OPERATION SNOW ANGELS EVALUATION
A collaboration of organisations committed to improving the health and
wellbeing of vulnerable people in mid Cheshire during extreme cold weather.
Contents
Executive Summary
Section One: Operational Plan
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
Background
Outcomes
Project design
Local profile of excess winter deaths
Shared understanding of partnership activities and working arrangements
Priorities for inclusion in the pilot
Key recommendations from the National Support Team
Development of Snow Angels services
Development of a systematic approach
Funding arrangements
Section Two: Evaluation
2.1
Increase in access to preventative services
2.2
Increase in volunteering in local communities
2.3
Decrease in accidental injuries, illness and death and reduce social isolation
2.4
Improvements in partnership working and the development of an action
learning model
2.5
Impact Map
Section Three: Future Development
Appendix A List of Partners
Appendix B Cold Weather Conference
1
Executive Summary
Operation Snow Angel was a collaborative project recruiting volunteers to support
older and vulnerable people during extreme cold weather. The support offered was in
the nature of being a pair of “helping hands” or a good neighbour, to complement
services during periods of high demand. This pilot also aimed to develop a working
model which could be used in the future. There were sixteen partners involved in the
development of the scheme with representatives from the public sector, private
sector, and voluntary and community organisations. The project was developed in
response to the percentage of excess winter deaths in Cheshire West and Chester
being above the regional average. This is a key priority for the Ageing Well strand of
the Community Budgets programme “Altogether Better”.
Whilst the previous two winters have seen some extreme cold weather the winter of
2011/12 proved to be mild with very short spells of extreme cold weather. This did
however enable the main elements of the project including structure and design to be
tested.
The evaluation is based on the pilot that ran in Northwich and surrounding villages
from January to March 2012. The full details of the operational plan are included in
Section One. The evaluation is summarised in Section Two. It is based on the
primary aims of the original plan and includes the results of surveys to partners,
volunteers, and customers and a number of face to face interviews. The project had
a major impact in terms of reducing social isolation, increasing access to preventative
services, providing reassurance to older and vulnerable people and their carers,
improving partnership working, increasing volunteering, and offering support which
may have an impact on reducing accidents, illness and excess winter deaths.
Proposals for future development are included in Section Three and these are based
on discussions with a range of partners and consultation with customers and
volunteers. The two key recommendations are that this service should be extended
to provide support to people who are at the highest risk of excess winter deaths using
the model developed and building on partners’ expertise. Secondly, that this project
should operate seven days a week from late October until the end of March reflecting
the seasonal adjustments for daylight hours.
There are a number of options which could be considered in terms of funding future
schemes including contributions from the customers, external funding opportunities,
commercial sponsorship, and funding arrangements with the major partners including
the local authority and the NHS.
2
Section One: Operational Plan
1.1
Background
There are a number of organisations who deliver services to residents in the local area to
ensure that they are able to maintain an independent lifestyle. However adverse weather
conditions can mean that these services are either stretched or need to be delivered in a
more flexible way. There is also a need to ensure that services are co-ordinated and
accessible to the people who need them.
During the extreme cold weather in 2010/11 Community Partners Cheshire regularly
contacted their members and ensured that shopping was delivered by their drivers and that
other assistance was offered during the few weeks when their transport service was
suspended. Following discussions with other voluntary sector partners it became clear that
a larger number of potentially vulnerable people would receive assistance if the effort to
deliver services was coordinated. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service were also developing
an approach to Cold Weather Planning through the Local Resilience Forums and the Health
and Well Being Board. The Operation Snow Angel partnership was developed in October
(key partners are listed at the end of this document) and it was decided to pilot a project in
the Northwich area which could be used as a case study for a national conference in 2012.
Operation Snow Angel was designed to support older and vulnerable people in the local
community by bringing together existing services and improving access to these services,
via the support of Snow Angel volunteers, during periods of extreme cold weather. The
project included recommendations from the National Cold Weather Plan published in early
November 2011 and from the toolkit produced by the Health Inequalities National Support
Team through their report “How to reduce the risk of seasonal excess deaths systematically
in vulnerable older people to impact at population level” (2010).
