Emma White, BMBC’s Health and Wellbeing Principal, and Kelly Jenkins from the Fire Service, will update the North East Area Council about this initiative.
Minutes:
Tracey Leach was welcomed to the meeting and updated the North East Area Council about this joint initiative with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS).
It was explained what safe and well checks are, why they are needed and how the North East Area Council can help with this initiative. Every year SYFRS visits 21,000 homes which can help to lower fire risk, provide health information, identify cold homes, reduce slips, trips and falls and help to prevent crime.
It was highlighted that in Barnsley around 47,000 people (23.3% of the population) smoke. Emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people aged 65+ currently stand at 2,282.6 per 100,000 population and 11.3% of households in Barnsley experience fuel poverty. Risk factors for injury from fires and falling in people aged 65+ include, amongst other things, mobility problems, frailty, dementia, medication, visual impairment, living alone, low income, poor balance and alcohol consumption, all of which can be identified as part of a safe and well check.
The local pathway for delivery in Barnsley has been developed in conjunction with BMBC, Berneslai Homes, SWYFT, Dementia Action Alliance, South Yorkshire Housing Association and Barnsley Age UK. The Pilot Project will be launched in February 2018 by Fire Officers within the Cudworth Fire Station, with Safe and Well Checks launched later in the year across the Borough. Local Members will be invited to the launch to show their support for the scheme.
It was felt that it would be beneficial and appropriate to invite SYFRS to local events to raise the profile of Safe and Well Checks and to encourage local services who work with vulnerable people to become referrers for the scheme.
RESOLVED that Tracey Leach be thanked for her attendance and contribution and that the Area Council Manager invite SYFRS representatives to attend appropriate events (such as health fayres) across the area.