A number of developments have taken place which will continue to improve how Adult Social Care in Gateshead Council receive enquiries. Members of the public and professional can now refer for an initial assessment, review or a general enquiry online.  This is the first in a number of new developments into the service.  Further developments will include new telephone messages for those contacting by telephone to ensure customers are directed to the correct service as well as looking at new models on customer service and first contacts.  All of these developments are to continue to improve service to the public and professionals when dealing with Adult Social Care.

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The ACT Team has been set up by Gateshead Council to look at the High Cost Packages of Care within Gateshead. Part of this team looks at how we can introduce Technology Enabled Care into clients’ homes, helping them to become more independent. The ACT team comprises of social workers, assessing officers, occupational therapists and enablement officers working in conjunction with health colleagues to improve outcomes for people with learning disabilities. This team uses an asset-based model to review individual service users, promoting independence, achieving better outcomes and increasing the use of assistive technology. The team has successfully reduced cost whilst at the same time increased independence for many service users.