1.2
Outcomes
The project aimed to deliver a range of preventative and responsive services based on the
needs of local people in the area with more intensive support being delivered to the most
vulnerable people in the community.
The outcomes that the project aimed to deliver were:
Increase in access to preventative services to enable people to keep warm and well
Increase in volunteering in local communities
Decrease in accidental injuries, illness and deaths caused by extreme cold weather
Decrease in social isolation during extreme cold weather periods
Improvements in partnership working across the community and voluntary, public and
private sectors
Development of a model through action learning
3
Longer term development of more resilient communities and support to vulnerable people
The measurements to be used include both quantitative measures e.g. number of hospital
admissions for falls and qualitative measures e.g. reduction in social isolation.
1.3
Project Design
The geographical area for the project was Northwich and surrounding villages and is
illustrated on the map below. This area is part of the Northwich and Rural West Area
Partnership Board and includes both urban and rural areas. The target client base for the
most vulnerable people was developed using data analysis of the routes for assisted bin
collections that included disability, age, and access to property information. Other
databases considered included the data sets that Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service use to
deliver Home Safety Assessments and a database of oxygen users. The number of people
in the proposed catchment area who are on the assisted bin collection route was nearly
1,300. The criteria for inclusion in the assisted bin collection scheme is strict and essentially
means that there is no-one in the household who is able to move the refuse bins to their
collection point and medical evidence can support the claim. These households included
people who are elderly with mobility issues or other disabilities, and people who have
difficulties remembering the collection times and days etc. Environmental Services were not
able to segment the list according to the various criteria they use although information
maybe available in this format in the future. Out of the total number of households who are
registered on the assisted bin scheme there were nearly 400 who are also registered with
the Careline scheme managed by Weaver Vale Housing Trust.
Households on the assisted bin collection route were sent a letter asking if they would like to
be involved in the scheme and asking them to phone the Response Centre at Weaver Vale
Housing Trust to register. When they registered the opportunity was taken to give them
general advice about keeping warm and well.
4
It was decided that the best trigger for extreme cold weather would be provided by the Met
Office via Age UK Cheshire who have access to the national alert system giving notice of
localised extreme weather conditions four days in advance.
In November 2009 the Office for National Statistics reported an estimated 36,700 excess
winter deaths for the period 2008/09 which was a 49% increase over the previous year. The
majority of these deaths occurred in people aged 75 years and over.
1.4 Local profile of Excess Winter Deaths (EWD)
“There is evidence that isolated elderly people can be vulnerable to excess winter deaths
whatever their social background. Other preconditions include fuel poverty and poverty,
poor housing stock, chronic disease and co-morbidities” (NHS Western Cheshire). The rate
of excess winter deaths in Cheshire West and Chester is higher than the average in the
North West (CWAC rate is 20.1 and the North West average is 17.6). The difference
between the actual death rate and the expected death rates is particularly high for Cheshire
West and Chester with regard to respiratory diseases. Because of this the oxygen user’s
database was also considered within the analysis. Further investigation of the excess winter
death data made it clear that it could not be used to predict where or who would be most
vulnerable but rather key factors would need to be covered. However the Joint Strategic
Needs Assessment for Cheshire West shows that nearly 75% of the incidence of excess
winter deaths was amongst the over 75’s, and that this accounted for 209 deaths in Cheshire
West and Chester in 2009/10. During this period the incidence of excess winter deaths were
highest amongst the more affluent areas. The key risk criteria were age, female, respiratory
or cardiovascular conditions, living alone, or living in nursing or residential care.
5
Discussions with East Cheshire NHS Trust meant that a structure was put in place for
Podiatry team and the Respiratory team to refer vulnerable patients into the scheme. This
was particularly important as there was no Community Matron in the Northwich area. The
intention was that District Nurses would circulate information about the preventative services
available along with sources of advice and information about keeping warm and well.
1.5
Shared understanding of partnership activities and joint working arrangements
All the partners were asked to complete a brief survey which asked for details of services
currently provided, needs of individual memberships, potential services etc. These results
were collated and shared with the partnership and formed the basis of developing the
scheme and the potential roles of the volunteers.
This consultation provided a basis for developing the types of referrals to services which
could be developed alongside the delivery of “helping hands” support which could be
delivered by the Snow Angels. In addition the recommendations from the National Support
Team for key interventions to reduce excess winter deaths were considered.
