Safe and Well scheme
A scheme to help vulnerable people stay “Safe and Well” in their own home is being supported by St Albans City and District Council.
It involves home visits by trained workers to talk to people on what precautions to take to avoid a fire or accident.
Advice will also be offered on physical and mental health issues such as diet, smoking, loneliness and alcohol abuse.
Among the groups that will be targeted are the elderly and the disabled as well as people with addiction problems or poor mental health.
The visits will be carried out by a team of volunteers and specialist technicians from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS).
HFRS developed Safe and Well after realising fire safety visits to people’s homes could be expanded to include an assessment of their wider welfare.
They joined forces with Hertfordshire Public Health and Adult Care Services to launch the county-wide project.
People who feel they will benefit from a Safe and Well visit are able to book an appointment while others are referred by community groups.
A presentation about the scheme was given to a meeting of the Council’s Community Safety Scrutiny Working Group and members agreed to promote it.
The Council’s Community Protection team will be tasked with raising awareness of Safe and Well throughout the District.
Councillor Anthony Rowlands, the Working Group Chair and District Mental Health Champion, said: “This is an outstanding way of reaching out to elderly and vulnerable people in their own homes.
“A team of trained professionals will not only be making sure homes are protected from fire and other risks, but they will now also be checking on the health and general well-being of the occupants.
“There must be many people out there in the District who will greatly benefit from this kind of assistance and we need to get them involved in the Safe and Well Scheme.
“This will help us deal with some major public health issues that the Council has pledged to work on such as loneliness and poor mental health.”
Last year for a trial period, operational crews from HFRS also carried out Save and Well visits.
Discussions are being held at a national level to see if this should be added to the core roles of a firefighter.
To book a Safe and Well visit, please go to: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/Fire-and-rescue/Request-a-visit-from-the-fire-service/Request-a-visit-to-your-home-or-school.aspx
Alternatively, you can call Herts Help on 0300 1234 044 or contact your local fire station by phone or in person.
Councillor contact:
Anthony Rowlands, Chair of the Community, Environment and Sport Scrutiny Committee and Mental Health Champion of St Albans City and District Council.
Tel: 07761-232064 Email: anthonyrowlands@hotmail.com
Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 296130, E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk