Home Care Project

Many areas of the county are suffering from a shortage of care. We’re also aware that the traditional service tends to be focused on completing very specific tasks within a given time slot. These tasks include helping people to get out of bed, to wash, get dressed and serving meals. There isn’t much room to do other things that would really make a difference to someone’s quality of life.   

Care providers tend to be scattered around the county, working in many different localities, and several home care workers from different companies can often be seen on the same street! 

Cyngor Gwynedd is working with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on these changes and we will jointly commission the care in the local areas. All health and social care staff working within these areas are part of the new arrangements.

This project will improve the way older people and adults with disabilities or mental health conditions are supported to live at home in Gwynedd. 

The new model has been tested in areas across Gwynedd over the last 4 years focusing on specific aspects of the model: 

• Area Boundaries: Working within a smaller geographical area with defined boundaries.
• Community Resource Team Structure: Care providers becoming active members of the local Community Resource Team, sharing information and fostering respect. 
• Block Contracts: Providers commissioned on the basis of a fixed block of hours in a specific patch to facilitate their business planning - rather than spot purchasing packages of care.
• Block Shifts: Planning staff rotas on a block shift basis – morning or evening shift. Staff paid for travelling and contact time.
• Mini Teams: Small local teams, self-managing their time to meet the needs of the people needing their support in the community. More flexibility to respond to people’s wishes and more consistency of care staff.
•  Moving away from time and task: Work on the basis of what would improve the individual's life, rather than specific planned tasks. Indicate weekly hours of support for the individual, without specifying the timing and number of calls.

We are currently awaiting the final report that summarises experiences in the pilot area.

A tendering process will need to be completed to decide which provider is awarded a contract in each patch. The tender process was opened on 8 April 2022.

This is detailed timetable:

People who receive the home care service and their families, when appropriate, will receive regular information about our plans. If the tender process involves any changes to the nature of their care, we will share information and discuss with them in good time.

Anyone affected by these changes will receive the full support of their local health and social care team. 

All care and support staff are valued, and their jobs are crucial and safe. People who receiving home care today will continue to receive support for as long as they need it.

We have a duty to assess the impact of any change to a policy, service or scheme on people, in terms of equality, the Welsh language and its use, and socio-economic disadvantage.

View Impact Assessment