Agenda item

PowerPoint Presentation by Kevin Banfield (Nottingham City Council) and Annabel Taylor (Nottingham Clinical Commissioning Group)

Kevin Banfield of Nottingham City Council, and Annabel Taylor from Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), were in attendance to inform the Committee of a new self-care pilot scheme operating within Bulwell and Bulwell Forest.

In addition to the provided presentation, the following points were highlighted:

(a)  as the demand for health and well-being support is increasing, especially with more complex needs, the pilot scheme aims to better enable healthcare workers and volunteer citizens to more effectively connect citizens in need to the most appropriate social and well-being services, often without the need of GP or specialist referrals by providing a joined up and co-ordinated system of care services which are clearly marked and easily accessible;

(b)  there is an over reliance on health and social care across the City with a significant amount of GP time needlessly spent with citizens who, with little assistance and direction, can access appropriate personal and social services to support their needs, such as self-help groups and co-ordinated activities;

(c)  as outlined within the presentation, the 18 month pilot has a schedule of engagement and communication events which aim to inform and empower citizens to help themselves and each other in accessing appropriate support. The pilot also aims to identify where service gaps exist and how this could be addressed;

(d)  training is currently taking place with a full range of healthcare workers and volunteers to ensure they are aware of the co-ordinated scheme and are able to help direct and signpost citizens to beneficial services, not just to address current personal and social issues but also to prevent potential issues before they arise;

(e)  health care workers and trained volunteers will be able to help identify citizens who, beyond medical needs, would benefit from some sort of personal or social support, and inform care coordinators who can then arrange the support required. Citizens will be able also apply directly for support they feel need and encouraged to manage their own non-medical conditions but with support and advice available if necessary;

(f)  a comprehensive, joined up and up-to-date online information directory providing information on the services available is being compiled and should be available in 2016, but an interim solution will be available from October 2015. In addition, self-care hubs and kiosks will be located in community venues, such as Bulwell Library, Boots the Chemist and Morrison’s Supermarket, to ensure citizens can access the online directory with assistance if necessary;

(g)  during October 2015 the sites of community clinics will be confirmed. These community clinics will provide an opportunity for people to drop-in to enquire about support, seek advice, and even a trial low-level assistance equipment;

(h)  one aspect of the pilot is to consider ways in which citizens who may benefit from services can be identified and engaged, especially when they are not known to health care workers. This is just one area in which local community knowledge can prove very important, especially when some citizens stay very close to home and don’t venture into the town centre;

(i)  once specific areas of need are identified, existing services can be assessed and where gaps become apparent, efforts made to address this;

(j)  it’s important that citizens are aware of the pilot to the various projects and opportunities within it, including the possibility of becoming a community navigator who is able to help signpost assistance to appropriate services, opening a rally round account for someone who may need several aspects of support, or identifying people who could benefit greatly from services available, such as those who are the isolated and/or lonely;

(k)  all members of the Committee are encouraged to become involved, even if it is only to ensure that as many local people as possible are aware of the pilot, what can be available to them and how to access services and promoting the information event is to be held on 1 October 2015 at Bulwell Riverside from 9.30am to 12.30pm. In addition, Kevin and Annabel are willing to visit community groups, including churches, to speak about and promote the pilot and also to collect citizen’s views and ideas and also provide feedback;

(l)  analysis of the pilot is on-going and will consider how it is working, who is benefitting, from what, and which targets are and are not met.

Comments from the Committee and responses included:

(m)  although initially sceptical, a recently widowed citizen was referred by her GP to ‘Click’ from where she was directed to a group from which she has received valuable social support;

(n)  the cost of joining ‘Click’ is £15 per year but  where people really can’t afford to pay, they are asked to offer support by providing at least 5 acts of kindness such as calling an isolated person or accompanying someone to their first visit to a self-help group;

(o)  the cost of the pilot is relatively low as the whole point of it is to make the most of the services and opportunities which already exist by ensuring co-ordination, joined up working and improving communication.

RESOLVED for an update on the pilot to be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.