GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council’s village and community agents service and Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group social prescribing service could be merged to provide a new streamlined service next year.

The county’s village and community agents formed in 2012 and are employed by the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) with funding from the county council.

There are currently 38 part-time village agents working around the county to help older people feel more independent, secure, cared for and to have a better quality of life.

With agents living close to the communities in which they work they know the villages and people well and can help identify needs within their area.

The county-wide village agents scheme in Gloucestershire has been praised for its work and is regularly approached by other rural counties wishing to adopt a similar scheme.

On November 16, cabinet will be asked to approve continued investment of village and community agents service and combining it with social prescribing service to link people to local support.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Gloucestershire County Council, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) urged caution on the plans, saying: “We value the work of the village agents in helping older people feel more independent, secure and cared for, and to have a better quality of life.

“I welcome further investment but hope that any merging will not mean a cut to the 38 part-time village agents that are currently working across Gloucestershire.

“I know some of the village agents in the Cotswolds and know that they do a fine job supporting older people and preventing isolation.

“I support any new service model that reduces confusion and duplication of support but I would not want to see older and more vulnerable people go without the services they need as this would increase isolation and deteriorate wellbeing.”

There are lots of thriving and vibrant communities across the county, however some people are not benefitting from the support available and feel isolated. Whilst some people often consult their GP about this, there is not a medical solution.

Both social prescribing and village and community agents act as a signpost to people for local groups and community services. Over time, these two separate services have overlapped.

The new service model will reduce confusion and duplication of support.

Both services currently help strengthen communities and people to care for themselves and each other.

Cllr Dorcas Binns, cabinet member for older people, said: “Village and community agents do a wonderful job in communities across Gloucestershire. 

“They provide a fantastic link to help make sure people get the services they need.  By working together with the NHS we can expand the services they provide, and protect their role into the future.”

If approved, GCCG will tender to combine the two existing services into one delivery model, and will look for the services to start from June 2017.