1. What are Community Networks?

Community Networks provide a new way in which GP Practices and a range of health, social care and voluntary sector professionals will work more closely together.

2. How many community networks will there be in Swansea?

Community Networks will cover populations of around 30,000 to 50,000. There will be five community networks in Swansea, which are as follows (To download a copy of the map showing the community networks in Swansea, please click on 'Locality Map', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page):

• Bay Health
• Penderi
• Cwmtawe
• City Health
• Llwchwr

3. What is the purpose of the community network approach?

• Focus on preventing ill health, enabling people to keep themselves well and independent for as long as possible.
• Develop the range and quality of services that are provided in the community.
• Ensure services provided by a wide range of health and social care professionals in the community are better co-ordinated to local needs.
• Improve communication and information sharing between different health, social care and voluntary sector professionals.
• Facilitate closer working between community based and hospital services, ensuring that patients receive a smooth and safe transition from hospital services to community based services and vice versa.

A Primary and Community Services Framework Implementation Board (ABMU Swansea Locality) has been set up to steer the development of community networks within the Swansea Locality.

Dr Richard Tristham is the chair of the Primary and Community Services Framework Implementation Board (ABMU Swansea Locality) and is leading on this work for the Swansea Locality. Richard is a member of the Primary and Community Services Framework Implementation Board (ABMU) and reports to the implementation board on the progress of the Swansea Locality in developing the community networks.

4.2 Community Network Groups

There will be five community network groups in Swansea, one for each of the five community networks (as listed above).

The purpose of the community network group is to provide leadership in the development and provision of integrated health and social care services for the people within the community network area (the individuals that are registered for general practice care within the area).

The core community network group will be made up of the following individuals:

• GP Chair
• GP representation of each practice
• LHB Network Manager
• GP Manager
• Community Nursing Representative
• Adult Social Care/Integrated Services Manager
• Public Health Representative
• Voluntary Sector Representative
• Administrative and IT Support

The community network group will be dynamic and flexible and will call on other colleagues in response to the work of the community network.

5. How will the voluntary sector be included in these community networks?

A voluntary sector representative will be a key member of each of the five community network groups. Amy Meredith (Health, Social Care and Well Being Facilitator) will be the voluntary sector representative on each of the five community networks.

Services will be developed and delivered in a way that is responsive to the local needs of service users and patients. Therefore although the focus of all the community networks will be the same there will also be different projects/work streams being developed in each of the community networks, which will be dependent on the needs of the specific population (community network). For example there could be a high incidence rate of teenage pregnancies in a given community network area.

Amy will work to ensure that voluntary sector organisations are involved in the community networks. To use the example above when projects/services are being developed to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies in a given community network, Amy will ensure that the appropriate voluntary sector organisations are involved.

6. How can I find out further information about the community networks?

If you are a voluntary sector organisation and/or community group and would like further information about the community networks then please contact, Amy Meredith, Health, Social Care and Well Being Facilitator, SCVS by email to amy_meredith@scvs.org.uk or by phone on 01792 544028.

Please Note - The information contained on this web page can be downloaded in the format of a briefing, by clicking on 'Community Networks briefing', which you will find in the resources section to the right hand side of the page.