28/08/2013 - Permalink

Successful adult social care pilot project rolls out

Related topics: Community / Health

A pilot project which has successfully helped people to be more active and independent is being rolled out in the south of the county.

People2People is a not-for-profit community interest company and looks at different ways of providing social work support to make sure it best suits people’s needs.

Shropshire Council was one of just six councils in England which received Government funding to pilot the social work practice, starting in Shrewsbury in January 2012 which has proven to be very successful.

As part of the pilot, new groups led by volunteers were created to give older people, adults with a learning or physical disability, and carers opportunities to share experiences and advice with others in similar situations to themselves.

It has been really successful in helping people find new ways to achieve outcomes which have given them more confidence and independence.

The project has now been extended to the social work teams working in the south of the county.

Occupational therapists in the central and southern parts of the county have also joined People2People and are working closely with social workers, providing a more joined-up pathway for people to access the type of support that’s right for them.

Accessing services can be more difficult in rural areas, so the teams are investigating and trialling working from community hubs to reach more people.

Peer support networks are also being set up and teams are working with local volunteers and community groups.

Councillor Tim Barker, Cabinet member for adult services, said:

“The focus of People2People is on helping people to do things for themselves to encourage more independence and confidence.  People who need social care want to be treated just like everybody else, they don’t want to have their care plans dictated to them.

“We have been very happy with the progress of the pilot and we look forward to seeing more excellent work from the social work teams helping to improve people’s lives.  We put individuals at the forefront of everything that we do, so we can continue to improve people’s experiences and quality of life.”