SOCIAL care managers on the Isle of Wight are celebrating this week after they scooped a top award for their ground-breaking free home care scheme for the over 80s.
The team won first prize in the category of transforming a service at an awards ceremony staged in Oxford as part of the South Central Regional Health and Social Care Awards. The ceremony celebrated the success of health and adult social care teams in the region and also allowed social services teams the chance to share ideas with other professionals that will benefit patients, service users and staff.
All regional winners including Isle of Wight Council will now undergo a second judging process by a national panel of experts who will select three national finalists and a national winner for each of the award categories. The National Award ceremony this year will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS and will be hosted in July at Wembley Stadium by the Secretary of State for Health.
Isle of Wight Council’s free home care for the over 80s scheme was launched in April 2007 with the aim of helping older residents to stay in their homes.
Isle of Wight Council director of community services Sarah Mitchell said: “Since our scheme was launched in April last year nearly 1,000 elderly people on the Island have received our personal care services – absolutely free of charge.
“This win is fantastic news and a testament to the hard work of all our staff – as well as the vision of our cabinet member whose idea made it possible.”
Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing Councillor Dawn Cousins added: “Older people have consistently told us that they wish to be cared for at home instead of having to sell their homes and pay for expensive residential care.
“Our free home care service for all residents on the Isle of Wight aged over 80, regardless of income or savings has been recognised by organisations such as Age Concern as giving older people real dignity and choice.
“My congratulations to all Isle of Wight Council officers whose hard work has made this win possible. I hope we can look forward to further success in the national finals.”
