A NEW approach to care has been welcomed by a senior councillor.

In response to a national shortage of carers and to meet the growing demand for care Flintshire Council, with the financial support of the Welsh Government and Cadwyn Clwyd, has introduced a new approach to increasing the number of carers able to deliver care to its residents.

The new approach is called Micro-Care, which describes very small businesses ranging from sole-traders up to businesses employing five people, who offer flexible and personalised care, support or well-being type services (such as shopping, cleaning or companionship) to vulnerable people, tailored to the individual’s needs.

Micro-carers can provide support or care to someone who has been formally assessed as needing care by the local authority and they can also offer a range of service solutions to people looking to purchase care or well-being services privately.

The micro-carers currently working in Flintshire include Cartrefle Care which offers personal care and support and is currently successfully supporting two customers in the Flint area, Myther Me which offers personal care and support services, alongside pet care and boarding kennels based in the Lixwm and Holywell areas, Katherine’s Home Care and Support which offers care and support services in the villages close to the Denbighshire border and Opal Care based in the Buckley area.

The council has said it has several other potential providers currently working through the programme which will hopefully be available to provide care and support within our local communities shortly.

Cllr. Christine Jones, cabinet member for social services at Flintshire Council, said: "During this difficult time, we, like many other people, have had to adapt our working practices and processes to provide essential services to our communities.

“Micro-care offers a different approach to providing vulnerable people with access to a range of much-needed personal services.

"I am sure Micro-care will be successful and will become an important part of how we provide care in our local communities.”

For more information on our micro providers please contact either Marianne Lewis or Rob Loudon on 01352 702126 or 01352 702461 for a chat, or email them at micro-care@flintshire.gov.uk.

The council is also keen to recruit more micro-carers across the county, so those who think they could help support people in their local community, or know someone who may be interested in becoming a micro-carer, is encouraged to get in touch.