'Neighbourhood walkabouts' could be part of a plan to tackle the growing adult social care crisis in West Berkshire.
It could see local councillors acting as 'insight collection' - gathering information about social care issues in their wards.
The council warns the current social care and health system will buckle under rising demand unless it re-engineers planning and services to promote healthy choices, protect health, prevent sickness and intervene early to reduce costly hospital treatment.
"Trying to fix this by focusing on treatment alone is not the answer. We need preventative strategies that mitigate or defer the need for costly interventions and at the same time deliver better outcomes for individuals," states a new strategy focussed on prevention announced at last night's (Thursday) executive committee.
The idea to involve councillors won approval from members.
"The paper itself is really interesting and I'm pleased to see this local authority is taking the brave option, the right option, in having a whole system preventative approach," said Joanne Stewart (Con, Tilehurst Birch Copse).
"I really like some of the actions described, such as the one where we explore the option of neighbourhood walkabouts which can involve officers and ward members who have local knowledge, and it is so right to tap into that.
"Using ward members' experiences of areas where there may be anti-social behaviour or perhaps deprivation could be really beneficial to this strategy.
"I look forward to seeing the lower-level deliverable plan with timelines in the future so we can map progress."
The council says it has been difficult to invest proportionately between prevention and reactive services.
"It has long been understood that preventative work - to support people to maintain their health and wellbeing for as long as possible, and to live as independently as possible without the need for statutory services - is a key mechanism which benefits people, families, communities and the statutory services which they would otherwise rely upon," explained adult social care portfolio holder Patrick Clark (Lib Dem, Newbury Wash Common).
"This strategy seeks to ensure that appropriate focus and investment is given to preventative measures in an attempt to improve outcomes and manage the demand pressures already being felt."
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
