Swansea carers charity wins Welsh Government backing to invest in training and software

Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot, has received backing from Communities 2.0, the Welsh Government’s digital inclusion programme. The support will assist the organisation to upgrade business critical ICT equipment, increase efficiency and improve the flexibility of the working environment.

Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot is implementing its new ICT improvements after receiving an review from Communities 2.0. The review helped the organisation assess its existing equipment and identify training needs and this support will help the charity to upgrade its equipment and its computerised carer management software.

Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee and a network partner of the Carers Trust. It provides flexible respite care to carers including personal care, longer support service, outings, medical appointments, medication administration and delegated nursing tasks. Crossroads Care also has a young carers’ service that provides support to children aged 5-18 years. They provide trips, activities, a twice weekly youth club, emotional support and advocacy.

Their weekend day care service runs from Ysbryd-y-Môr in Port Talbot and it provides a full day of respite and is attended by up to 30 service users.

Crossroads Care SNPT provides an average of 75,000 care hours per year to around 350 carers and families.

The ICT investment will allow Crossroads Care SNPT to provide their mobile workforce access to the database and policies, improve ICT equipment for their staff, increase response times to clients and improve the flexibility of the working environment. This will be supported by staff training and it is hoped that this investment will enable them to grow, employ more staff and increase their service delivery.

Lynda Clark is Chief Executive Officer of Crossroads Care. She commented,

“We are delighted with success of our application and grateful to the Communities 2.0 officers who have assisted us through this process. We have no doubt that their extremely thorough ICT review has ensured we will have the ICT infrastructure we need to meet continue delivering effective respite care in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot."

Communities 2.0 project director Cathryn Marcus commented:

“Communities 2.0 is delighted to be able to add its support to the work that Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot undertakes. The organisation offers an essential service in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and this investment will help it to deliver its services more efficiently and effectively”.