people with a physical disability
• people with a sensory impairment (hearing or sight)
• people with learning disabilities
• people with mental health problems.

The South East Plan

South East Plan is a new type of planning document for the region and will replace (following Govenment's approval) the Kent and Medway Structure Plan. It sets out a vision for the future of the South East region to 2026, outlining how we need to respond to challenges facing the region such as housing, the economy, transport and protecting the environment. The overall aim is to ensure that the South East remains economically successful and an attractive place to live for future generations.

New housing developments mean that the local population also increases, leading to a greater demand on local Social Services. Service commissioners in Kent Adult Social Services (KASS), supported by service planning staff, are responsible for identifying future needs in the context of future developments for each District in Kent. The methodology for this is set out in the KCC Guide to Development Contributions.

To support this, KASS has published a Glossary of Terms (PDF, 1.45m) aimed at developers, landowners and our partners, such as district planning officers, the health and voluntary sectors. It sets out examples of future services required to make adequate infrastructure provision for adults requiring social care.