Building Pembrokeshire’s Capacity to Care

Project Description:

Building Pembrokeshire’s Capacity to Care will use the Community Catalysts methodology to support the development of a network of micro-providers and social enterprises providing a range of flexible, person-centred and high quality local care, support and well-being services that give people real choice and control over their care.

The 2-year project will support the setting up of local micro-enterprises or social enterprises to offer a range of care, support and well-being services that support people to live independently for longer in their own homes and communities.  The project will also work with embryonic or established micro and social enterprises, who want to improve their governance and business practices and/or develop new services to meet identified needs.  In addition, the project will help service commissioners and practitioners to understand what needs to change (culture, systems and pathways) and will then help them to implement those changes to bring about a transformation in the way domiciliary care and support services are provided in Pembrokeshire.

Project Outcomes:

• 29 micro-enterprises part of the directory - planed.org.uk/catalysts-for-care-directory-of-care-and-support-services-in-pembrokeshire/
• Peer support network created
• During a 6 month period, 20 micro-enterprises:

-        Supported 174 people

-        Provided 12,427 hours of care or support…

-        Or an average of 479 hours a week

For more info, see the Catalysts for Care impact report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1em21VOK74D7-zxcdkNHW3kSH04O7U1TQ/view?usp=sharing

‘’ We are currently exploring funding options to extend the support for micro-enterprises to Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire as well as Pembrokeshire.’’

Lessons Learned:

• Local people have an interest in setting up a micro-enterprise
• Once they set up, they gain great satisfaction from working in this way
• People value being part of a peer network
• There is a strong and growing demand and market for what they offer
• People, their families and professionals highly value the services and supports offered by micro-enterprises