Building neighbourhood capacity

Kirklees Council Adults and Communities are leading on a new project, which includes a £2.5 million investment over two years. The money will help us to carry out the objectives set for adult social care, in the White Paper ‘Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services.

Kirklees Council Adults and Communities are leading on a new project, supported by the Neighbourhood Renewal Team, which includes a £2.5 million investment over two years. The money will help us to carry out the objectives set for adult social care, in the White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say: a new direction for community services'.

The aim is to provide more choice for local people, so they remain independent and active for as long as possible in their own communities - as well as moving the culture away from dependence on 'traditional social care services'.

The funding will help us to develop a wider range of support and projects that encourage people to take part in more activities in their communities, including more preventative support and improving access to health and social care advice. This means working in closer partnership with other council departments, health services and local voluntary and community organisations such as Batley Resource Centre, Voluntary Action Kirklees and the Voluntary Sector Network.

Gateway workers were appointed in the summer as part of the project's work. They will work with people who fall outside the adult social care eligibility criteria to look at ways of supporting them in the community and keeping their independence.

Who are Gateway Workers?

• Older people
• People affected by HIV and Aids
• People with learning disabilities
• People with mental health needs
• People with physical and sensory disabilities
• Carers

Who can Gateway Workers help?

We can help people by networking with other council services, private providers of social care, local community and voluntary organisations who offer support, such as befriending and transporting schemes, leisure activities, lunch clubs and good neighbours.

We do this by introducing people to organisations and activities in their local area.

The Gateway Worker pilot is Kirklees wide but we will have outreach workers within the Neighbourhood Renewal areas to help identify people who will benefit from this scheme. The Neighbourhood Renewal areas of Kirklees include all or parts of: Almondbury, Botham Hall and Trees in Golcar, Crosland Moor, Dalton, Rawthorpe, Newsome, Fartown, Batley, Fieldhead estate, Windy Bank estate, Dewsbury South, Dewsbury West and Chickenley.

• They will work with people and their carers, if they have one, so they can get the support they need and have control over their own life.
  
  
• They will work with people if they are not eligible for adults social care services, such as those delivered by the council or health services. They will do this by looking at what alternatives are available to them and how best these will fit their needs.
  
  

Partnerships

How have Gateway Workers helped?

• social and mental wellbeing benefits - being visited by someone, getting out and about
• physical wellbeing benefits - receiving home help or minor health care services
• double benefits - receiving both social and physical benefits
• financial benefits - being told about pension credits and carers allowance

Mrs M is an elderly lady who has poor mobility. Mrs M had moved back to England from living overseas and had been feeling lonely and isolated with no knowledge of what services may be available to her. She was referred to a Gateway Worker through her local Gateway to Care.

A Gateway Worker referred Mrs M to the Reading and You scheme (RAYS) who visited her at home every ten days with a selection of reading books and for a coffee and a chat. Mrs M’s Gateway Worker also arranged for Age Concern to move the furniture in her home to make it more accessible. This has resulted in increased social contact for Mrs M.

Mrs J, an older female with a physical disability and mental health needs was referred to the Gateway team as she required some form of social contact whilst her husband, who is her carer, was in hospital for a major operation. Mrs J’s Gateway Worker arranged visits from a local voluntary group on a short term basis and this was very well received. Suggestions were given of other groups to join but Mrs. J decided to decline them for the time being. Mrs. J is very happy with the service and does not need continuing care.

Miss H is an older female who is essentially independent but has reduced mobility due to age and arthritis. She contacted Gateway to Care and was referred to a Gateway Worker as she wanted to know whether a shower could be fitted in her home. Miss H’s Gateway Worker informed her that grants are no longer available for this and advised to contact Help the Aged to see what they could do. The Gateway Worker also informed Miss H about Pension Credits, which she has since claimed and is very happy with the service received.

Miss L is a younger female with physical disabilities and mental health needs. She was referred to the Gateway team after a community care assessment. Miss L was open to any assistance which could be offered to improve her quality of life. A cleaning service was organised and provided by Age Concern, the Gateway Worker also looked into whether she would be eligible for an adaptation grant, and she was referred to the Local Gateway to care for an electric scooter assessment. The Gateway Worker accompanied Miss L to her assessment to offer support. After the scooter assessment, the Gateway Worker phoned on three separate occasions to see if Miss L was okay and made a referral to the Borderline Personality Disorder organisation which Miss L is still attending. Miss L was very satisfied with the service she received.

How do I get more information?