What does the Citizen Survey tell us?
81% of adults who completed the standard version of the questionnaire and 85% of those who completed the easy-read version reported that their home best supports their wellbeing. Several of the additional comments refer to the importance of adaptations to make moving around easier and allowing the person to stay in their own home for longer. Being close to family, friends and local amenities is also desirable.
I would like to live closer to public transport.
Bathroom conversion and outside access have been life-changing.
Extra Care Housing is good as I spend much time in a wheelchair and it’s equipped for that.
86% of Carers agree that their home best supports their wellbeing. The supporting comments from this group demonstrate how detrimental an unsuitable home can be to the caring role and that a suitable property or adaptations can make all the difference.
74% of children agree that they live in a home where they are happy. Their additional comments suggest that the personal dynamics within the house affect a child’s level of happiness more than the property itself, although social isolation in rural areas may be an issue. 77% of children and young people reported that they were happy with the people they live with.
They are phenomenal.
My family is kind and caring.
People were asked whether they received care and support through their language of choice and in all cohorts over 90% agreed.
Where people live in a residential care home, they were asked whether it had been their own choice to live there. 77% of adults completing the standard version of the questionnaire agreed, indicating that sometimes it was through the advice of others that they made the decision to move.
I would love to have stayed in my own home but due to being disabled this was the best move for me, and I have happy memories of my previous homes.
The choice was made for me at the time because I was too ill. Now I feel happy to be here. My health has improved because I am in the right place and being looked after.
58% of adults who completed the easy-read version chose to live in a residential care home, however there were no supporting comments to reflect the sentiments here.
During 2018-19 we have been looking at opportunities to provide modern, quality and fit-for-purpose accommodation for people who are older, vulnerable, have a disability or are starting to plan their journey into adulthood and independence.
Supporting older people and their families
Flexible support for people living with dementia and their families
We have started to plan improvements to the way we provide care and support to people living with dementia and their families. We would like to make improvements to Llys Elian, which is our in-house centre for EMI (elderly mentally infirm), to develop it into a centre of excellence for the area. We will also introduce a Dementia Support Team to provide flexible outreach support in the form of a ‘team around the individual’ throughout their dementia journey. The team will provide:
- Support to enable the individual to live well with dementia from first diagnosis, in their own homes;
- The ability to signpost to other services and offer advocacy to people with dementia and their carers;
- The ability to undertake delegated healthcare duties;
- A key point of contact for families to help them navigate the complex health and social care system;
- Support to access overnight and day respite services at Llys Elian;
- Support and training for families and carers, including the promotion of the use of digital technology;
- Close working links with the Community Resource team and various locality areas;
- Links with district nursing around end of life care.
Flexibility will be key and workers will respond to need and not provide support according to rotas. In line with the Welsh Government Dementia Strategy we will be developing and delivering a training programme in partnership with people affected by dementia which will ensure that staff have the skills to help them identify people with dementia and to feel confident and competent in supporting individuals’ needs post-diagnosis.
Care Sector and Appropriate Accommodation
In June 2018, a North Wales Care Homes Market Position Statement was agreed, which demonstrates our focus on developing a care home sector which can manage future demand and provide care to people closer to home. More people over the age of 85 will be living alone and in poorer health and more people over the age of 65 will be living with dementia. The demand for care home places will therefore increase.
The aim is to work with care homes to:
- Work out the right price for care that’s affordable while covering costs;
- Support them to use the best ways of working
- Support smaller, local businesses to remain sustainable;
- Check how many Welsh-speaking staff there are in care homes;
- Check how many people are getting care in the language they want;
- Improve the healthcare given in care homes.
Improving outcomes for young people and care leavers
Accommodation for younger people
Our Canolfan Marl facility has previously been utilised for disability placements. We offered the opportunity to ‘B’, a young person leaving care, to experience independent living within a Canolfan Marl flat due to the Foster Carers being unable to commit to converting to a ‘When I am Ready Placement’. The aim of this placement is that ‘B’ gains the experience and skills needed for living outside of care. There is on-site support in the form of monitoring from 9am to 5pm if ‘B’ feels that additional support is needed. ‘B’ is also allocated a Personal Advisor who oversees the transition from leaving care into independence via a Pathway Plan and provides support on a range of topics.
‘B’ has received support with managing a budget and understanding the importance of setting aside money with the help of her Personal Advisor. Through the opportunity to utilise Canolfan Marl in this way and so increasing independence skills, ‘B’ will be looking to move into her own home. Additional support is being provided through the Personal Advisor to secure permanent accommodation.
This flat could be utilised in the same way for those young people who are not quite ready for permanent independent accommodation but who are unable to stay on with their Foster Carers.
What’s next?
The Disabilities Service are developing a range of community-based accommodation solutions including shared lives, shared supported living, individual flats and Extra- Care-style accommodation. Canolfan Marl allows us to more accurately assess individuals’ needs in terms of accommodation and support. We are also looking to develop a range of respite provision to support carers to continue to provide care within the family, including shared lives short breaks.
Young Persons Positive Pathway
In last year’s report we stated that we had been working very hard to improve outcomes for young people, in particular focusing on accommodation options. In the last twelve months there have been a number of positive developments.
- Training has been developed for Foster Carers to promote a better understanding of the housing market.
- Training has been extended to care leavers to improve their citizenship skills and provide tenancy-related support.
- Key messages for young people, Carers and professionals have been developed and incorporated into the Going It Alone website. Social media has been utilised to deliver key messages. A Going It Alone Social Worker also goes into schools and other educational establishments to provide learning on housing options and financial aspects of living independently.
- We have been holding regular meetings to track young people in care from the age of 15 years to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood and eliminate the risk of homelessness.
- We have implemented ‘Nightstop’ and a Supported Lodging Scheme is in place.
ADTRAC TEAM
Conwy’s Community Wellbeing’s ADTRAC team supports young people aged 18 to 24 to progress into work, education, training or volunteering and achieve their goals. To date they have supported just over 100 young people who have achieved Level 3 qualifications, entered further learning and gained employment of over 16 hours.
We have received really positive feedback from some of the young people we have supported:
Thanks for helping me get into college. I didn’t think I would be able to do it and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to understand in lessons.
Case Study
At the time of joining the project ‘A’ was in a chaotic home life, and was carer for his mother unofficially. The family relied on his fathers’ income. ‘A’ was quiet and lacking in confidence. He has worked in seasonal jobs in the past and ‘A’ has problems with his speech and language, and found CV/application forms/interviews daunting.
Initially we spent some time working with Welfare Rights and Job Centre Plus for ‘A’ to claim Job Seekers Allowance while he was looking for work. ‘A’ was still very keen to find employment.
After a short while ‘A’ was supported to contact a local employment agency, and he was given a trial to work on the CCBC recycling wagons. He had some initial issues with the social side of things, but with support, this was resolved within the first week.
‘A’ has now been working over 16hrs per week for almost two months. He is beaming with pride and confidence; as well as having the independence and extra income, he has also made friends.