Have Your Say On Re-Shaping Social Services

A CONSULTATION has been launched on re-shaping social services to give adults more independence, choice, and control by providing the right kind of support at the right time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Residents can have their say on new and more effective ways to deliver adult social care services and respond to people’s changing needs for help to maintain independence and a better quality of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swansea Council has been working closely with existing service users, staff and partner organisations to develop the proposed plans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They’ve all had a hand in developing a new approach to provide social care based on four tiers of support, ranging from simple advice networks helping people stay active and happy at home, to providing 24-hour residential care for those with complex needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim would be to improve services by giving people early help to retain their independence and a better assessment of what is available to meet their needs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The model is based on joint-working with health and other agencies to integrate services which make them more accessible, co-ordinated and cost effective. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jane Harris, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Services for Adults and Vulnerable People, said: “Adults have a range of needs and require different levels of support, with most preferring to remain in their own home and environment for as long as they can. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That’s why we have to focus our services to make sure they have the right help at the right time so that they can remain active and healthy at home and get the different support they need when that becomes more challenging. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We believe the new model could enable us to assess people’s needs better and then work with them and partners so that they can receive the help they want in a timely way. It is important that it gives people more choice over the support they need to have a better quality of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“No decisions have been made at this stage. We would like people to take part in this consultation and give their views so we can make sure we move forward in the best possible way.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The consultation, which is open until February 10, has now been launched. It’s available online at www.swansea.gov.uk/adultsocialcarereview and more than 2,000 service users and care staff are also being sent copies by post. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you need assistance with the questionnaire, or need it in a different format, phone 01792 636840 between 9am and 5pm (Monday to Thursday) or between 9am and 4.30pm on Fridays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​