Working with the Voluntary Sector in North East Essex Optimising health and independence

Scope of ACE’s Services Adult Services Children’s Services Primary Care Health & Wellbeing Learning Disabilities The resident population of North East Essex is expected between 2012-21 to rise by 13%. 80% of people over 80 have 1LTC, 40% have 2. Increased Dependency and duplication across the system. Services are moving to Essex CC Increased emphasis on families and outcomes rather than set programmes working closer with Children’s Centres Reduced funding may be likely due to council cuts Increased pressure on primary care – with patients with complex needs using GPs inappropriately for support they could receive elsewhere Challenges recruiting GPs and practice nurses. This has knock on effects on community services. Financial challenges since the services have moved to ECC. Higher levels of obesity than ever before Need to work across the system to be effective. Transforming Care to move people out of hospitals into communities Addressing the health inequalities people with LD experience Integrated health and social care commissioning and delivery

This need is impacting our staff wellbeing The Demand on our adult services increased enormously between 2014 and 2016. Similar increased pressures on children’s services, primary care, LD and health and well-being. We have recruitment challenges in key areas including nursing, therapies and GPs Because of this, we have to change the way we do things to allow our staff to deliver high quality care for higher volumes of people, many of whom have more complex challenges.

Self-management To address these challenges – supporting people to effectively manage their own conditions effectively is our greatest priority. This includes supporting them to: Determine outcomes that are important to them and how to achieve them, working in collaboration with health care professionals and others Build knowledge, skills, confidence and resilience to manage the impact of their symptoms and limitations so they can live a full and meaningful life Access the support they need within and beyond health services to better manage their own health and wellbeing on an ongoing basis. This requires changes to how health professionals, voluntary sector and people with long-term health conditions work together, and how people are supported in between appointments.

Social Isolation Social isolation is a major and prevalent health problem leading to a number of detrimental health conditions including: Increased risk of all-cause mortality Dementia Increased risk of rehospitalisation Increased number of Falls If isolation and loneliness is detected this could be avoided through range of support programmes

What are we looking for? Supporting people to improve their care compliance including: Support setting goals Mentoring and coaching Peer support groups – ideally people with the condition supporting others to effectively manage Supporting people to look after their mental well-being and addressing isolation   Specific areas we are challenged with: Wound Care Respiratory Diabetes Management.

Group Discussions How could your projects support any of these aims? Do you work with partners that could assist with this work? Who are they? What more (than funds) will the VCS will need from ACE to work together on this solution? e.g access to teams, jointly developed standard operating procedures, access to advice and support, referral routes?