The partnership was a collaboration of partner organisations with Strategic Partnerships
Consultancy providing the role of Project Director.
1.6
Priorities for inclusion
The following table lists the potentially vulnerable groups for prioritisation for a Cold Weather
Plan. As this is a pilot exercise the plan has been limited to older adults and adults with
physical disabilities.
At risk Groups
Datasets
Scope
Over 75 years old
Home Safety Assessment
data for over 75’s?
In scope if need assistance
Frail
GP referrals
Potentially in scope
Pre-existing illness including
respiratory diseases e.g.
asthma
Oxygen users details held by
Cheshire Fire and Rescue
Service
In scope depending on levels
of assistance currently
available
Severe mental illness
Referrals possible through
Cheshire and Wirral
Partnership (CWP)
Out of scope for pilot
Dementia
May be included in assisted
bin round information
Potentially in scope
Learning difficulties
Referrals possible through
Cheshire West and Chester
Out of scope for pilot
Arthritis, limited mobility or
otherwise at risk of falls
May be included in assisted
bin round information
In scope
6
Young children
Children’s Centres
Out of scope for pilot
Living in deprived
circumstances
MOSAIC data
Out of scope – too generic
Living in homes with mould
Not unless deemed unfit
housing
Out of scope – information
not available
People living in fuel poverty
MOSAIC data
Out of scope
Elderly people living on their
own
May be included in assisted
bin round information
In scope
Homeless or people sleeping
rough
Housing Solutions Rough
Sleepers count
Rough sleepers targeted by
Police and Fire during
extreme weather to deter
people lighting fires in
derelict/empty buildings
Other marginalised groups
Recommended groups
include travellers and
analysis of Black, Asia &
Minority Ethnic (BAME)
community
Out of scope for pilot
1.7
Key recommendations from the National Support Team (NST) for Health
Inequalities
There are a number of key recommendations from the National Support Team to reduce the
number of excess winter deaths at a population level. These were considered during the
project design phase and it was possible to implement some of them in the timescale. The
key recommendations are summarised below:
That the most vulnerable people are living in houses that are safe and warm
Advice leaflets for keeping warm and well and gloves and socks were provided by Age UK
Cheshire and these were part of the registration process during the initial registration visit.
In addition large thermometers which clearly showed the optimum temperature range were
also delivered.
Referral processes to the Cheshire Warm Zone project, Cheshire West Citizen Advice
Bureau and Age UK Cheshire were established for extra support regarding keeping warm,
benefits or debt when needed.
Annual flu and pneumococcal vaccination and provision of annual medication review
and annual medicines utilisation review
7
This information is held by the relevant GP services. Through discussions with NHS
Western Cheshire it was agreed that the relevant permissions to share data would not be
able to be secured in the timescale available.
Implementation of personal brief health interventions, assessment and support
programme to prevent falls, and assessment for appropriate assistive technologies
The programme to prevent falls has been de-commissioned in this area and an assessment
is now provided through the Accident and Emergency services at Leighton Hospital. The
catchment for the pilot area also means that some people would access the Accident and
Emergency services in other hospitals particularly Warrington. There is a small telehealth
pilot being developed in Northwich and there is an established telecare project through the
Careline service operated by Weaver Vale Housing Trust.
Development of personal crisis contingency plan (e.g. including a buddy scheme),
where no close friends and families are available.
This is the basis of the Snow Angel volunteer scheme and aims to provide assistance to
vulnerable people during periods of extreme cold.
1.8
Development of Snow Angels services
The role of the Snow Angels will be to respond to requests for assistance during periods of
extreme cold weather to ensure that people are kept safe and warm. Suggested and
expected requests for support were around path clearance, making sure people are warm,
assistance with shopping, picking up prescriptions, and referrals to other agencies when
appropriate.
The Response Centre at Weaver Vale Housing Trust co-ordinated:



The initial registration of people opting into the scheme and recording details to
assess the levels of vulnerability and need. Registration included details of GP’s,
next of kin, specific services required, whether the person lives alone, age, and
medical condition, along with other relevant details.
Weekly telephone calls throughout the pilot to ensure that people are safe and warm.
