A CARE organisation which supports families from a base in Sale is launching a new system in November that offers a better service and more time with people.

Carers Trust in Greater Manchester, formerly Crossroads Care, is a charity offering respite support in six boroughs including Trafford. It has a team of more than130 carers helping more than 700 families.

In response to less funding going into home care systems generally, Carers Trust looked towards a Dutch home care model – Developed in Buurtzorg in Holland - to help create a better, more cost-effective systems.

The charity’s chief executive, Paul Parlby, explained: “Local care delivery models will have to change as more demand is placed on the social care sector and less money is put into the system - something different needs to be done.”

They were getting “frustrated with our local authority partners who were just driving down costs and not looking at the bigger picture, and instead were creating unsustainable cost models and contracted frameworks based on one to 15 minute calls which are inflexible around people’s needs and let people down.”

The Dutch model creates care team working in small localities so they know the community and the community knows them. This work is all underpinned by new technology that means that community care workers have information on tablets and smart phones that will allow a 'real time' overview of care operations from a central point.

This allows family members to receive live updates and exchange information on the care being delivered.

“Success is measured in whole person outcomes rather than just individual tasks,” added Mr Palby.

“There is greater empowerment of local care teams and technology is used to enhance the care rather than as a controlling tool.”