Flintshire set for pioneering disability care

Disabled children, young people and adults in Flintshire are set to benefit from a brand new approach to care.

Normally, if you are disabled, and do not qualify for care from your local authority, you may receive very little help finding the support that you need.

This is set to change in Flintshire, thanks to a group of charities coming together to ensure everyone gets the support they need to live as fully as they choose, launching officially on Wednesday 30 January.

The charities will even help people without a diagnosis of disability but require support, while people already getting support from the local authority can also get extra help through this new scheme.

Branded as ‘CSI’, this Community Support Initiative is set to reach as many disabled people in the region, potentially transforming their daily lives.

Leading disability charity Leonard Cheshire is driving this innovative approach to support services, bringing together the services in the region under one banner.

They will deliver the scheme with KeyRing Living Support Networks, Centre of Sign-Sight-Sound and Deafness Support Network. All this is funded by Flintshire County Council.

Glyn Meredith, director of Leonard Cheshire in Wales, said:

'Disability affects one in five of us. As a society we need services like this in place so it’s straight forward for disabled people to live their lives to the full.

'Getting support in place early also prevents peoples’ needs from escalating. We want to make care simple for people. We’ll be their one point of referral to give them all the information they need.'

Flintshire County Council’s senior manager, safeguarding and commissioning, Jane Davies, said:

‘'We are pleased to be working with Leonard Cheshire and the other partners within the model.

'This partnership fits with our vision that adults and children with disabilities will have a better quality of life; living locally where they feel ‘safe and well’, where they are valued and included in their communities and have access to effective personal support that promotes independence, choice and control.'

The scheme has funding for the next three years, with the potential to be continued beyond that.

Media enquiries

For further information and high res images requests, please contact: Claire Farrell on claire.farrell@leonardcheshire.org or 020 3242 0389