A NEW social care hub initiative has been launched to help people remain independent for longer.

With residential care and health services demand outstripping available service, What Matters–Scottish Borders provides additional ways of accessing social care and health services across the region.

The initiative has been developed with the support of the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) along with staff from Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, the voluntary sector and representatives from the local community.

The community hub model is an option that has been demonstrated to be highly effective, particularly in rural areas like the Borders.

Ettrick Valley resident and What Matters-Scottish Borders champion, Linda Jackson, said: “This is a great opportunity to test out a new way of getting public services nearer to people in rural areas and another way of increasing the use and importance of our village and community halls.

“We hope that people will take this chance to go and talk to the professional and voluntary organisation staff who will be available on a regular basis, where their aim will be to make it easier for people to find out more about social care and health support.”

What Matters-Scottish Borders will offer residents the chance to attend drop-in sessions in their own communities and meet with a range of professional staff and trained volunteers to get advice about social care needs, general wellbeing and independence.

It will initially be available to residents in Ettrick, Yarrow and Hawick, with the Partnership committed to rolling it out across the region in due course.

The launch of the new service took place on Wednesday in the Kirkhope Village Hall followed by a similar event in Yarrow Feus Village Hall.

Des McCart, Lead for Outcomes Based Commissioning at Health Improvement Scotland, added: “It is very appropriate that What Matters–Scottish Borders is being launched at the time that health and social care professionals across the country are being encouraged to have meaningful conversations with the people they work with through national What Matters to You Day, held on June 6.

“This annual event asks practitioners to listen even more carefully to what is important to the people they are engaging with so that they can make sure they are delivering the care and support people really need and want.

“Here in the Scottish Borders, What Matters is an opportunity for professionals and people needing services alike to work together and put these principles into practice in a real and meaningful way, by being right at the heart of local communities on a regular basis, listening to what people need and working out the most effective way that those needs could be met.”

What Matters-Scottish Borders will be available in Kirkhope Village Hall, Main Street, Ettrickbridge, first Wednesday of every month, from 10am to12noon, and Yarrow Hall, Yarrow Feus, first Wednesday of every month, 2.30pm to 4pm.

Appointments are being offered at the Burnfoot Community Hub for Hawick residents with the intention being that regular drop-in sessions will be available in the near future.

Elaine Torrance, Chief Officer Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “I am delighted that the first What Matters community hubs will now be available for the people of Ettrick, Yarrow and Hawick.

“This is a new and highly innovative way of getting advice and information out to the people who most need it, in their local communities, about the support that is available to help them to stay safe and independent at home.

“It is also an integral part of the Partnership’s ongoing commitment to improving access to services and working with localities to provide support to people who need some extra assistance. I look forward to seeing how it develops over the coming months and progressing with our plan to make it available in other communities.”