Dorset Partnership for Older People Programme (POPP)

Dorset POPP is a complex and ambitious, person centred programme, led by the needs, desires, and aspirations of Dorset's older people.

Dorset has been broken down into 33 'clusters' to ensure local focus and delivery of all elements of the programme.

The vision of Dorset POPP is 'to build supportive communities to enable older people to remain living in their own homes for as long as they wish' by developing responsive, appropriate services and activities at a localised level. Dorset POPP has created eight desired outcomes to enable us to achieve this vision:

Older People in Communities:

• Have housing suitable for individual needs
• Are socially integrated and not isolated
• Are making a positive contribution and experiencing fulfilment as a result
• Feel secure and safe
• Feel free from discrimination
• Feel financially secure
• Are in good health in mind and body
• Have dignity, choice and control throughout their life, especially towards the end

These outcomes now support the Ageing Well in Dorset strategy and action plan, the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, Safe And Independent Living (SAIL), Transforming Social Care, Transforming Community Services and the vision of Total Place.

Please see attached documents for more information

Vision and Desired Outcomes (pdf, 33kb) (opens in a new window)

Explanation of Desired Outcomes (pdf, 64kb) (opens in a new window)

Outcome Stories for Local Innovation Award Oct 09 (pdf, 165kb) (opens in a new window)

Dorset POPP - Most Significant Changes process (pdf, 274kb) (opens in a new window)

POPP Projects Final Report (pdf, 79kb) (opens in a new window)

Making a Strategic Shift Guide (pdf, 3Mb) (opens in a new window)

Making a Strategic Shift Key Messages (pdf, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)

• Background

  Dorset POPP was one of 29 national pilot programmes funded by the Department of Health (DoH) in 2006 to improve the quality of life for older people by making sure that opportunities are put in place locally to promote healthy lifestyles, independence and preventative services and activities.

• Community Development Workers

  Dorset POPP employs five Community Development Workers. Three have a geographic and generic responsibility for older people across the county and two have specialist responsibilities across the whole of Dorset.

• Wayfinder programme

  The role of the Wayfinders is to provide signposting and support to older people who may require information or activities to support health promotion and independence. There is Wayfinder coverage across each of the Dorset POPP 33 clusters and each Wayfinder works 9 hours a week.

• Champions Programme

  Previously known as POPP Community Leaders, the role of the POPP Champions is to challenge and change the way that services are provided to older people and to help to build supportive neighbourhoods so that older people can maintain their independence. There is POPP Champion coverage for each of the 33 Dorset POPP clusters and each Champion works 7 hours per week.

• Community Commissioning Fund

  Dorset POPP has a pot of money to fund locally identified opportunities, activities and services and has developed an application and appraisal process to enable groups of older people to bid in for seed funding to develop local initiatives relating to the promotion of health, well being and independence.

• Fiftyplus Forums

  Fiftyplus Forums are local independent action groups for people over the age of 50. They provide information about local services and developments, provide representatives to attend key partnership and planning meetings and run specific projects to meet local needs, as well as with with other Dorset Forums and local organisations to improve the quality of life for the over 50s. The Fiftyplus Forums provide a social network and also a way to have fun!

• Evaluation of Dorset POPP

  Dorset POPP began as one of 29 national pilots testing new ways of improving the health and well-being of older people and helping shift resources currently tied up in more acute 'secondary' health care services (e.g. hospitals) in order to invest in more preventative and locally based support.

• Contact the POPP Team

  If you would like more information about Dorset POPP, contact the Programme Manager, your local POPP Community Development Worker or our Administrator.