Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Jones introduced the report and explained that, like many local authorities, Flintshire faced pressures in meeting the increased demand for social care, with a growing older population and care agencies finding it difficult to recruit and retain employees.  Delivering care into more rural parts of the County could be particularly problematic.

            Following a feasibility study a pilot Micro-care enterprise had been established to innovatively tackle the problem of the supply of care and the authority had been successful in bidding for funding from both Cadwyn Clwyd and the Welsh Government (WG) to support the implementation of the project.

            Micro-care enterprises were defined as small companies with five employees, many of which were sole traders, providing care or care-related services to the citizens of Flintshire.  The pilot scheme to date had successfully supported 22 individuals to set up and operate as an independent care business.  In September 2021, those businesses were delivering to 79 clients and delivered an average of 497 hours of care, support or well-being.  Of the 497 hours, 420 were for personal care and 77 hours were for well-being type services e.g. cleaning, shopping and companionship.

            The scheme had met all its key performance indicator targets for both funders and due to its success had been funded for a further 12 months by WG Foundational Economy Fund for 2021/22.  That would be used to continue the Micro-care scheme and grow the number of micro businesses established and delivering care across the county.

            The Senior Manager – Children and Workforce said that following an early evaluation of the scheme it had been identified that Micro-care in Flintshire was already making a significant contribution to the care market.  It was creating sustainable jobs and more localised care solutions for people.  Feedback from clients, families and Council officers had been extremely positive.

            The Chief Executive complemented the service for the innovative initiative which created resilience in a market that was under pressure and welcomed that it would add value to the community.

            Councillor Bithell welcomed the report which demonstrated that suitable care services for individual needs would be provided.  He asked how training would be provided for the people undertaking the work and the Senior Manager – Children and Workforce explained that quality training had been developed and the service would ensure it was fully rolled out.

RESOLVED:

That progress made in rolling out the innovative Micro-care pilot and the positive contribution the scheme was making in meeting the demand for care in Flintshire continue to be supported.