Health and social care services for adults in the Bridgend County Borough area are set to benefit from a newly announced appointment.
Bridgend County Borough Council and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board have named Dorothy Edwards as the area’s first joint locality director.
Dorothy will be responsible for developing a better co-ordinated service between the council and the health board to improve services for our older residents, vulnerable adults and people with physical and sensory impairments.
Council Leader Mel Nott said: “The council and health board have traditionally worked together in collaboration for the benefit of local people as many residents who require adult social care also have a need for services delivered by the NHS.
“With the significant challenges that we face for meeting current and future demand on our services, pooling our resources makes good sense.
“As part of this approach, we have already developed shared posts for tackling substance misuse and facilities such as the new Assisted Recovery in the Community centre, which was opened recently by First Minister Carwyn Jones. ”
The joint locality director will report to the Corporate Director for Wellbeing at Bridgend County Borough Council and to the Director of Primary, Community and Mental Heath Services at the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board.
Dorothy Edwards has a background in health service management spanning 18 years, most of which has been spent developing primary care and planning services in partnership with local government in the Swansea area.
Dorothy said: “I am delighted to be offered this exciting opportunity to bring health and social care services closer together.
“The new locality arrangements will mean that for the first time, the responsibility for planning and providing social care, front line primary and community health services, as well as a range of hospital services including community hospitals, will be under the same umbrella.
“This will really enable us to focus on providing care within people’s own homes and helping them to live independently within their communities.
“I am looking forward to getting to know Bridgend County Borough and the particular issues that affect people living within the area.”
