Friday, May 16, 2008
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AWARD FOR CAR SCHEME

By County Press Reporter - Friday, May 2, 2008
THE Isle of Wight Council’s ground-breaking free home care scheme for the over-80s has won a regional award.
Social care managers were this week celebrating after they won first prize in the category of transforming a service at the South Central Regional Health and Social Care Awards in Oxford.
All regional winners, including the IW Council, will now undergo a second judging process by a national panel who will select three national finalists and a national winner for each of the award categories.
The national award ceremony will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS and will be hosted in July at Wembley Stadium by the Secretary of State for Health.
The innovative free home care service for the over-80s scheme was launched in April, 2007, with the aim of helping older residents to stay in their own homes.
The authority’s director of community services Sarah Mitchell said: “Since our scheme was launched in April last year nearly 1,000 elderly people on the Island have received our personal care services — free of charge.
“This win is fantastic news and a testament to the hard work of all our staff, as well as the vision of our Cabinet member whose idea made it possible.”
That Cabinet member, Cllr Dawn Cousins, said older people had consistently said they wished to be cared for at home instead of having to sell their homes and pay for expensive residential care.