COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge

To ask the Chief Executive to report on demand for and supply of support by the Community Response in the Area covered by this committee, identifying any issues arising and detailing how the system is operating.

REPORT:

There have been 148 requests for assistance made to the South Dublin Community Call Helpdesk form the area covered by this committee. At the time of reply, there are no outstanding requests.

The overall objective of the South Dublin Community Response Forum is to facilitate and co-ordinate the most appropriate community response to the needs of vulnerable people living in the community where their usual sources of support become unavailable. It has specifically been established to lead the co-ordination of COVID-19 community supports and resilience, including:

Forum members   and  organisations working  collaboratively  (including  with third  party organisations) to identify vulnerable groups and          individuals in South Dublin County.

Ensuring delivery of targeted social care supports and assistance to those vulnerable groups and individuals.

Identifying issues  arising  through  Tus  Nua  /  Older  Persons  Council,  South  Dublin  PPN, community and other groups, and helpline calls.

Helping vulnerable individuals in isolation.

Ensuring the resilience of existing community services.

Harnessing offers of assistance from enterprises/businesses generally; and,

Collecting and mapping information on services and voluntary groups across the Country to help direct requests for assistance and identify gaps in service.

The Community Call Helpdesk manages requests for support  and  responses  on  a  priority  basis  and ensures appropriate follow up calls are completed where needed in line with agreed national community response protocols. Calls for assistance and support are logged by Community Call operators and assigned to voluntary groups or agencies for actioning as appropriate.

On average 35 calls a day are made to the Community Call Helpdesk, with 70% completed on a same day basis. All request for assistance to the end of week 5 i.e. to Sunday 3rd May have been closed and completed.

The Community Call Helpdesk is primarily for the purpose of contact being made by or on behalf of vulnerable persons who are isolated and for whom there are non-emergency and/or non-medical support gaps.  However, it is also possible for community and voluntary organisations to contact the Forum to provide details of volunteer supports and resources available locally. The helpdesk will deal with non-medical and non-emergency cases only and will, where necessary, refer callers to other statutory or voluntary services (including the HSE/An Garda Síochana in the case of emergencies) where the case is in relation to existing service provision.  Nationally agreed shopping protocols are being adhered to as is guidance on the collection and delivery of medication. A system of referrals to and from ALONE services is in place as is signposting to other relevant services. Helpdesk operators have a detailed information packs which are updated regularly, to enable them to respond to incoming calls 

All requests for assistance are logged by the Community Call Helpdesk operators and assigned to local community and voluntary groups to be actioned.