Council to expand pioneering community scheme

Neath Port Talbot Council is set to expand its Local Area Coordination scheme to be able to support more communities across the county borough.

The scheme is one of the Council’s priority programmes to prevent, delay and reduce the demand for costly social care or health services by supporting people to stay strong and to connect to existing resources in the community.

The pioneering community support scheme supports residents before they reach a crisis point to lead a better life and increase their independence and personal resilience. The scheme is open to people with disabilities or mental health needs, older and young adults, their families and carers.

The scheme’s outreach workers, known as Local Area Coordinators are embedded into local communities to act as a single point of contact. Using their local knowledge they provide information, advice, advocacy, local non service solutions and connections within community to help support people stay strong.

The Coordinators work closely with the person to focus on their strengths and build on their relationships with neighbours, friends and family.

Two additional Coordinators will be added to the scheme to cover the areas of Onllwyn, Seven Sisters, Crynant and Blaengwrach, and the areas of Bryn, Cwmavon and Port Talbot town.

Councillor Peter Richards, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health said:

“I am delighted that we are able to expand this successful scheme into more communities across Neath Port Talbot.
“With increasing pressure on social care and health services, it’s important that we use resources in the community to help improve people’s wellbeing so they can lead a better life.

“We want the county borough to be a place where everyone has the chance to get on in life and the Local Area Coordination scheme is one way of helping us to achieve this.”

Coordinator Emma Jones supported Geraint through the scheme on a one to one basis. Geraint said:

“I met the Local Area Coordinator when I was in a really dark place. She showed genuine interest in me, she wanted to listen to me and was not looking for faults but created opportunities by encouraging me to go out. She helped build my confidence and to take pride in myself. I have since started volunteering and looking for work because I was supported to see the possibilities ahead.”

The expansion aims to build on the success of the scheme that was launched in October 2015. To date the Coordinators have worked with 245 residents on a 1:1 basis to avoid accessing social services as a first option. The Coordinators have also built up close relationships with over 180 local businesses, organisations and community groups in order to develop the range of support available to residents.

There is no formal referral process to meet a Local Area Coordinator. People can be introduced in a number of ways, including through their local GP surgery, through friends and family or even their local shop.

For more information about the Local Area Coordination scheme, visit www.npt.gov.uk/localareacoordinators .