Prevention First Strategy 2026–2031
Everyone should have the opportunity to live independently, keep doing the things they enjoy and remain connected to the people, places and communities that matter to them.
However, people can face challenges at different points in their lives. Poor health, loneliness, caring responsibilities, disability, housing issues or financial pressures can all affect someone's independence and wellbeing.
Our Prevention First Strategy sets out how Hampshire County Council will work with residents, carers, communities and partners to help people get the right support at the right time. By acting early wherever possible, we can help prevent small issues becoming bigger problems and support people to live well and independent for longer.
Vision
The strategy supports our vision ‘for every person in Hampshire to live a long, healthy and independent life, in the place they call home, with the people and things that they love, belonging to safe and thriving communities.’
Priority areas
Prevention is a continuous process which requires a consistent approach applied at each stage of a person’s journey. This means the strategy is divided into the following three priory areas:
- Preventing social care need - We will focus where there is strong evidence that timely intervention and access to universal services can support health and wellbeing and prevent the need for adult social care.
- Reducing and managing demand - We will reduce and manage demand within adult social care by providing timely support where people are at risk of their needs escalating, or they are already in receipt of care and support.
- Delaying and avoiding long term demand - We will delay and reshape long-term demand into adult social care, particularly where needs are complex, ongoing and high cost.
Read the full strategy
Discover more about our vision, guiding principles and priorities, and how we'll work with residents, carers, communities and partners to help people stay healthy, independent and connected for longer.
View the full strategyOur ambitions
Prevention is a key part of staying well and should be considered throughout a person's journey, in line with the Care Act 2014. This strategy sets out how we will work to prevent, reduce and delay the need for care and support through a set of guiding principles and priorities.
See our guiding principles below and what they will mean in practice.
Reduce inequalities in access to care and support services
We will improve our understanding of communities who are less likely to access support and make it easier for people to find information, advice and help before problems escalate.
Using data and evidence to drive decisions
We will use research, local insight and feedback from communities to better understand need, target support where it can have the greatest impact, and continuously improve what we do.
Strengthen co-production and community empowerment
We will strengthen links between services and community organisations, support the growth of local help and activities, and connect people with the right support in their communities.
Working together
We will work with health, care, voluntary and community partners to provide more joined-up support, shaped by the people who use it and delivered closer to where they live.
Develop a skilled and confident workforce
We will equip staff with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to identify risks early, promote prevention and support people to maintain their health, wellbeing and independence.
What this means for people
By putting prevention first, we want to see:
- More people living independently at home for longer
- Better access to information, advice and support
- Earlier identification of risks and changing needs
- Improved support for unpaid carers
- More people accessing community-based support
- Fewer avoidable falls and related hospital admissions
- Reduced inequalities in health and care outcomes
Prevention is everyone’s business. Adult social care cannot achieve this change alone. We will work together with health services, housing, district and borough councils, voluntary and community organisations, providers, carers, families and residents to put prevention first.
Together, we can build a more effective local support, and help people in Hampshire live long, healthy and independent lives.
Useful links
| What you'll find | Description |
|---|---|
| Hampshire County Council Strategic Plan | Explains the Council’s main priorities and long-term plans for Hampshire. |
| Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy | Sets out how partners will work together to improve health and reduce inequalities. |
| Best Start in Life | Describes our shared approach to giving babies, children and families the best possible start. |
| Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System (ICS) Strategy | Explains how health and care organisations across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board geography will work together to improve health and reduce inequalities. |
| Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) | Evidence on local health needs, inequalities and what affects health in Hampshire. |
| Connect to Support Hampshire | Directory for all residents seeking information and advice about care and support, available online, in print and in alternative formats. |
| Let's Go Co-Pro | Toolkit of resources to help you get going with co-production, with information on co-production opportunities and established forums. |
| Hampshire Carers Joint Strategy 2024-2029 | Strategy setting out how Adult Social Care, Health and the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector will work together to coordinate support for carers across Hampshire. |
| Live Longer Better | This website will help you find ways to stay independent, focusing on four key areas where you can make positive changes now that will give you the best opportunity of staying independent in later life. |