Family Solicitors

Shropshire Council has launched a series of initiatives to ensure those in need of support remain at home, rather than in a nursing or care home.

The council says that the programmes form part of the sector’s continuous commitment to place fewer people in care and hospital settings – and more in the community.

Additional new funding for adult social care from central government is helping those who need support and their carers to connect to local support, activities and resources in their community.

The council says the projects are also designed to prevent the need for bed-based care, either in hospital, in a community hospital, or nursing home setting.

New initiatives being trialled include bespoke night-time support, comprising two carers who can travel by car to any household within the Shrewsbury area to provide support between 10pm and 7am – as well as carer support post hospital discharge, whereby Carers Trust 4all will be offering support for carers discharged from hospital.

The council says that following hospital discharge, carers may feel anxious that they have lost their routine, or the person they support on discharge may require more support.

There will also be hospital-based “Let’s Talk local” offering information and advice around visiting times for people who are supporting friends, neighbours, or family members who are in hospital.

Shropshire Council was also awarded over £2.4 million to help people with disabilities live independently in their own homes through the government’s Home Ownership for Clients with Long Term Disabilities (HOLD) programme.

The shared ownership scheme enables individuals with enduring physical and/or learning disabilities – including those with challenging behaviour, sensory impairment and complex needs – to buy a home of their own.

Shropshire’s project will help assist at least 30 adults with learning disabilities to purchase properties – homes will be innovatively designed, using assistive technology, allowing individuals to remain independent at home.

The council says that, where additional support is needed but cannot be provided within the person’s home, the council has commissioned four new independence units located within a local housing development, which are individually self-contained – and where couples or single people can live and continue to receive therapeutic and care support prior to and during their transition when moving back to their own home.

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet Member for health, adult social care and housing, Lee Chapman, said:

“Although we acknowledge there is a national issue around the shortage of care home beds, creating more capacity for beds is not necessarily the best solution.

“We’ve been aware of this in Shropshire for some time, as we have the additional challenges of being a rural county with a growing older population which is higher than the England average.

“We know that most people in need of support would prefer to be at home, and our priority is to ensure people can remain independent and safe and continue to live in their home for as long as possible.”

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

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