Aiming High for 2012

Sandwell MBC is committed to providing all people in the borough with suspected or a confirmed diagnosis of dementia integrated, seamless, proactive and high quality services by 2012, based on personalisation and choice.

That’s the commitment made by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
Over the past year Sandwell and its partners have:

• written a joint commissioning strategy
• devised a Strategic Model of Care for Dementia
• set up specialist services including the Older People Mental Health Social Care Team, a crisis response team, a reablement service and long term complex home support
• commissioned specialist dementia advocacy, a befriending service and twice weekly café style meetings
• embarked on joint working with City Hospital’s Rapid Access Interface Discharge (RAID) project to ensure a seamless service
• started work with Worcester University on workforce development
• begun working with Stafford University on evidence based strategies, commissioning plans and practice.

This collaborative approach results in people being seen by the right person at the right time; admission to hospital is avoided where possible, with community support being the first response.

Contact Sam Gould, telephone: 0121 569 5461, email: Samantha_Gould@sandwell.gov.uk.