The People Overview & Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire Council met on Thursday 15 January 2026 to discuss the Oxfordshire Unpaid Carers Strategy and Supported Independent Housing. The committee also reviewed its forward work programme.

Oxfordshire Unpaid Carers Strategy

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the Oxfordshire Unpaid Carers Strategy, presented by Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, and Isabel Rockingham, Head of Joint Commissioning – Age Well. The report was expected to outline the support provided jointly by Oxfordshire County Council and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) for unpaid carers in Oxfordshire.

The report highlighted that unpaid carers play a crucial role in the health and care system, contributing an estimated £184 billion annually to the UK economy. It detailed that in 2021, 52,674 residents of Oxfordshire identified as providing unpaid care. The report also outlined the council's statutory duties under the Care Act 2014 to assess and support carers, and how this aligns with the Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2030 and the council's Strategic Plan 2025 to 2028.

Support for carers is jointly commissioned through Carers Oxfordshire, a partnership between Action for Carers Oxfordshire and Rethink Mental Illness. The report detailed the services provided by Carers Oxfordshire, including information and advice, carers' assessments, peer support, and training. It also noted a discretionary carers payment scheme, offering up to £300 per year to eligible carers. The report also referenced the co-produced all-age carers strategy launched in 2023, with three strategic priorities: identifying and supporting carers, safeguarding vulnerable carers, and enabling carers to have an active life outside their caring role.

Supported Independent Housing

The committee was also scheduled to discuss Supported Independent Housing, with a report presented by Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adults, Karen Fuller, Director of Adult Social Services, Ian Bottomley, Head of Joint Commissioning – Age Well, and Sharon Paterson, Commissioning Manager – Live Well.

The report provided an overview of supported living for adults with learning disabilities in Oxfordshire, describing it as a person-centred housing and support model that empowers individuals to live independently with their own tenancies and tailored support. Oxfordshire prioritises supported living over residential care, with 83.9% of people with a learning disability living in their own homes. The report acknowledged challenges such as limited specialist accommodation and historic reliance on out-of-county placements.

A new procurement framework, the Live Well Supported Services Framework, was established in 2023 to increase the number and quality of providers. The report detailed the benefits of supported living, including choice and control, enhanced independence, privacy, dignity, and community integration. It also outlined the current use of supported living in Oxfordshire, with over 653 adults with a learning disability accessing these services. The report also touched upon the challenges faced, including a lack of specialist accommodation and providers, and the development of a Supported Living Improvement Programme. Strategic priorities for supported living include addressing complex needs, supporting transitions for young people, preventing out-of-area placements, and improving outcomes by moving from residential care to supported housing.

Committee Forward Work Plan

The committee was recommended to agree its work programme for forthcoming meetings. The report pack indicated that the work programme for the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee includes scrutiny of the Unpaid Carers Strategy and Supported Housing for future meetings.