Plans To Develop Adult Social Care Services In Swansea

Swansea Council is planning to redevelop adult social care services to respond to people’s needs and support a better quality of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The proposals will reshape services to give older adults more choice, control and independence by ensuring they get the right kind of support at the right time to help them maintain control over their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has already been working closely with existing service users, staff and partner organisations to develop the plans to re-shape social care services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It’s resulted in a new approach to providing 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now the Council is planning to consult on the new model that is designed to improve services for people by giving them 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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will offer residents personal choice, independence and control over their lives so people can live at home supported by services they need when they need them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jane Harris, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Services for Adults and Vulnerable People, said: “We know adults have a range of needs and require different levels of support so we have to focus our services to make sure they have the right services at the right time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For instance, most adults want to remain independently in their home and by providing them with advice and support we can help them to remain active and healthy at home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We also know that too many adults risk losing their independence, but they could be supported with the right services to live at home and maintain a good quality of life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“There are some adults with complex needs who will require a greater and longer level of support such as residential care and this will continue. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new model will enable us to assess people’s needs better and then work with them and partners so that they can receive the help they want at the right time. It gives people more choice over the support they need to have a better quality of life.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Service-users, their carers, council staff and partner organisations have all had a hand in developing the model and the service is now asking for the go-ahead to share it with the wider community so they can have a say about the model as well. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

No decisions have been made at this stage. The consultation is due to be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on October 20 and will run for at least eight weeks if agreed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​