LinkAge Plus The Leeds Experience

Joy Marshall Project Manager LinkAge Plus Leeds City Council

Leeds Context Older Better Strategy, focus on well being and active citizenship Voluntary Sector Forum & Neighbourhood Network Schemes - voluntary and community organisations focused on meeting needs of older people Actively promoting new ways of delivery e.g. via social enterprise for Keeping House services POPPs - mental health focus

Leeds - Older Better Strategy Older people’s priorities: Having access to good relevant information Being actively involved in planning and decision making that affects them

LinkAge Plus - Leeds Model Partnership and building understanding- between the statutory sector, voluntary organisations and older people. Information - creating better sources of information through the Infostore (& POPPs). Gateways – developing NNS as local access points with support networks Capacity building in voluntary sector Streamlined Assessment - building on original JVT work, focus and breath.

Neighbourhood Network Schemes Over 40 schemes Receive over £1.5m ASC – smaller amount from PCT Schemes generate at least £1m additionally Social enterprise developments At least 2,000 volunteers/helpers, (more than half over retirement age) In contact with 25,000 of the 143,000 over 60

Neighbourhood Networks Organisations rooted in the community Underpinned by values of neighbourly support Encouraging reciprocity Engaging older people at every level Building o good life for older people in local communities, Godfrey, Townsend, Denby (2004) – Joseph Rowntree Foundation

What Older People tell us they want Opportunities to socialise – the rest follows on from that We help each other Safety-net and anchor in the local area Staff are approachable, friendly and flexible – if they don’t know, they will know someone who does Service fewer boundaries than statutory services People treated as individuals The office/centre is local and often more convenient.

“The capacity and interest revealed among those working for the community demonstrate the breadth and depth of experience of older people as a force for change and the potential resource that can be built upon within localities to support and sustain ‘healthy’ communities.”

Better Information Research how older people access and use information City-wide Infostore developed with older people Gateways - improve ability of NNS to provide information, support and advice in the community Training – ensuring organisations and older people can access the Infostore

Putting People First (Dec 2007) “A universal information, advice and advocacy service … A ‘first shop stop’…at accessible community locations.”

Leeds LinkAge Plus Approach Improving our knowledge of what works for older people Research indicates that older people do not differentiate between information, advice and advocacy in the way that formal services do. This points to the importance of the information mediation role provided by the voluntary sector. A Universal Service Older people need independent advice and support to make the right decisions. In Leeds NNS act as one stop shops providing services to all older people in the community, not just those eligible for publicly funded care.

Different levels of information Neighbourhood Networks information includes: -Newsletters -Signposting -Enquiries about help/info needed requiring action by staff or referral to another agency -Information, help and support - on an ongoing basis Good relevant information Improved information is now available to older people in Leeds through the Infostore designed in partnership with older people

Gateways – Developing Local Innovation Outreach through publicity – variety of approaches e.g to every attendee of synagogues in Leeds Linking into local businesses – Community Loyalty Card and extending to wider local community Volunteer-run information services, linked to Infostore Visits to other local community groups/centres, e.g. bowling clubs, Working Men's clubs with laptop Train older people in local clubs as sign-posters Surgeries in local libraries, tenants’ office Partnership with local groups e.g. Kashmiri Elders, Association of Blind Asians

Older People’s Engagement Older People’s Forum representative on Project Board Older People’s Reference Group Older Better Group Older Experts Group – local people in each Gateway site Peer researchers Volunteers in each site supporting LinkAge work Consultation groups at local level in each site/BME focus group/voluntary sector networks

Next Steps Sustainability- Partners support the principle now making the case for resources particulary for the Infostore and Gateways approach. Events Programme - Launch Infostore DVD Seminar for Commissioners Lifelong Learning Social Isolation Voluntary Sector – sharing the learning Other regional events Evaluation – building the evidence

More Information Click on Linkage Plus Or for the Infostore