Community-led support

Supporting Lives, Connecting People is the name of the County Council Adults’ Services programme of work to implement community-led support across the county. The name was chosen by people who use our services and family and friend carers.

Community-led support is a key part of the Adult Social Care Vision and Strategy 2019-21 which sets out how we will work together with people who need adult social care support, their family and friend carers and our partners, to enable adults in West Sussex who have care and support needs to live healthy and independent lives.

Resources for Supporting Lives, Connecting People

For staff: please see the password protected area of the professional zone for practice guidance and frequently asked questions. 

• Think Local Act Personal - Innovations in community centred support

Community-led support has been described as a ‘journey’ or programme of change, rather than a specific system or set of tasks that are implemented in exactly the same way, everywhere. The system is responsive and proportionate and bureaucracy kept to a minimum people.

Community-led support focuses on early intervention and prevention and on enabling people to be as independent as possible. It is an approach which involves working with people to identify their strengths, capabilities and existing support networks to help to prevent or delay the development of their social care needs. It involves working collaboratively with a range of partners, including people who use our services, family and friend carers, voluntary and community sector organisations, the NHS, and officers in other council directorates, to design a service that works for everyone.

‘Talk Locals’ are one element of this approach. These are sessions where people can speak face-to-face with a member of the Adult’s Services Team in a community venue to talk about their situation – what is working well and what needs to change.

The Think local act personal website has information  about other community-centred approaches that are having a positive impact on people's lives.

Talk Locals are currently on hold and not available due to the ongoing restrictions related to the pandemic. They will be reviewed as and when the situation changes. We are instead using a range of other approaches (including those not involving face-to-face contact) to support people.

Talk Locals are booked face-to-face appointments in community venues that are staffed by representatives from a range of disciplines (social workers, occupational therapists and Prevention and Assessment Team workers) who meet with people to discuss their social care needs with them and help to find solutions on the day of the appointment if possible.

The sessions will be held in venues where assessments (including around bathing, toileting and step mobility) can take place, telecare equipment can be demonstrated, and information and advice about services and activities in the local community are available.

Support for carers will be available and other information and advice, such fire safety advice and equipment will be on hand.

For more information please contact:

supportinglives.connectingpeople@westsussex.gov.uk