Staffordshire's pioneering single portal for information on social care and health service which has proved a popular hit with local people, writes Dernmott Calpin.

Staffordshire Cares was formally launched in June this year with the straightforward mission of improving access to in formation about adult social care and health services in the county.

With a countywide phone number 0300 111 8010, a sophisticated interactive website at http://www.staffordshirecares.info and network of advisory points across the county where people can call and receive face-to-face advice – it has established an easy-to-use single portal which quickly proved a popular hit with residents, local groups and organisations alike.

During the first six weeks alone, the new Staffordshire Cares service attracted some 5,866 queries, with just under 2,000 visitors to the main website along with 2,500 calls to the helpline and 2,825 unique visitors to the website's 'Purple Pages' database with 15,799 searches.

The most popular sections of the website have proved to be under the 'Home and Community Care' heading which includes a range of information on living well at home, making the most of facilities within the local community, and new developments such as 'Extra Care' housing.

Cllr Matthew Ellis, the counties cabinet member for adult wellbeing, has been the driving force behind developing the pioneering initiative which has attracted strong cross-party support and is being closely watched by several other local authorities.

Faced with the twin pressures of increased demand on services and the need to get the best possible returns from care budgets, the scheme has been able to harness a mix of new and existing technology – with both a sophisticated website and personal advisers people can call - to develop a simple but effective holistic approach to local services.

'It is a simple idea which has been incredibly complicated to achieve but it will make a real difference to people across Staffordshire over the coming years, says Cllr Ellis.

'Staffordshire Cares is about providing people who are getting that bit older or have changing health circumstances with choice, opportunities and ideas to help them live a more normal and fulfilling life Staffordshire Cares gives people the means to help identify the gaps and challenges they face to living an independent, safe and fulfilling life.

'It represents a revolution in the ability to plan ahead as their health changes by providing easy access to local and national information and services as well as a means social networking and companionship.

'What we're doing in Staffordshire is unique and exciting; it's not been done like this before but I'm confident it is the way forward. Nowhere else can people easily access all that Staffordshire Cares offers in one place. It empowers people to take control of their own health and wellbeing, while pointing them in the right direction to help them do that.'

'We know that people want to live as independent a life as possible, whether they’re facing with a disability, changing health issues or simply getting that bit older. We also know that people want all the information they need in one place – they want on the spot advice, and the details of organisations that can help.

'Most people don't know where to start to find that information. Now they can start at Staffordshire Cares. They can find out about local things to do and how to meet other people, how to get help at home and in the garden, about helpful gadgets that can help at home with everyday tasks, how to keep safe at home, how to live well with a disability or long term illness, things to do near them and much, much more.'

The scheme has attracted enthusiastic backing among the third sector organisations in the county who have been quick to recognise the value of the single portal for information for the community services they provide.

Already more than 84 per cent of voluntary organisations have said they are aware of Staffordshire Cares and the range of information available through the portal has expanded steadily as organisations have signed up to support and link into the service.

One typical endorsement comes from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service who have said: 'It is fast becoming a vital part of our community fire safety strategy, giving us access to groups we wouldn’t have previously known about!'

The findings on an initial three-month evaluation of the scheme will be presented to councillors later this month and it is already it seems likely that the success of the initiative will see its approach extended to other areas such as education and children's services.

For those authorities who are monitoring the scheme to see if they can adopt it to their own local areas are likely to be impressed by evidence that one of its key benefits has been to help people live better quality more independent lifestyles by accessing the full range of support organisation and services that are available within the county.

'We're keen to spread the word as far and wide as possible, getting out into local communities and showing them exactly what's on offer,' says Cllr Ellis. 'Staffordshire Cares is about giving people the choice, control, opportunities and ideas they need to help them live a more independent life. Survey after survey has shown us that people want a service that gives them advice, in one place that helps them to live independently.'