2 Members of staff from PAVO’s Community Wellbeing
Team recently attended the Falls Awareness Symposium held in
collaboration between The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust WAST and Powys Teaching
Health Board with community health sectors to address falls, frailty
prevention, and integrated responses across the region.
It was an excellent opportunity to hear about work being done
which encompasses the wider themes of health and wellbeing at home and in the
community as a tool for preventative care.
We were able to talk about the befriending service, social
prescribers, community transport and volunteer hubs and the way in which we
share Health and wellbeing information with statutory services, across the
third sector and with awareness campaigns on our social media platforms.
It was great to be engaging with frontline staff who knew about
PAVO and wanted further clarification on our wide ranging reach
As part of the event, we delivered a talk introducing the Community
Wellbeing Team and explaining how we can help people access support,
information, advice and activities within their local communities.
Connecting people
with the right support
Our Community Wellbeing Team takes a holistic, person-centred approach.
Rather than focusing solely on medical needs, we take time to understand “what
matters” to each individual and help them identify the support and
opportunities that could improve their overall wellbeing.
For some people, this might mean reconnecting with a local group,
finding a regular social activity, becoming more active or developing
confidence and independence. For others, it may be about reducing loneliness,
strengthening their support network or finding activities that help them feel
more connected to their community.
Our team includes Community Connectors, Befriending Outreach
Officers, Social Prescribers and the Macmillan Community Connector,
providing a range of support through one Community Wellbeing Team.
Why awareness
matters
Events such as the Falls Awareness event provide an important
opportunity to raise awareness of the wider support available to people in
Powys.
Falls can have an impact beyond physical health. A person's confidence
and independence can also be affected, and they may become less willing to go
out, participate in activities or connect with others.
While the Community Wellbeing Team does not provide clinical falls
prevention services, we can help people explore the wider factors that
contribute to their wellbeing and support them to connect with appropriate
community-based activities and services.
Building confidence
and community connections
Social prescribing, the Befriending service and taking part in
volunteering can help people build confidence, develop stronger support networks
and increase their awareness of the community activities and assets available
to them.
Working together to
improve wellbeing
The Falls Awareness event highlighted the importance of partnership
working and making sure people know where they can turn for support.
By raising awareness of the PAVO Community Wellbeing Team, we can help
ensure that people who may benefit from additional support are aware of the
options available to them.
Our aim is to make those connections easier — helping people access
their local community, build confidence, strengthen their support networks and
take steps towards improved wellbeing.
If you would like to find out more about the PAVO
Community Wellbeing Team, or discuss making a referral, please contact us on
01597 828649 or email community.wellbeing@pavo.org.uk. Referrals
can be made by phone, email or through our online referral form and will be
triaged to identify the most appropriate member of the team.
For Further information on The Falls Prevention Team PTHB see the following link