Connecting care across the town
A pioneering scheme to provide a wide range of health and social care services to people in one ward of Hartlepool looks set to be rolled out across the town.
Connected Care works alongside the social enterprise Who Cares (NE) to deliver support services in the Owton ward. Services include:
- a Benefits and Welfare Advice Service
- a Time Bank, where people share their skills
- a Handyperson Repair service, and
- the Supporting Access to Independent Living Services (SAILS) which provide a range of practical services to assist people who have disabilities or who are vulnerable to live safely in their own homes.
Other assistance on offer includes help with meals, shopping, tidying gardens, dog walking, home visits and a call-back/checking service.
Last year Connected Care won a major award from national charity In Control for its innovative and successful approach at addressing people's needs at a local level.
Connected Care has been funded by the Department of Health (DoH) as a pilot project as well as Hartlepool Borough Council, Primary Health Trust and Housing Hartlepool.
A report from the director of Child and Adult Services at Hartlepool Borough Council to Councillor Ged Hall, Cabinet Member for Adult and Social Care, recommends that Connected Care pilot the scheme town-wide for two years. The report says: "[Connected Care] is a model that is unique and has been built upon and rooted in the local community organisations which have dense networks, deep roots and a wealth of experience in growing local services and attracting resources, funding and volunteers. Connected Care is well placed to contribute to helping keep people at home and out of hospital as well as supporting them when they return home from hospital".
Photograph courtesy of careimages.com