Daily telephone calls through periods of extreme cold weather to assess needs with
support from Age UK Cheshire and Vale Royal Disability Services.
It was intended that the Response Centre and the Snow Angels would also



Determine which preventative services should be delivered including for example
benefit checks and insulation services, and refer to appropriate agency for telephone
contact and/or home visits.
Ensure a Home Safety Assessment is carried out with appropriate sign posting to
other services, including referrals to Careline to assess the potential need for
adaptive technologies.
Establish what other support services are already being delivered and make contact
with the providers.
8
1.9
Development of a systematic approach
The case management software system recorded customer details, information about the
Snow Angels key interventions which took place, contact details for GP and key workers and
any other interventions which have been provided. The database was web based to ensure
that the system could be kept up-to-date by nominated colleagues from different
organisations and closely monitored by the Co-ordinating Group. The Co-ordinating Group
included Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Local Resilience Forum, Cheshire Fire
and Rescue Service, Cheshire Constabulary, Weaver Vale Housing Trust, and a
representative from the NHS. The Co-ordinating Group had a number of roles: to ensure
that vulnerable people who have opted into the scheme had been contacted and provided
with additional help where necessary; to monitor the range of requests to establish any
patterns in the referrals; to provide and update the volunteers via SMS and email; and to
report relevant information to the appropriate contacts in the Emergency Planning structure.
During periods of extreme cold this group would meet daily and if necessary in a virtual way
(due to the weather). However as the weather was relatively mild all the partners were
provided with updates throughout the scheme via a weekly e-bulletin.
.
1.10
Funding arrangements
9
The project started in October 2011 with an initial meeting of the partners and at this stage
there was a small amount of funding for project co-ordination. The Northwich and Rural
North Area Partnership Board provided funding for equipment for the Snow Angels
volunteers including telescopic shovels, high visibility jackets, funding for heaters for
emergencies, large thermometers for customer houses, and gritting supplies.
The Department of Health funding was secured in mid-December through the “Healthy
People, Warm Homes” programme and this contributed towards the software development
and hosting fees, project management costs and communications such as press packs,
volunteer training and expenses.
Weaver Vale Housing Trust contributed towards the cost of the evaluation report of the
project and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Snow Angels Cathy, could you write CIC
in full are jointly supporting the costs of a conference to be held in September 2012.
In terms of cash contribution the total funding package was £22,000, however there was also
a significant investment from partners through in-kind funding, and the investment of time
from the volunteers. At a conservative estimate the value of volunteering would be £4,200.
Section Two: Evaluation
2.1
Increase in access to preventative services to enable people to keep warm and
well
During the planning stage a range of preventative services were identified that would be
useful to the group being targeted by the project. These services included access to
benefits advice; energy efficiency programmes including Cheshire Warm Zone which offers
free insulation and other measures; advice and information services; and home safety
assessments. These partners were contacted to ensure that they were aware of the scheme
and would be able to respond to Snow Angel referrals. In addition during the planning stage
and throughout the pilot other agencies contacted Snow Angels to register their services
including Mears Home Improvement Agency and Deafness Support Network.
The original plan was to send customers a range of leaflets about services when they
registered on the scheme by phone however a number of people requested that they were
not sent them. At the introductory visit customers were asked if there was anything that they
needed any help with or would like any further information about services and some generic
leaflets were left with customers. The number asking for further information was low and
whilst a few referrals were made to other organisations they did not reflect the issues that
older people were dealing with. A particularly difficult area was around benefits and several
people on disability living allowance, whilst stating that their disabilities had worsened over
the last few years, were not prepared to explore the potential for additional financial help.
They expressed concern that cuts in central government funding would mean that their
existing benefits could be reduced or withdrawn.
However the majority of people who responded to the evaluation postal survey, said they
would like further information about a range of services, particularly handyman services.
10
This may be because the trust and confidence developed through the Snow Angels project
was being transferred to other services offered.
The project produced over 60 requests for referrals to services demonstrated in the Impact
Map (see below). Access to these types of service will have benefits for differing
stakeholders. For example, the NHS home adaptations service will enable older people to
live independently for longer, reduce the impact of long term conditions and potential
accidents and falls which impacts on Adult Social Care as well. Improvements in energy
efficiency (and associated reductions in fuel poverty) will have an impact on longer term
health conditions that are affected by cold and damp including cardio-vascular conditions,
respiratory conditions, and arthritis.
