"They’re heroes!" Resident hails impact of social workers drop-in sessions

They joined council colleagues and other local professionals for outreach work in Chorley and Fleetwood recently.

Anyone is welcome to pop in for a chat about staying well, living independently and the team can advise where to access support close to home if you, your family or anyone you know needs it.

Local resident Tracy Robinson was volunteering nearby and spoke to the team in Fleetwood.

She said:

"They're going to give me support and it's amazing. They’re heroes, they’re literally heroes.

"I have carers, and they do an amazing job, but without any more help I wouldn't be able to live independently, I'd be stuck and it's given me the freedom to carry on with my life."

Chris Lyons, a senior Social Care Support Officer (SCSO) in the mental health team, said it's great to be able to have an informal chat with people who might need help.

He said:

"We can give people support to access services they might not ordinarily attend or go to.

"We also explore activities they might have done in the past and want to go back to.

"We link in with other agencies that provide support and tailor the support to each individual.  It's a great chance to speak to people and a good opportunity to help if they have an issue that needs resolving."

Councillor Graham Dalton, cabinet member for Adult Social Care, said:

"By taking our team out into the community, it means people can have conversations and access advice and support right on their doorstep. 

"People often feel more comfortable speaking about any concerns or issues in an informal setting like this, and we can point them to other agencies and groups for support too.

"The feedback we've had from the events in Chorley and Fleetwood has been really encouraging, and the team are looking forward to welcoming anyone else who wants to pop along for a chat at future events."