Camden residents have played a pivotal role in shaping the future of adult social care in the borough, with their expectations and insights forming a key part of a recent council cabinet meeting.
The We Care - Citizen Expectations for Adult Social Care
project, a borough-wide conversation involving over 1,500 residents, presented its findings to the Camden Council Cabinet on Monday, July 6, 2026. The project aimed to increase public understanding of adult social care and explore what matters most to residents.
Key findings highlighted a strong consensus among citizens regarding dignity, compassion, fairness, choice and control, support to remain at home, clear information, and greater recognition for carers and care workers. The Cabinet endorsed the public affairs and influencing approach outlined in the project's report and recommended that the Mayor of Camden consider presenting the topic to Full Council for a themed debate. Specifically, the Cabinet agreed to support and take forward the public affairs and influencing approach outlined in the report, and recommended that the Mayor of Camden consider presenting the topic, 'Most of us will need care and support in our lives. Citizen expectations and Camden's contribution to a national conversation about the future of adult social care',
to Full Council for a themed debate.
Councillor Kemi Atolagbe, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, noted the significance of the We Care
project in informing future strategy development and service improvement. This initiative aligns with Camden's commitment to involving residents in shaping public policy and contributes to national discussions on adult social care reform,
the report stated. The findings will inform the next steps of strategy and policy development in Camden, including work on prevention, neighbourhoods, information and advice, care and support at home, and co-production. The project also reinforces the importance of Camden's strategic approach to co-production in Adult Social Care, through which people who draw on care and support work with officers to improve services, identify priorities for change, and help shape strategies and longer-term plans.
The We Care
project highlighted strong public consensus around stronger recognition of carers and care workers.
The We Care: Citizens' Expectations
developed by a resident panel also includes expectations for the Workforce
to ensure Fair Pay & Career Progression
and Values-Led Behaviour,
and for Camden Council
to Support & celebrate carers
and Support & listen to unpaid carers.
The findings of the We Care
project will be connected to existing and emerging participation routes, including Camden's Adult Social Care co-production panel, so that residents, unpaid carers and people with lived experience remain involved in shaping strategy, commissioning and service improvement. The project also highlights the importance of feeding back to residents
to maintain trust and champion their ideas and act. The Council has committed to bringing participants back together later in the year to report on how the work is being taken forward.
The We Care
project identified that citizens' expectations
include dignity, compassion, fairness, choice and control, support to remain at home and connected locally, clear information and advice, and stronger recognition of carers and care workers. The Council's Adult Social Care strategic plan, Supporting People, Connecting Communities,
focuses on helping residents live and age well by building on people's strengths, relationships and community connections. The findings will also influence the development of the Adult Social Care information and advice offer in Camden.