The customers requested a list of trusted trades companies they could use. Following Age
UK Cheshire advice Trading Standards at Cheshire West and Chester were approached to
develop the list. Unfortunately the number of local companies in this scheme was very low.
2.2
Increase in volunteering in local communities
There were a number of different routes for volunteering including volunteering as an
individual and through the employer. The scheme had 42 volunteers. The individual
volunteers were hosted through Cheshire Community Development Trust. Organisations
11
who provided volunteers included Age UK Cheshire, Vale Royal Disability Services,
Groundwork Cheshire, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, Cheshire Constabulary, Weaver
Vale Housing Trust, Cheshire Community Development Trust, and Cheshire West and
Chester. There were two training sessions to accommodate volunteer’s working patterns,
and the session covered issues such as safeguarding and driving in winter conditions.
Volunteers were from a range of backgrounds and included several people from Parish
Councils and a faith group in Weaverham who were interested potentially developing
something similar in their local community.
The volunteers were asked to complete an evaluation survey to register their experience of
being a volunteer with the scheme. All the volunteers who responded to the survey found it
easy and straightforward to register, understood the paperwork involved, understood the
reasons for Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checking and would be willing to take part in a
similar project again.
The Snow Angel pilot operated from Monday to Friday each week, this did mean that some
of the volunteers were not able to take part due to other commitments. Whilst the training
was well received all the volunteers felt that it would have been useful to have a handbook
for reference, including details such as the security codes numbers for the emergency heater
storage. All the volunteers were willing to volunteer again for a future scheme and they were
all interested in developing a scheme in their local community.
There were several face to face interviews and a feedback session was also held for
volunteers. The comments from the volunteers included;
“Don’t have it limited to Monday to Friday – the vulnerable still need help during the evening
and weekends.”
“This is one of the most worthwhile volunteering opportunities I have ever taken part in; it
makes me so proud to do my little bit to help others in the community.”
“Profile key locations to see if there are any potential issues that if resolved could help local
residents to deal with extreme weather conditions e.g. sloping footpaths and streets, local
shop delivery arrangements”.
Volunteers also came forward following the TV coverage of the scheme on Daybreak and
Granada Reports including a group of ladies who knitted blankets for the scheme.
12
2.3
Decrease in accidental injuries, illness and death and decrease in social
isolation during extreme cold weather periods
There were 82 people registered on the scheme and over 75 % of people were living alone,
and 25 customers had self-reported cardiovascular conditions. Only two customers were
oxygen users. In terms of age profile 76% were 75 years old and over. The MOSAIC
classifications of customers showed that the majority were groups from groups A, H, I and D
which includes people from more affluent communities.
The software showed the customers on a map, along with volunteers, and respective risk
factors.
13
Despite the extreme weather of previous years, the winter of 2011/12 was mild. However
the customer feedback demonstrated that this element of “knowing that someone cared” was
extremely valued and that social isolation is not limited to periods of extreme weather.
The customer evaluation was carried out using a postal questionnaire and there was a
response rate of nearly 65%. A representative sample of the responses to the main
questions is included below.
Why did you register with the Snow Angels scheme?
“My husband and I are both arthritic and fear falling especially in icy weather. Our friends
are getting too old to help us, and we felt we needed help clearing the drive if the weather
became dangerously snowy etc.”
“I registered my mother because she has Alzheimer’s and I can’t be with her 24/7. She has
carers but they are not there all day.”
“Having a number to call for help is comforting.”
“I live alone and am 88. My family live quite a long distance away and having two bad
winters to contend with I thought Snow Angels was a very good idea.”
“I felt that someone cares enough to help.”
“Because I live alone and my family thought it was a good idea.”
14
“My husband has been ill and now unable to do work such as snow clearing or going out on
icy roads. Thought it was an excellent idea if we had an emergency e.g., shopping that we
could ring Snow Angels and they bring essentials.”
How would you like to see Snow Angels develop?
“In any way your volunteers can manage.”
