The Dalmellington Area Centre – An innovative approach successful in delivering services
Key contact: Irene Hall – Project Co-ordinator
Address: London Road Headquarters, Kilmarnock, KA3 7BU
Telephone: 01563 576264
Email: irene.hall@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
The Dalmellington Area Centre in a nutshell
At Dalmellington Area Centre, we house council, health and police services under one roof. We provide services to over 11,000 people in the Doon Valley and the Centre has brought a comprehensive range of public services to the heart of the local community.
The issues addressed
The Dalmellington Area Centre is the result of major investment from a range of partners to address the issues of access to services for people in one of the most disadvantaged communities of East Ayrshire.
The approach to the issues
The idea for the Dalmellington Area Centre was initiated through a commitment to decentralisation of services. There was also an awareness of the low quality in existing premises used for service delivery. It is a partnership initiative. The centre provides residents of the Doon Valley with easy access to a comprehensive range of public services. These include council services, doctors, dentists, the police as well as electronic service delivery by other government departments, including Job Centre Plus and Inland Revenue.
The centre was designed to produce several benefits in a single package, including:
• everyone working together under one roof
• new services delivered locally
• high street quality accessible accommodation
• increased uptake of services
• informal sharing of skills across agencies
• easier referral pathways between agencies
• value for money.
Setting up the work
While the project initially sought to create a one stop facility for Council services, the Council was keen to involve other partners in the project to maximise the use of available accommodation and extend the range of services available to the community. Because of their needs to improve the coverage and quality of their own facilities locally, Strathclyde Police and the Primary Care Trust joined the project team. Work started by preparing a scheme involving Council, Police and a range of Primary Health Care services.
Evidence of success
• Staff are already reporting the casual exchange of practice across departments and agencies:
“Having a range of professionals from Social Workers to Nurses and Housing Officers to GPs all located under the same roof makes my job a lot easier as I can just go directly to colleagues and seek advice or sometimes solve the problem there and then. Working so close to the other agencies in here has given me a better idea of what they all do and how our services can complement each other.”
• Partnerships such as Dalmellington are the bricks and mortar of community planning and provide an excellent template for future partnership developments. We provide more effective services to people in the area and our work has already led to the completion of similar smaller scale projects in Drongan, Kilmarnock and Rankinston.
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One great thing – Joined-up working
This is a practical example of the power of community planning and partnership working. Not only have funds and resources been pooled amongst public services to provide this innovative facility, but the co-location of employees from a range of different agencies under one roof has ensured continued co-operation and seamless access to public services.
The effort and energy that went in to creating the conditions for all of these agencies to come together in one place is a testament to the commitment of the agencies involved to find new and effective methods of service provision.
Based on the experience of the Dalmellington Area Centre and capturing the essence of partnership working, a ‘Perfect Partners - practical handbook has been developed.
Testimonials
The Dalmellington Area Centre has won three national awards:
• best Designed Primary Care Project – Building Better Healthcare Awards.
• first prize for Public Management Leadership - Office for Public Management 2002
• management Award for Primary Care - Health Service Journal Awards.
Lessons learnt
• Without effective partnership working in establishing the idea, clarifying the benefits and getting everyone on board, Dalmellington Area Centre could not have been the success it has been.
Our practical experience has informed the development of a partners’ joint premises toolkit for successful delivery of joint premises.
A final message
HRH The Princess Royal, officially opened the new Centre in September 2001 and commented:
“It is an inspirational and extremely practical idea to have all the public services and more, under one roof… It must have revolutionised the lives of those who live in the Doon Valley.”
