 New Forest residents aged 60 and over and their carers are to benefit from a new care helpline service launched this week.
Hampshire County Council has partnered with national charity Counsel and Care to provide a specialist advice phone line for older people in the New Forest area.
Local residents can contact Counsel and Care for advice on care and support issues affecting older people by calling the Advice Line on 0845 300 7585 or by logging on to their website at: www.counselandcare.org.uk.
The advice line is equally relevant whether people are paying for their own care, are supported by Hampshire County Council, or simply have questions about possible future care and support needs.
The project, which is funded by Hampshire County Council, is part of Hampshire County Council’s social care transformation programme, the Hampshire Model – a holistic and practical model to ‘put people first’.
The Hampshire Model was born out of Hampshire County Council’s ground-breaking commission in 2008 into the Personalisation of its services.
The Hampshire Model was proposed by Hampshire’s expert Commission on Personalisation in their November 2008 report ‘Getting personal: a fair deal for care and support’.
The Hampshire Model is not just about adult services or social care; it is designed to stretch across all county council departments covering everything from transport, to recreation, culture and other services. In this way the Model creates the opportunity for more integrated services and builds on the benefits of working in partnership.
This is a significant step to fulfilling the Government’s Putting People First transformation programme at the local level and fundamental to the delivery of personalised services.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader, Hampshire County Council, said:
"Hampshire County Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Counsel and Care to ensure that universal information, advice and advocacy is accessible to all older people, their families and carers.
“This project fits into the ‘Universal Offer’ workstream of the Hampshire Model and forms part of our drive to ensure that everyone in the New Forest area can maximise their wellbeing and independence and plan for the future.”
Councillor Maureen Holding, Employment, Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder at New Forest District Council said:
“There is a lot of support available for our older residents. This might involve help at home, so they can continue to live independently, or help to make the move into supported housing or a care home.
"There is also specialist support for the families and carers of vulnerable older people. I hope the new advice line will be able to assist local residents to navigate their way through the wide range of services available.”
Counsel and Care has been providing in-depth, personalised advice and information to older people, their families and carers for 56 years, and the charity holds the Community Legal Service General Help with Casework Quality Mark.
Counsel and Care’s particular strength is in providing in-depth, personal and independent advice on complex cases.
After discussing their issues on the phone, enquirers can receive a detailed letter setting out the advice given in writing. Its user-friendly website provides a wide range of information. Visitors can select to download, free of charge, from a range of more than 60 guides and factsheets, all written in plain English.
Issues covered include support at home, hospital discharge, finding and paying for a care home and maximising income.
Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care said:
“Good information and advice is vital for older people and carers and to make personalised services a reality. By partnering with Counsel and Care’s independent advice service, local authorities and primary care trusts can take a major step in achieving the aims of Putting People First and enhancing their quality of service and reputation.”
Photo shows: Launching the Counsel and Care service in the New Forest, from left to right: Dave Yates, Chief Executive, New Forest District Council; Stephen Burke, Chief Executive, Counsel and Care; Cllr Mrs Maureen Holding, New Forest District Council portfolio holder for Employment, Health and Wellbeing and Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader, Hampshire County Council. |
