Ageing and coastal communities

First Contact supports ‘Sure Start to Later Life’

Lincolnshire is pioneering a project to ensure people enjoy a full, independent, healthy life as they enter old age.

Sure Start to Later Life recognises that older people want services delivered not as isolated elements but as joined-up provision. The Sure Start to Later Life programme has been put together to:

• encourage agencies to work together;
• help the over-sixties navigate public and third sector services;
• avoid agencies duplicating work;
• help the over-sixties receive the services they may be entitled to;
• work preventatively rather than reactively.

The building block for this Sure Start approach is a signposting and referral scheme called First Contact for people aged 60 and over who require low-level preventative services from a range of public and third sector partners.

First Contact works as a simple checklist that customers can complete to access services from different agencies. Coordinators use it to address any concerns they may have for the safety and wellbeing of customers.

The scheme is simple to use. Partner agencies and scheme coordinators complete a checklist with an older person or speak to them on the phone. First Contact volunteers living in local communities offer advice and support to vulnerable adults and people aged 60 and over. Leaflets containing the checklist are also available around the county for customers to complete on their own. Referrals are made to relevant listed agencies if the answers to the checklist show that help and support is needed.

This prompts agencies to contact the customer within 28 days and provide information and advice on their services. Jointly managed by Lincolnshire County Council’s adult social care and Age Concern, it is delivered in partnership with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, district council housing teams, Lincolnshire Affordable Warmth Partnership, Lincolnshire Police, Local Pension Scheme, Accessibility Policy Unit and voluntary centre services.

Mrs Clark (73) from Mablethorpe is a fine example of how the scheme can provide valuable support. She is the main carer for her husband who was in hospital at the time of her referral. Her family lives hundreds of miles away so they were not able to provide much practical support. She says; ‘I used the voluntary car schemes to visit my husband in hospital which halved the cost. It was a lifeline as I felt I couldn’t ask friends and neighbours to help in the long-term. ... First Contact was a great help to me at a time I needed it the most. I had no idea there was such a range of help and support. It’s great to know that someone can visit you at home and take some of the strain of caring for a loved one.’

Graham Marsh, Lincolnshire County Council’s executive councillor for adult social care, says: ‘We are proud of the scheme we have set up to help support our older residents. First Contact has proved itself to our customers, providing a quick and easy way to access 11 services and providing them with support they are entitled to. Older people feel more valued, it helps them remain safe and independent, and they can easily ask for help while maintaining dignity. ... Partners benefit by strengthening relationships and the scheme provides them with a quick and easy tool for signposting to give customers guaranteed contact from the agency they are referred to.’ Contact: John.Giblin@lincolnshire.gov.uk.