"We need to ensure modern care services are flexible enough to deliver support arrangements in partnership with others. We forget the bedrock of care, carried out by family, friends and neighbours, at our peril. The nation depends upon the emotions and care that we all give to the people we know. If this relationship were to disappear, organised social care could not cope. We must never forget that."
(J. Reid - Secretary of State for Health, Independence, Well-being and Choice, 2005).
The council, in partnership with Voluntary Action North Lincolnshire, has submitted a bid to the government for an innovative new project. The project aims to develop more preventative services for older people. This is to help them to maintain their independence and feel valued in their communities.
The council was selected to the final shortlist in mid June 2005 and was invited to prepare the next stage bid.
Executive summary
Fresh Start is the first stage of a change programme that will eventually transform the way that we organise recreation, leisure, care, and support for older people living in North Lincolnshire. Not only will it challenge the traditional reactive service-based model, but also it will fundamentally challenge the way that we think about the place of older people in our local communities.
Traditionally, health and social care has been about providing services for the sick and needy. As people live longer, the demand for these traditional forms of service will increase. These services are often expensive and often overly intrusive. Quite rightly, people also have increasing expectations of our services in terms of flexibility, quality and range of choice. In turn, we are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to peoples’ aspirations from within existing models of service – particularly when we are working to support people in their own homes.
In rising to the challenge that these issues present we want to develop radical new approaches to bringing better outcomes and to partnership working in general. For example, we need to be more proactive in anticipating the things that lead to loss of health and well-being. We need to develop a graduated preventative approach that is proportionate to risk and need. And we need to develop support arrangements that are inclusive and understand the obstacles that get in the way of people asking for help.
Our vision for the future reflects the thinking outlined in "All Our Tomorrows" (2003) and the Green Paper (2005) as well as the standards set out in the National Service Framework (2001). It is a future where:
- We are able to offer a range of services that prevent or delay the need for more costly intensive and intrusive interventions
- Partnership work focuses on clear outcomes that promote quality of life and better health in old age, and
- We focus on developing sustainable resources within local communities to provide opportunities, care and support
Partnership will be central to the realisation of this vision. It is crucial that all those concerned come together and take responsibility for making it happen.
These people will include:
- older people
- carers
- advocates
- service users
- voluntary and community organisations
- faith groups
- health and social care services
- education
- environmental
- housing
- leisure
- planning and transport agencies
The preparation of this bid has been the starting point of our journey.
The original bid is also available to download:
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