Jon Boswell, Chief Executive Local Community Coordination Older People’s Partnership Board 9 th February 2018
Founded in 1953 as � Bedfordshire Rural Community Council Part of the national ACRE � Network Based at The Old School, � Cardington Around 50 members of staff � (many part-time) Also employ Village Agents, � run Door to Door, Good Neighbours etc
Commissioned by Bedford Borough Council (2 + 1 years contract) Based on the principles of Local Area Coordination – “Get a life, not a service” Aim is to reduce reliance on funded packages of care by diverting people to local community support Preventative impact also anticipated for other statutory services
Embedded in communities, so they can form � ‘real relationships’ and identify local solutions Accessible and visible in their community, � meaning that people know who to go to Focus on people’s own visions for a ‘good life’ � beyond services or formal support Help people build on their own assets and � natural supports before looking to service solutions Not statutory or means-tested �
Kempston – Wendy � Jephcote Kingsbrook and � Cauldwell – Simon Gooch Goldington and Putnoe � – Kate Ellis Queen’s Park – Fsella � Afzal-Pagliari Started July 2017
feeling safer at home � becoming healthier � pensions and benefits advice � support for carers � transport options � joining a local group � local volunteering opportunities � housing issues �
Welcome suitable � referrals from service providers No age limit � Particularly looking for � people who may end up requiring care services without our intervention People can self-refer �
Situation Lady living alone, suffers from Epilepsy, � Autism / Asperger’s with poor mental health and high levels of anxiety Didn’t feel safe in her flat: felt victimised by � some residents and had to call the police following some verbal abuse from a resident Used the bus daily and had reported � arguments on the bus, she has been asked to get off on occasions Savings had reduced so running short of � money
Action taken Agreed with her to engage with some local � groups – broke this down into small achievable goals Signposted to her local parade of shops, � including Community Centre and Café Supported her to move into a privately � rented house and manage the move Supported her to make a claim for Universal � Credit
Intermediate Outcomes Client now independently accesses her local � walking group once a week Attends 2 other social groups and has made � some new friends Mental health has considerably improved � Claiming Universal Credit � Shops locally and is a regular face in her � local café, no further reports of being asked to leave the bus Engages with LCC and her community �
Situation Single lady who had to take early retirement � due to the experience of losing a parent Moved to Bedford from elsewhere and has � felt socially isolated Had lost all confidence due to her anxiety / � depression House needed renovating, but she did not � have confidence in dealing with tradespeople
Action taken Arranged for her to volunteer at 2 local schools � Referred her to MIND’s one-to-one mentoring � service – agreed with her that she would declutter her house Arranged for her to volunteer at local � community project where she could get involved in organising events and activities in the local area Agreed with her that she would take on a small � project in her house
Intermediate Outcomes Feeling much more confident � Making new friends as well as feeling a sense of � belonging in the community Feels happier and finds volunteering rewarding � Physical and emotional wellbeing has improved � since attending ladies’ fitness classes Arranged to have roof repaired – next project is � to change the boiler Feeling a lot more positive with life and would � eventually like to get a part-time job
Jon Boswell jonb@bedsrcc.org.uk / 01234 834931 Any questions?
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