Citizen Advisors - Turning Point

Turning Point Connected Care Report 31
Summary of the model:
Village agents are community members that are paid and trained by the
provider organisation.
Not only focuses on providing support to access services, but enables
individuals to get more involved in their local community.
Integrates health and social care.
Regular meetings are held with service providers and other organisations in
the area so that the village agents are known by other professionals and there is
a shared understanding of the service.
The village agents are supported by an online Gateway referral system, where
they can look up services and information from partner agencies. The village
agents enter the details of the client that the appropriate service calls the client
and arranges a visit.
6.2 Community Mentors
Social isolation can be a particularly big problem for people living in rural areas.
The Community Mentors programme in Devon helps to tackle isolation and lack
of service use in rural parts of the county. The service is for people who are at
risk of social isolation and losing their independence, or who are experiencing a
crisis in their lives due to personal circumstances. This might include
bereavement, redundancy, or ill health. It is for people over the age of 50.
The mentoring scheme helps people to access information and services when
they lack the knowledge or the confidence to contact them. The support they
receive meets their individual needs and helps them to develop a positive sense
of social identity. The aim is to re-engage people in meaningful social activities
and community life, in order to improve physical and mental well-being and
prevent health and social care needs emerging in the future.
There are similarities between this and the East Sussex navigator service which
is an example of early intervention navigation. However, whilst the East Sussex
service is focused on providing practical solutions to health and social care
problems, the Devon scheme emphasises the importance of signposting people
towards social and community-based activities. The local coordinators who run
the community mentoring signpost people to services or help people with more
acute problems over a longer period of time to enable them to build the
confidence and the networks to become involved in their community.
Summary of the model:
Navigators provide information on services, but the focus is more upon
building confidence, social capital and community cohesion.
Provided through voluntary organisations on behalf of the County Council.
The service is available to people over the age of 50, who are experiencing
social isolation or a downturn in their lives.
Community mentors are similar to befrienders, but in addition to providing
social support, they direct individuals to services and other social activities.