A community development charity based in Narberth has been working on a new way of delivering care in people’s own homes.

Since March 2020, PLANED has been working with partners in the public and third sectors to begin a new way of enhancing choice and control around the care people receive in their own homes.

The Catalysts for Care project began in Pembrokeshire just before the first COVID lockdown, when Coordinator Lee James was appointed to deliver this first project of its type in Wales.

Despite the initial challenges, the last three years have seen huge results within Pembrokeshire, where the project has supported individuals who wish to live and work within their communities to set-up micro enterprises delivering care and support to people who wish to remain in their own homes.

The project enables the micro-enterprises to deliver the type of care with continuity that clients and their families value, building a real understanding and relationship with the people they support. It provides more flexibility and a better work life balance.

With over 75 micro enterprises in Pembrokeshire now supporting an average of over 2,100 hours per week to 650 clients in their own homes, a broad range of services are offered. That includes home help, companionship, and personal care, as well as broader support packages as required.

Many former nurses, social care workers, and others with a passion for delivering care and support, have engaged with the project to see if they would be eligible to progress and become established as a micro enterprise.

A recent survey in Summer 2023, found that within the current cohort of operational micro enterprises, almost 50 per cent each have over 16 years of experience within the health and care sector, with a further 25 per cent between five and 15 years’ direct experience.

Micro-enterprises say that they value the flexibility and better work life balance that being your own boss brings, and almost a third surveyed said that they would not be working in the health and social care sector if the option of micro enterprise was not available. With choice and control now in the hands of individuals for the care they wish to see delivered, the directory of micro enterprises available online is continually updated, and a new interactive online enquiry tool to make it even more efficient is currently being trialled for further rollout.

The success of the project in Pembrokeshire since 2020 has now seen PLANED work with both Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion Councils respectively, to work in partnership in delivering the project across the Hywel Dda University Health Board geographic footprint, to provide a clear joined-up approach.

Lucy Cummings in Carmarthenshire joined the team in April, and has already supported the start up of over 25 new micro enterprises already enabling and supporting clients in their own homes across the county. Interviews are about to be held for recruitment of a similar Catalyst in Ceredigion, with hopes that, subject to appointment, the new Catalyst within the county there will start their role across communities sometime in January.

To find out more about the project – either from the perspective of becoming a Micro Enterprise, or how to access the services promoted by Micro Enterprises in West Wales, follow the link to the PLANED website.