Contracts awarded to support West Sussex vulnerable residents

It is one of several contracts which form part of West Sussex County Council’s Public Health Prevention and Wellbeing Programme.

WRVS will provide a free countywide service offering face-to-face, telephone and group support to help vulnerable residents who are at risk of or are suffering from loneliness and isolation.

Cabinet member for community wellbeing, which includes public health, Christine Field said: “Our aim for the service is to support our vulnerable residents who are at risk of loneliness. This might include helping them join activities in their local area, or directing them to appropriate services that meet their needs.”

A key feature of the service will see ‘safe and well’ checks carried out during all home visits by volunteers, who will monitor if there is any change in someone’s health, wellbeing or home surroundings. Any concerns will be passed to the local Prevention Assessment Team for an assessment to take place.

Debbi Fair, WRVS head of operations for the East and South East, said: “Services such as those that will be provided by WRVS in the West Sussex area make a real difference to the quality of life of the older people who use them. Knowing that there is someone happy to help and have a chat to, whether face-to-face or over the phone, goes a long way to reducing the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can set in when getting out and about is difficult. Feeling lonely can have a devastating impact on a person’s wellbeing and we’re very pleased to be working with West Sussex County Council to provide such an important service.”

The second contract will provide help and assistance to vulnerable adults who are not eligible for full social care support.

The service is subsidised by the county council and will see help offered in someone’s home, for example shopping, cleaning, light meal preparation and other household tasks.

The contracts for these services have been awarded to:

• Guild Care – Adur and Worthing

• Age UK West Sussex – Arun, Chichester and Crawley

• Age UK Horsham – Horsham

• Regal – Mid Sussex

Christine added: “Both the contracts awarded should significantly help residents remain independent, and safe and well, in the comfort of their own surroundings. We know that services such as these can really make a difference to an individual’s quality of life, which is a key aim of public health.”

Both new contracts are expected to be up and running from June