Devon County Council

This theme focuses on helping people early enough and in the right way, so that they stay healthy, recover quickly and maintain their independence. We have made real progress on this agenda in a number of areas already, and will now need to build further.

• Devon’s contact centre and the Linkage Plus pilot work have developed much improved information and advice services for the public and potential service-users alike.
• Footcare services have been improved through the use of trained Voluntary sector representatives, improving people’s involvement in the community and supporting the reductions in falls.
• Carers services have been improved though increased identification and support through GP practices
• The recent Community Mentoring work which builds networks of support to support people who were isolated, lonely or depressed or otherwise at risk of social exclusion has showed good evidence of improved outcomes for clients
• All our operational staff are now able to refer clients for the  installation of supportive electronic technology (Telecare) into peoples homes building on emerging national evidence of the benefits this can bring in promoting independence and allowing people to continue to live in their own homes.
• We now have a county wide Rapid Equipment and Minor Adaptations Service which allows assessment for and fitting of supportive equipment such as hand rails in one visit, and have a Rapid Response Service which provides short-term timely care to service users in times of crisis covering two thirds of the County.

We are developing further prevention work in two broad areas …

• An improved Community Equipment and Monitoring Service to deliver simpler, more efficient provision of equipment to clients at reduced cost to the commissioning organisations.
• An Intermediate care service which improved peoples sense of independence and well-being and reduces emergency admissions to acute hospitals

… working with our NHS colleagues