The Sandwell Community Dementia Support Service (SCDSS) is a new service commissioned by Sandwell Metropolitan Council and the Black Country and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group.
A ‘Provider Collaborative’ comprising nine local organisations has been formed to deliver the service which will provide a single point of access for advice, information and support to those with a dementia diagnosis and their carers, across Sandwell.
The lead provider is Crossroads Caring for Carers and the partner organisations are: Agewell CIC, Dementia Pathfinders CIC, West Bromwich African Caribbean Resource Centre, Murray Hall Community Trust, St Albans Community Association, BUDS, Age UK Sandwell and Alzheimer’s Society.
The aim of the service is to support early diagnosis and deliver interventions which are tailored to individuals’ needs and are reflective of our diverse communities in Sandwell. Interventions will be designed to empower and enable people to make informed decisions about the care and support they or their loved ones receive. The service also supports crisis avoidance by working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders including health and social care professionals to quickly identify and work with people and families at risk
Referrals can be made via the Single Point of Access (SPA), opening hours are 8.30 a.m., to 4.30 p.m., Monday to Thursday, Friday’s 8.30 a.m., to 4.00 p.m. Contact; 0121 553 6483 and ask to speak to one of our Dementia Navigators. To contact the Alzheimer’s Society out of hours, evenings and weekends please call; 0333 150 3456
Who the service is for?
People living with the effects of dementia, their families, and carers.
This new service replaces the previous Dementia Navigator service and comprises a Service Development Lead, three FTE Dementia Navigators, one Community Dementia Adviser for each town within Sandwell and one Specialist Dementia Adviser supporting Young On-set and Rarer Dementia.
The commission also entails the development of a Dementia Handbook for Sandwell and further development of the Link to the Sandwell Dementia Roadmap and a program of workforce training.
For further information please contact Christine Christie, at Sandwell Crossroads on 0121 553 6483 or email, chris.christie@sandwellcrossroads.org