A WIDE-ranging overhaul of Bournemouth’s adult social care services will save money and improve the experiences of users, it is claimed.

Cabinet members unanimously approved a package of measures, which together will “transform” adult social care services.

Adult services are currently one of the biggest pressures on the council’s budget, accounting for around 21 per cent of all expenditure.

The “core service transformation” will provide a cashable saving of £565,000, improve the first point of contact for residents enquiring about adult social care services and develop self-help, self-assessment and referral tools on the council’s website.

There will also be a focus on early intervention and providing “reablement” services, a restructuring of the safeguarding team, improving the experience for young people moving from children’s to adult social care services and a review of the current residential care market.

A second phase of the review will take place later in the year to explore whether further money can be saved through partnerships, outsourcing and commissioning.

Conservative Cllr Blair Crawford, cabinet member for adult services, said the overhaul was essential because it would make adult social care sustainable in the long-term.

It was welcomed by councillors. Conservative Cllr John Trickett said: “Because adult social care represents the biggest slice of the council’s budget, if we hadn’t done what we have now done, we would have bigger pressures on that large part of the budget for the future.”