By Sam Bingham, CAN Engagement & Insight Manager

The BCP Council Adult Social Care Day Opportunities Strategy is now in its third year of being delivered, and there has been lots of progress across the different priority areas.

A new Provider Charter has been co-produced by people with lived experience, day opportunity providers and BCP Council. The Charter sets out what good quality day opportunities should look like and will soon be launched for providers to sign up to. Work is also progressing on a new checklist to help people compare services and make informed choices about the support that is right for them.

BCP Council and Tricuro are continuing to develop plans for the Tricuro day centres. The centres will remain important day opportunity services for the people who attend them, while also developing their role as community hubs by hosting more local groups, activities and events. The Service Review Working Group is helping to shape these plans through co-production to make sure people who use the centres, and their families and carers, are involved in decisions and benefit from any new opportunities created. We are also exploring how the buildings could be used more by local communities in the evenings and at weekends.

We have also continued to develop the Day Opportunities Provider Forum, bringing providers together to share ideas, improve services and work more closely with BCP Council and people with lived experience.

Work is continuing on other priorities including support into employment, independent travel training and improving access to information to help people find the right day opportunities for their needs. We look forward to sharing more updates later in the year.

Self-Directed Support Project Update

The BCP Council Self-Directed Support Project is helping people have more choice and control over how their care and support is arranged. Many parts of the project support the delivery of the Day Opportunities Strategy by creating more options and opportunities for local people.

Work continues improving Direct Payments (DPs) and developing Individual Service Funds (ISFs). An ISF is a way for someone to use their personal budget without having to manage the money themselves, giving people more flexibility and choice about the support they receive. More providers are now taking part in our ISF pilot programme.

We are also continuing to grow our network of Community Micro-Enterprises (CMEs). These are small local organisations that provide activities, support and opportunities within local communities. Twelve organisations have now completed the development programme, creating even more local choice for people across BCP.

CAN has been delivering three Year 2 projects funded by BCP Council that support both the Self-Directed Support Project and the Day Opportunities Strategy:

• Voices for the Future explored what helps people stay independent, connected and active as they get older.
• Ways to Wellbeing helped people try new activities that support wellbeing, learning, friendship and community involvement.
• My Way Forward helped young people with learning disabilities or neurodivergence have more choice and opportunities as they move from education into adult life.

These projects are now drawing to a close, and the learning from them will help BCP Council and its partners shape future day opportunities, community activities and support across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole areas for years to come.

For more information on joining the Day Opportunities Provider Forum, accessing the Provider Charter or any of this information, please contact George Hallett on george.hallett3@bcpcouncil.gov.uk