HOW to support carers was the key theme of a conference held by Bromley Council.

The council’s first adult services stakeholder conference featured workshops on a wide range of issues including how carers can be prevented from reaching crisis point, safeguarding and improving lives.

There was also a benefits workshop with input from the council, the Department of Works and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

More than 140 people attended the event which was opened by the portfolio holder for care services Councillor Robert Evans.

He said: “A lot of changes are taking place in care services – not least how we manage increasing demands on such services in the face of the growing financial pressure on the council and how we work in co-operation with health colleagues to integrate health and social care. 

"It is essential the people who use our services are at the heart of how we plan and shape adult care in the future and we are working hard to improve how we engage and communicate with them.

"This conference is a part of this work and today we want to hear the views of as wide a range of service users and other stakeholders as possible and to build on the other channels we’re developing such as the virtual service user panel.

"But of course the most important part of this work is translating what people tell us into meaningful plans and to ensure how we implement these with our partners are communicated to all involved as effectively as possible.”