Community Connectors

The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have a requirement to award contract to Cardiff Mind to continue the Community Connector activities that are contracted until the end of June 2023. Cardiff Mind are currently providing the service in the South and East Cardiff Cluster. The uptake has been slow but this is an area where projects are notoriously difficult to embed.

The engagement with the Community Connectors has increased and is it felt that any disruption in service would inevitability have an impact on the patients. The Locality covered by this contract has high deprivation in the area and Locality is very culturally diverse, with a range of BAME communities and other hard to reach groups- including Travellers, the Homeless and Sex Workers. The Locality also provides for the needs of Asylum seekers who are accommodated in centralised areas around the centre of the city.

Any further requirements if the pilot is to be extended beyond the optional extension provision will be done so via a competitive tender with the understanding that TUPE may apply.

The life expectation of people living in the southern area of Cardiff is 11 years less than Clusters in North and West Cardiff. The population in this Locality is very culturally diverse, with a range of BAME communities and other hard to reach groups- including Travellers, the Homeless and Sex Workers. The Locality also provides for the needs of Asylum seekers who are accommodated in centralised areas around the centre of the city.

It is proposed that the model will continue to involve the following key elements:-

Each Cluster will be designated a named Community Connector/s, who will be visible within each of the practices at least once a week/once every 2 weeks (for larger clusters) and available to accept referrals Monday-Friday (exclusive of bank holidays)

The GP practice staff will be able to refer appropriate patients to the Community Connector/s as a single point of access/signposting to wider third sector/community based organisations/services relevant to their health and wellbeing needs

The Community Connector/s will also accept self-referrals from patients registered with the practices that they support.

The Community Connector/s will be responsible for supporting the individual to make contact/access these services, where required- it is anticipated that the average level of contacts per patient will be 2, however, there is the potential that some more vulnerable individuals may need more support. The level of demand for the service is currently unknown- however, potentially the level of total referrals may be circa 3500-4000 per year (combined total for all 3 clusters)

The Community Connector will act as an expert resource to practice based staff regarding availability of local support services, community groups.

The Community Connector will act as a point of contact for patients should they have any queries following onward signposting

The Community Connector will be required to feedback to GP practices on the outcome of their involvement with the patient

The Community Connectors should identify and report on any gaps in service provision

The model that is introduced in each of the 3 clusters will need to be bespoke to the cultural and socio-economic needs of the populations served- this includes consideration of language needs