A free service for people with physical and/or mental health problems is providing care and support to more and more people.
From this month, ‘Hertfordshire Enablement – helping you to keep your independence’, a partnership between Hertfordshire County Council and Goldsborough Home Care, is delivering benefits in Hertsmere and St Albans.

Any adult who has been referred to the council for ongoing care or support – for example from a hospital or a specialist mental health team – and who meets the eligibility criteria will go through the new service unless they are de-selected by the council. This will only be the case if it is believed that the person will not benefit from the service.

Within 24 hours of being referred, the aim is to have a package in place for people which will help them stay independent by learning and/or re-learning the skills required for daily living.

The service will be free at the point of delivery for up to six weeks, after which it is expected that many people will have reduced or no care needs in the future.

Cllr Allan Witherick, who has monitored the developments as spokesman for the Liberal Democrats on Adult Care Services, said: “For the Tories this has always been about saving money and cutting costs further down the line, but for me the real benefit can’t be measured like that.  The real benefit to the individuals and the community has been to help people regain their independence after what could’ve been a nasty fall.  No amount of money can quantify that.”

For further information, visit www.hertsdirect.org/caresupport/acs/suppacs/homecare/enablement