Read the introduction to the Local Account Summary 2023/24.
We are delighted to share with you the highlights of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Torbay Council’s latest local account summary for 2023/24. This report details the significant strides we have made in delivering efficient, high-quality services to meet the health and care needs of people in Torbay, while implementing person-centred care that have transformed people’s lives.
Our adult community social care teams include a range of professionals including health and social care coordinators (HSCCs), community care workers (CCWs), social workers (SWs) and occupational therapists (OTs), which cover front end, complex care and specialist services. All teams deliver care and support under the duties, powers and responsibilities as defined by the Care Act 2014.
In the past year, we have undertaken several initiatives to make the best use of the money and resources available to us. We have worked together to transform the way we provide care, which has not only resulted in a better experience for people in our communities but has also meant substantial cost savings without compromising quality and safety.
Collaborative partnerships: We know that working with our partners, including the voluntary sector, helps us to provide the wrap-around and tailored person-centred care that people tell us they want. We involve people in decisions about their care by asking them what matters to them and work closely with everyone involved in their care to make sure they only have to tell their story once. Working in an integrated way also means we can share our resources and expertise, which is good for our teams and the people we care for.
Embracing technology: Investment in modern technology has played a crucial role in transforming the way we provide care. Digital solutions have streamlined administrative tasks, improved communication, and enhanced service accessibility to help people remain independent in their homes and community.
Our commitment to providing exceptional care remains unwavering. We believe everyone should be able to receive personalised care that meets their needs. Here are some of the ways we have upheld this commitment:
Person-centred approaches: Everyone is unique, and our services are designed around the people we support. We begin every conversation asking people what matters to them and what their goals are. We work with them to understand what their support network looks like and actively involve people and their families/carers to plan and provide services that are tailored to meet their health and care needs.
This personalised approach not only enhances the quality of care but also empowers people to live more independently and confidently. We work with people who have experience of our services to co-design services and improve what we do and how we work with people. We have introduced a new matching process to enable people who require supported living service provision to ensure access is easier. This has reduced the amount of time our social workers spend trying to find suitable placements making it more efficient for the teams and care providers whilst reducing the time people wait for a suitable offer of support. Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust understands that people’s needs change, and anyone who uses our services can request a change and transfer in their accommodation if it is no longer suitable for them. This new way of managing what we do avoids delays and costly vacancies for care providers in Torbay.
Focus on wellbeing: Beyond addressing immediate care needs, we are dedicated to promoting overall wellbeing. Our services include a range of supportive networks aimed at enhancing physical, mental, and emotional health. From social groups to advice networks, we offer comprehensive support that fosters healthier, happier communities.
The true measure of our success lies in the stories from our communities. All the names of people have been changed to protect their confidentiality. Take the case of Luke (whose story is shared by Lucy, his social worker from the Adult Mental Health Team), who has been supported by Shared Lives, an award-winning charity that provides long-term and short-term care services, care and support as an alternative to supported living and residential care in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Luke was 38 and had lived in 24-hour residential care and supported living accommodation before his move to Shared Lives. Our Adult Mental Health Team started working with him two years ago when he lived in a care home in Devon. He initially thought he should stay where he was as he was settled and lacked confidence in his own strengths and abilities to think about any other options. It was evident that he had so much potential to live a more independent life, use his skills and expand his social world. Despite nerves around the big change, our team worked with him to explore the potential benefits of living with a family and in the community he knew. Our teams worked together during many months to plan this big step in his life and his move to a new home with Shared Lives support and out of residential care.
Thanks to the support of Shared Lives, Luke’s diet has improved, he has joined the gym and has achieved his goals to become fitter, healthier and to lose weight. He has long wanted to book a trip to Germany for a holiday but did not feel confident to even contemplate booking this. The Shared Lives’ supporters identified ‘Jolly Holidays’ where he can visit Germany by coach, with a group of other people. He was supported to find and book his trip, which was a massive personal achievement. He has also learnt German to help him communicate during his trip.
Since being supported by Shared Lives, Luke’s life and wellbeing has improved; he has begun volunteering in a local café and reconnected with friends and made new ones. He has also reconnected with his family and went away on a trip with them, something he had not done for several years. Luke’s confidence has grown, and he is doing things which previously seemed out of his reach and he is regaining control over his life.
Another example is Sarah who was supported by our sensory team when her eyesight deteriorated:
I moved to Torbay three years ago and unfortunately, my eyesight rapidly deteriorated which left me feeling extremely low.
Fortunately, I was introduced to the sensory team which made a massive difference to my life and how I was feeling about it. My advisor helped me greatly through a very depressing period of adjustment and I would like to thank her very much for her help, cheerfulness, and support whenever I needed it. This has made a great improvement in my life and now I am coping much better. I have more confidence in myself, and I don’t feel alone as I did. Attending the Sensory Loss Hope programme, coffee morning and Torbay VI Connect group has built my confidence to meet other people who shared the same struggle as me and to have a social life.