What are Community Services?
Community services include a wide range of health and care support provided outside of hospitals. These services are designed to help people in places like their homes, schools, workplaces, or local community centres.
The NHS Long Term Plan and the Government’s health strategy share a clear vision for the future of healthcare in England. Both recognise that community services are vital to providing care that works better for people. The goal is to reduce the need for hospital visits by offering more support closer to home.
This shift is based on the idea that care provided in the community is often more convenient, helps people stay healthier, and eases the strain on busy hospitals. The focus is on preventing problems before they become serious, offering early support, and making care more personal to each individual’s needs.
For Adults
Community services help individuals manage long-term health conditions, access rehabilitation, and receive care that promotes independence. For example, occupational therapists visit individuals at home to help them adapt their living spaces, enabling them to live more independently with conditions such as arthritis or mobility issues.
For Children
Community services ensure the health and development of young people by providing support in family and educational settings. Speech and Language Therapists provide care to children, both in schools and at home, who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing. Family support workers assist parents with children who have additional needs.
Separately, HCRG Care Group provides the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service & Healthy Child Programme across BaNES and Wiltshire. This includes school nursing, health screenings, mental health support, and the National Child Measurement Programme.
What community services aim to do:
- Make care easier to access.
- Prevent problems or catch them early.
- Provide personalised, compassionate support to people and families.
The NHS and the Government are investing in community services to make this vision a reality. By bringing together doctors, nurses, local councils, charities and the voluntary sector, we can provide joined-up care that meets people’s needs more effectively.
This plan represents a big change in how health and care services are delivered, putting more focus on helping people where they live and making sure they get the right support at the right time.