“Into a major concern, as it was very nice to know that there is always people there to help.”
“Wish they could take you to the doctors.”
“I feel that it should operate at the weekends and have a register of honest workmen. Our
builder/woodworker is old now too!”
“Keep up the good work and attract more volunteers.”
“Very happy with the scheme as it was – ideal for my purposes.”
Do you feel that the project would have been of use during extreme cold weather like
last year?
There was a resounding yes to this question– all the respondents felt that the scheme would
be of use during extreme cold weather and wanted it to continue.
Was the telephone contact during the scheme useful?
All the respondents felt that the telephone contact was useful and there were many
references to the reassurance it provided.
“Just to see if I was all right, and indeed a welcome voice to talk to – it is very re-assuring.”
“It was good to know someone was checking that I was OK and if I needed anything.”
“Yes if I needed anything I could have asked, for people like me who are independent and
don’t like to ask for help, you threw us a lifeline.”
“Yes it was good to have the regular call each week giving the thought that Snow Angels
were totally dependable – doing what was said at our first interview.”
The focus group with the Response Centre at Weaver Vale Housing Trust suggested that
the weekly phone calls could be reduced in frequency as a fairly low percentage resulted in
further action. However it is clear from the customer response that the phone calls were
valued by the customers and were having an impact on wellbeing.
Were the visits made by Snow Angels useful?
Initially the full registration of customer details was planned to be completed over the phone
including details of next of kin, key holders, preventative services needed etc. However after
several calls it became clear that this would be much more effective if it happened face to
face and this would also give the opportunity to explore any immediate issues. Therefore
the majority of customers had an introductory visit to explain the scheme and complete the
registration details, and some customers had an additional visit if they requested help.
15
“Very useful. They arranged a special alarm with the Fire Brigade because I am deaf and
cannot hear the fire alarm.”
“I had one initial visit and it helped to know there was someone else to turn to.”
“They just made me feel they cared.”
“The one I had was, as there was going to be a ground frost and someone came to put grit
down.”
2.4
Improvements in partnership working across the community and voluntary,
public and private sectors and the development of an action learning model
The partnership evaluation was carried out using Survey Monkey and was also discussed at
various partnership events. All the partners were interested in being involved in a future
scheme and thought that the scheme made a positive contribution to the wellbeing of older
people. About half of the partners who responded to the questionnaire had not been aware
of the issues of excess winter dealth prior to the project and just over half of partners
confirmed that they would be changing their working practices in the future.
“It has been wonderful to understand vulnerable people’s point of view and what they need.
There is a lot of very independent people out there who just need a bit of extra support when
the weather is extreme and a scheme like this almost allows people/volunteers to be “good
neighbours.”
“The partnership working was excellent and has increased networking.”
“Generally very good learning through action—though of course we would probably have
learnt more if we have had more severe weather conditions.”
“Better identification/selection procedures to identify more people who are likely to be at risk
in severe winter weather. Not least those who live in private accommodation.”
“Scaling up and being an option on the menu of services re hospital
discharge/Reablement/LTC’s/primary care.”
The partnership evaluation included a focus group with the Response Centre staff at Weaver
Vale Housing Trust. The staff were all supportive of the scheme and had enjoyed being part
of a wider initiative.
The scheme was supported and co-ordinated using a software package developed and
hosted through Blue Door Software Company. Training was provided to lead organisations
who nominated “super-users” and a series of meetings were held to discuss alterations to
the software as the scheme was implemented. The feedback from all the users was
extremely positive. The software meant that the Response Centre at Weaver Vale Housing
Trust could schedule and monitor calls and deploy Snow Angels; Cheshire Community
Development Trust could communicate with all the volunteers and referrals could be made
to other services for example requests for adaptations. The software recorded the main
contact details and risk factors for all the customers and details of all the Snow Angels.
16
There was a high level of interest from the national and local media with TV coverage
through ITV Daybreak and Granada Reports, and requests from the BBC (who lost interest
once they learned that ITV had already covered the story). There were also articles in
“AGEnda” the newsletter for the English Forums on Ageing and a number of websites
including the Met Office. Local coverage was provided through the Northwich Guardian.
