With one click of a finger, all residents in West Sussex will soon be able to find information to help them to continue to live independently.
From April this year, West Sussex County Council will be leading the introduction of a new free website, in association with social care website provider shop4support, for all residents in West Sussex who need advice and support about living independently. This is whether or not they receive funded support from the County Council.
Called West Sussex Connect to Support, it will let people find out information and advice about services available in their local area to meet their social care needs, and later in the year will include the option to buy care directly from the provider in an online marketplace.
Services available via the website could include home care, luncheon clubs, day activities and befriending services; or products that can help them at home, such as telecare units or grab rails. It also provides information and advice about accessing funded social care support from the county.
Peter Catchpole, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “This site will allow people to choose the support they feel best suits them and means that planning their care should be simpler, easier, more user friendly and accessible at a time that suits them. “Residents will be able to find the things they need to live independently and is yet another strand of our ambition to improve choice and control for customers within adults services.”
shop4support director David Bowes said: “This partnership represents another significant leap forward for shop4support. Having pioneered the whole concept of using web-based systems to deliver choice and control, we are now extending our offering to meet the requirements of the Care Bill. The whole team here at shop4support are looking forward to developing our day-to-day relationship with the people and providers of West Sussex”.
Wheelchair table tennis junior champion and student Tyler Paul, from Worthing, receives social care services from the County Council and has helped in the site’s development. Tyler said: “It looks great and I look forward to helping develop it further. “It’s really easy to use and allows the person to find support that fits around their lives.” For details click www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org
