A strategy to support vulnerable residents and those with special needs has today been welcomed by Castle Point Council.

At a special meeting of the borough council's planning and community services committees members agreed to support the new Supporting People Strategy, which will mean the biggest transfer of resources from central to local government since the introduction of the community care system.

Andrew Wilson, supporting people officer at the council, said: "We are trying to support vulnerable people in the community.

"This includes the elderly, disabled people as well as young people living in care and other people needing help. The aim is to provide support to these people in their own homes such as running errands for them, helping them get information on social services and filling in benefit forms.

"The strategy is to find out what the need is for people with support needs and what the provision is and what the supply is."

Government officials hope the project will give people a better chance of getting help in their own home and prevent them from needing more acute and expensive forms of care.

Castle Point, like many other authorities, has an increasing number of elderly people and between 1996 and 2011 it is estimated the number of residents over 75 will grow by 29.3 per cent.

A report issued at the meeting said the council needed to address the housing and care needs of these people by improving the number of properties available which have been adapted for people with disabilities.

Published Thursday October 17, 2002

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