There were clear links with the climate change agenda and the Cheshire and Warrington
partnership were represented on the Steering Group for Snow Angels, and a presentation
about the scheme was made to a regional seminar including Department for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency.
Press packs were sent to all the communications staff in partner organisations and a number
of them carried the story on their web pages.
The Snow Angels project was presented at the West Cheshire Together conference as an
example of good practice, and was one of four exhibitors at the national conference about
Cold Weather Planning held by the Health Protection Agency and the Department of Health
(attended by the Secretary of State for Health).
2.5
Impact Map
The cost per customer is £268 for the twelve week period or £22 per week per customer.
However this included all the start-up costs of developing an action learning model for future
development and the numbers of customers on the pilot scheme were kept at a low level to
ensure that the scheme was deliverable.
The potential savings to the scheme include: reduction in falls, reduction in admissions to
hospital, improvements in discharge times for patients, and a reduction in carer costs.
Whilst it is possible to quantify these using a Social Return on Investment model the
numbers are small and a projected forecast may be unreliable. However in terms of cost
recovery the scheme would only need to prevent 5 falls resulting in simple hip fractures to
recover the expenditure (just over 5% of the total customers) using the estimate of £5,000
per simple fracture.
Through the evaluation a number of customers highlighted that they would be willing to
contribute to the cost of the services and several people asked how they could make
donations. This information was not specifically sought as part of the evaluation and further
research would be needed to quantify this.
17
Stakeholders
Intended/unintended changes
Inputs
Who will we have an effect on?
Who will have an effect on us?
What do we think will change for
them?
What will they
invest?
Customers
Reduction in falls and fear of falls
and accidents
Time
Customers
Improvement in confidence
Time
Customers
Knowing someone cares
Time
Customers
Improved access to services
Time
Customers
Reduction in social isolation
Partners
Improved awareness of excess
winter deaths
Time
Time,
commitment,
experience,
training
Partners
Partners
Partners
Improvements in partnership
working
Development of a model for future
action
Commitment to future working in
this area
Time
Time
Time
Cheshire West and Chester
Borough Council
Reduction in care costs
Time
NHS
Reduction in admissions to hospital
Time
NHS
Improvement in discharge times for
patients
Prescription delivery
NHS
Improvements in mental well being
Time
Snow Angels
Improvement in mental wellbeing
through helping others
Time
Snow Angels
Increased contact with older people
Time
Snow Angels
Development of skills through
involvement in project
Time
Northwich Area Partnership
Board
Delivery of project in area
Cash
Department of Health
Contribution to reducing fuel
poverty and excess winter deaths
Cash
Northwich Area Partnership
Board
Improved rates of volunteering in
local communities
Time
Weaver Vale Housing Trust
Improved service delivery to
tenants and Careline customers
Cash
NHS
Time
Time
Total
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Logic Model (Based on GHK, 2011)
Rationale
The main aims of the pilot were to increase access to preventative services,
increase volunteering, reduce social isolation, reduce ill health during extreme
cold weather, improve partnership working, develop an action learning model,
and develop more resilient communities.
Inputs
Activities
Outputs
Impacts
Department of
Development
Reduction in social Improved mental well
Health
of partnership isolation
being
plan
Cheshire West and
42 volunteers
Reduction in hospital
Chester Council
Recruitment
recruited
admissions
Cheshire Fire and
and training of Software and
Improvement in
Rescue Service
volunteers
management
discharge times
system tested
Improved partnership
Weaver Vale
Recruitment
working
Housing Trust
of customers
Call system
Increased
NHS
Development
through Response volunteering and
of software
Centre developed
more resilient
Cheshire Police
Delivery of
communities
support to 80
Over 80
Cheshire
customers
customers
Improved rates of
Community
Referrals to
supported
independent living
Development Trust other
Reduced fear of
Changes in working
agencies
falling in extreme
practices for
Groundwork
weather
organisations
Cheshire
Evaluation of
pilot
Increased access
Model for future
Snow Angel
to other services
action
Volunteers
Delivery of
Development of
Blue Door
thermometers,
social enterprise –
Software
warm clothing,
Snow Angels CIC
blankets
SPC Ltd
Age UK Cheshire
Snow Angel
Volunteers
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Section Three: Future Development
The original aim of Operation Snow Angel was to provide services to help to reduce excess
winter deaths. There have been a number of suggestions from partner organisations,
customers and volunteers that the scheme should operate throughout the year and the
scheme has clearly had an impact on wellbeing.
