A new model to improve home care in Gwynedd

Gwynedd Council and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are working in partnership to establish a new model for home care in Gwynedd that will help people live a good life in their community.

The new model will improve the way home care is managed and delivered in Gwynedd, by keeping the service as local as possible.

Working as a local team, home care staff will work closely with health and social care staff and GPs, to gain a real understanding of what matters to people needing support to live at home. They will focus on peoples’ strengths, supporting them to re-engage with their social circles and live as independently as possible.

Each local team will work with a specific home care provider in their area, making it much easier to manage and arrange the support.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig, Gwynedd Council’s Cabinet Member for Care said: “We’ve been working with the Health Board to test this new way of working in specific communities with really positive results.  

“Traditionally, there’s been a tendency to focus on completing tasks at specific times of the day within a set time. But, of course, this way of working doesn't allow for much flexibility to discuss and understand people's desires and work out the kind of support they need to have a good life.

“By bringing local care providers, health and social care staff and the third sector together, we can provide more tailored support and respond to the growing demand for care that has emerged in recent years as well as recruitment challenges.”

As part of the new model the Council and the Health Board will be jointly commissioning the service for the first time, on the basis of smaller, local areas. 

Chris Lynes, Nursing Director for the West of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Gwynedd Council to develop this new model for home care in Gwynedd.

“Integrated working between all those involved in caring for our patients in their own home will ensure the best outcomes for those individuals.

“This new model will also provide stability for both the carers and the market they work within.”

Maintaining a mixed market, the Council will continue to provide at least half the home care market within specific communities, whilst specialist independent providers will work in other communities. This will make it easier to manage and deliver care, reduce travelling times and give staff more stability whilst providing a better service for individuals.

Councillor Dafydd Meurig added: “As part of the new model we will ensure more consistent terms and conditions across the county.

“Providers will have more stability through fixed term contracts rather than the traditional way of purchasing on the basis of single care packages, which will create better conditions for recruiting, retaining and developing staff.”

The Council and Health Board intend to open the tendering process at the end of March this year, and no changes will take place until that process is completed during the summer.

“It’s important to stress that everyone receiving home care will continue to receive it under the new model,” added Councillor Dafydd Meurig.

“We will keep in touch regularly with everyone who receives the service to support them and discuss any possible changes, and information will be shared in a timely way with individuals and their families.”

More information can be found on the Council website: www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/homecare or contact the Home Care Project team on 01286 679577, e-mail: GofalCartref@gwynedd.llyw.cymru