Rethinking Home Care: Exploring flexible community care models in Wrexham

The first stage of the project looking at home care in Wrexham was focused on gathering evidence and information about the current situation. This included analysing data, visiting people who need care and support, speaking to providers and social care staff and reviewing processes and documentation. 

Based on the findings, it was agreed to set up an experiment between January and June 2026 to see how the home care model could potentially be redesigned. This work is taking place with one provider in a specific geographic area in Wrexham. The Team for Older People from Wrexham Adults Social Care department, IMPACT coach and provider leadership team work together to explore whether or not there is any scope to build flexibility into the way care is being delivered. The team also builds a picture of the barriers that make it difficult to achieve what matters to citizens. 

During the experimentation phase, home care staff are receiving additional, non-mandatory training in fields such as strength-based conversations, reablement mindset and trauma-informed practice. Initial feedback is positive but the impact of this training will be evaluated more fully as the project progresses. 

To date, the team has identified areas where staff rotas could be amended to reduced travelling pressures and has began offering care in a less rigid way to some people who have no reason to require care at exactly the same time of day, every day. The plan over the coming months is to continue learning and capturing what can be changed for the better.