However if the original aim is retained then the scheme should operate throughout the
winter. The partners agreed that the scheme should operate from late October to the end of
March, reflecting the changes in daylight hours, and volunteers should be called out during
periods of extreme cold weather and snow. The scheme should also operate seven days a
week. The alerts from the Met Office whilst useful did not always reflect local conditions and
an element of interpretation of the local situation was at times needed.
There were a number of organisations with volunteers who with a longer lead in time could
be more heavily involved in the project such as Rotary, Cheshire Lowland Rescue, and
Raynet. Also other organisations could be approached from the faith sector through Link Up
along with other umbrella organisations such as the Woman’s Institute.
The response from Town and Parish Councils was very positive with a number of volunteers
responding to an email sent from the Northwich and Rural North Area Partnership Board
Team and a clear role should be developed for these organisations including recruiting
volunteers, identifying vulnerable older people who meet the risk criteria for excess winter
deaths, and providing local gritting supplies.
Whilst encouraging resilience in local communities it is also important to have some central
infrastructure through the provision of training, call centre, volunteer support, software
support and project development, management and evaluation.
Snow Angels Community Interest Company has been established as a social enterprise by
Blue Door Software Company Ltd and Strategic Partnerships Consultancy Ltd and further
details are on the web site www.snowangels.org.uk
There are a number of sources of potential funding including external funding opportunities,
contributions from the customers (a number were willing to pay for the service although they
were not specifically asked about contributing to the scheme), commercial sponsorship
through associated products, commissioning arrangements with local authorities, the NHS
and other public sector organisations.
A regional conference on Cold Weather Planning is being held on the 14th September jointly
sponsored by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Snow Angels CIC and a copy of the
programme is at Appendix B.
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Appendix A Partner Organisations
Northwich Area Partnership Board
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Department of Health
Weaver Vale Housing Trust
Groundwork Cheshire
Age UK Cheshire
Cheshire Community Development Trust
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Vale Royal Disability Services
Cheshire West CAB
East Cheshire NHS Trust
Western Cheshire PCT
Cheshire Constabulary
Blue Door Software
Environment Agency
Cheshire and Warrington Local Resilience Forum
Cheshire Community Action
Mears Home Improvement Agency
Supporting People
Northwich Town Council
Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT
Strategic Partnerships Consultancy Ltd
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Appendix B
Cold Weather Planning in the North West
September 14th 2012
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services HQ, Winsford, Cheshire
Programme
9.30 am
Registration and coffee
10.00 am
Introduction and Welcome – Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Key Note Speakers
10.15
Evaluation of the Cold Weather Plan, Frank Whiteford, North West Strategic Health
Authority
Key interventions to prevent Excess Winter Deaths, Professor Chris Bentley, National
Health Inequalities Unit
Extreme Weather and Community Resilience, (speaker to be confirmed) DEFRA
Question and Answer Session
11.30
Coffee Break
12.00
Operation Snow Angel, Cathy Boyd, Director, Snow Angels CIC
12.30
Lunch and Networking
Opportunities to visit emergency planning suite, software demonstration, exhibitors etc.
13.30
UK Public Health Association & Greater Manchester Fuel Poverty Initiative, Les Laws,
Salford City Council
14.00
Spring Board Scheme – Ken Clemens, Chief Executive, Age UK Cheshire
14.30
Keeping Warm in Later Life (KWILLT) project, Amanda Stocks for the Centre for
Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University
15.00
Round Table discussions
Identifying the main challenges in your areas
15.30
Q and A Session
16.00
Closing Remarks
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Thanks to Western Cheshire NHS and particularly Alison Paul, GHK Consulting, and
Weaver Vale Housing Trust for their support in producing this evaluation report.
For further information please contact Cathy Boyd on 0788 151 0304 or email
cathy@snowangels.org.uk or Chris Hill on or email chris@snowangels.org.uk or visit our
website www.snowangels.org.uk
Copyright © 2012 Snow Angels Cheshire CIC. All rights reserved
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