Supporting more Derbyshire residents to live independently

Proposals to help more Derbyshire people lead safe, independent lives in their own homes for longer are due to be considered by Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet.

Under the plans, which were due to be discussed on 8th December, a newly designed service to support people in their own homes would be extended and include working age Derbyshire residents as well as older people.

If agreed, more people would be able to access targeted preventive support designed to improve their home environment which would prevent or delay people from having to move into residential care or needing more intensive support.

The plans are laid out in a report into low level support due to be considered by the council’s Cabinet on Thursday, December 8 and follows a 12-week public consultation.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Natalie Hoy said: “For too long we’ve been applying a one-size fits all approach to support services in Derbyshire. People tell us they want to live in their own homes for as long as possible, with their family and friends around them and connected to the communities they know. 

“Having reviewed how this support has been delivered in the past and taking into account what people tell us, we want to offer more people help to stay in their own homes by providing the right support at the right time.

“Previously, the service wasn’t targeted enough at those who most needed support and only a few under the age of 55 benefited. By redesigning the service, we would widen its scope and be able to offer help to more people to stay in their own homes.”

If approved, feedback gathered during the public consultation would help the county council design the proposed new service, including considering changing the proposals from a fixed-term, 12-week support model to a more flexible approach.

Councillor Hoy added: “We’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation which will help shape the way we’d like to do things in the future. By offering a more flexible approach we can ensure we offer more people support with varying needs in a way that suits them.”

Read the full report on the county council's website.