Issue - meetings

            That the Committee endorses and supports the good progress of the Reablement Team and the approach which the service is taking. 

The Senior Manager Integrated Services introduced a report to update Members on the progress made by the Reablement and Telecare service.   

                        She introduced Sara Thelwell (Reablement and Telecare Team Manager) and Steve Featherstone (North East Wales Community Equipment Service Manager) to the Committee.  In advising that Flintshire had had a successful Reablement Service for a number of years, she referred to the definition of reablement and added that the service had the potential to help many people.  The service had mainly concentrated on supporting older people including those with mild to moderate dementia, and people with physical disabilities.  It was hoped in the future that the service could be extended to support people with a learning disability.  A number of teams were involved in providing the reablement service and these were detailed in paragraph 3.09 of the report.  Reablement outcomes were measured and these included whether service users had not required any further support at end of Reablement, had increased the support needed or not completed the Reablement phase.  A full analysis of the outcomes was attached at appendix 1. 

                        The Reablement and Telecare Team Manager provided details of the way that service users could access the service through either the Social Services First Contact Team or through a Social Worker upon discharge from hospital.  The North East Wales Community Equipment Service Manager spoke of the domestic and residential care schemes and explained that in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), the team covered Wrexham and Flintshire.  He commented on the enhanced care scheme and spoke of the work undertaken with the Reablement Team to provide the equipment necessary to allow service users to return to their own home. 

                        The Chair welcomed the report and praised the work of the Reablement Team which she felt provided an excellent service. 

                        Councillor Dave Mackie also spoke the fantastic work undertaken by the Team.  In referring to wheelchairs, he asked that a sign be put on all wheelchairs to indicate that they should not be used without the footrests being in place, as this could result in accidents.  On the issue of people being admitted to hospital, he felt that hospitals could do more to keep people active during their stay as he felt that they became weak and therefore not have the strength to be discharged from hospital and live on their own, which then became a problem for the hospital.  The Senior Manager Integrated Services explained that wheelchairs were issued by the Health Service.  She added that the health of patients on discharge from hospital was a common problem so it was important for them to leave hospital as soon as possible.  Councillor Veronica Gay concurred with the comment. 

                        The current length of time for reablement was six weeks and Councillor Mike Lowe asked if this would be extended if the service was to support people with a learning disability.  The Senior Manager Integrated Services confirmed that the time period would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55