Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) Community Support Service for older people with dementia has operated in the North East of Glasgow for 25 years. The service supports older people with a diagnosis of dementia to stay in their own homes and give respite to family and carers.

Due to the success of the North East service, Ann Cummings, Service Manager, Glasgow City HSCP was successful in obtaining funding to introduce the service citywide. Ann said: “Our North East Community Support Service managed by Project Leader Marlyn McLeish has achieved excellent outcomes for service users and carers and consistently high grades with the Care Inspectorate. Colleagues in Older People’s Mental Health Services work closely with the service and have provided positive feedback.”   

The Community Support Service is closely aligned to our Duty Teams and Older People Primary Care Teams in each of our HSCP’s three localities. Referrals are received from the locality teams and Older Peoples Mental Health Services for service users over the age of 65 who have a diagnosis of dementia (or are going through the diagnosis process).

The service provides early input to service users living with dementia to reduce risk of admission to care / hospital placement. Staff work closely with the individual and their family to ensure a consistent, needs-led service that encourages and maintain the existing skills of service users. This maximises their independence and participation in the local community.

Sinead Mallon was recently recruited as Project Leader for the service in our HSCP’s South locality and Angela Jack, who has worked in the North East as Assistant Project Leader, will lead the service in the North West.

Sinead said: “Having had the chance to shadow support staff in the North East and review the learning from the Project Leaders Marlyn McLeish and Angela Jack, I have seen the positive outcomes for the people we support and their families. It’s an invaluable service and really exciting to be part of rolling this out citywide. 

“Having the opportunity to work alongside Marlyn and Angela in the North East and speaking with carers and service users, the feedback is always so positive. Family and carers especially have expressed their satisfaction with the service provided. It really is a lifeline for them and enables them to support their loved ones to remain at home safely.”

The South and North West services are currently being registered with the Care Inspectorate and recruiting support staff with the aim of both services up and running across the city by September.