Councillor visits adult social care national pilot

Councillor Joyce Barrow, Chair of Shropshire Council’s Safe and Confident Communities Scrutiny Committee, today (Thursday 6 December 2012) visited a new social work pilot scheme set up to support vulnerable people.

The pilot scheme, called People2People, looks at different ways of providing social work support for people to ensure it best suits their needs and helps them to be more active and independent.

Councillor Barrow, who was accompanied by Stephen Chandler, group manager for assessment and eligibility, met with team members of People2People to find out more about the exciting project and the positive developments that have been taking place over the last 10 months. 

People2People aims to help increase people’s independence and reduce their long-term reliance on social care by giving them more control over their support, with an emphasis on helping people to use personal budgets to choose services. The scheme covers older people and people with disabilities.

The not-for-profit community interest company, based at Radbrook Professional Centre in Shrewsbury, was set up by a group of social workers.  People2People’s board of directors includes people who use the service, staff, non-executive directors and representatives from Shropshire Council. 

The pilot is providing social work services for older people, people with physical disabilities, people with learning disabilities and their carers in the Shrewsbury area. 

Maureen Bradley, who is a People2People Director and Peer support volunteer, welcomed the visit and interest taken by both Councillor Barrow and Stephen Chandler, who asked many questions, watched the new DVD with team members and had very supportive comments about this new innovative scheme that is helping put Shropshire on the map.

 Joyce Barrow said;

“I was really impressed with the work People2People are doing in helping vulnerable people maintain their independence and supporting them in remaining in their local communities for longer.  This is an extremely positive development that helps people to have more control over the care they receive, as well as considering alternatives to traditional services.

“It’s great to see how projects like these are changing the way adult social care services are developed and delivered for the better.

“This is a really exciting project.  I was truly humbled by the commitment of everyone working there who are making a real difference to the lives of the people they come into contact with.  The positive feedback of those who have been supported by People2People is a true testament of the dedication and commitment of the staff.”

Stephen Chandler added that it was great news for Shropshire.

The pilot scheme, backed by Department of Health funding, will run until August 2013. 

People2People is holding a Christmas open day on Monday 17 December 2012 from 11am to 1pm.

For further information email people2people@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 272053. 

Further information

Shropshire Council is one of just six councils across England that has received funding from the Department of Health to pilot the national social work pilot scheme, that would benefit up to 1,300 vulnerable people in the county.

The scheme is testing whether a more streamlined service can be offered to customers, which also reduces bureaucracy: 

• Working alongside other community organisations to help identify the right support within people’s own communities
• Providing support at the first stage of contact to increase people’s independence through rehabilitation and reablement services
• Giving social workers more control over decisions which support the choices made by those in their care
• Providing advice, support and access to new support technologies
• Developing peer support and advice networks
• Exploring new and alternative options with individuals when developing their support plans.