A NEW service offering night care to vulnerable adults and carers has been launched in Thurrock.

Thurrock Council have secured £80,000 funding from NHS South West Essex and pledged another £26,000 to the scheme which aims to help adults who are frail or unwell live independently and safely in their own home.

The one-year pilot service will see a team of two trained and experienced carers respond to emergency and routine calls during the night.

The service can be used by anyone, they don’t need to be receiving a homecare service from the council.

Councillor Amanda Arnold, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said: “The service will meet a need which was identified by local people who had no one to care for them at home.

“With the numbers of elderly people in Thurrock growing at a faster rate than the national average, both the council and its partners have pledged to do all we can to provide innovative and flexible services which help residents to stay independent and in their own homes for as long as possible.

She added: “The service can help in a number of ways. For example in an emergency where someone needs immediate care support or if someone was a patient in hospital and has recently been discharged. The service is also available to carers who may need a bit of extra support.”

The out of hours service will be provided on a rotation basis for three months by each of the four homecare providers who provide services to Thurrock Council’s funded social care users.

For further information, contact Thurrock Council’s Emergency Duty Team on 01375 372468.