Medway Council and university sign up to help the elderly
The seal was set on a groundbreaking partnership between the University of Greenwich and Medway Council by their recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU commits the university and the council to working together to make Medway the place of choice for people wanting to work, train or research in the field of social care.
The signing took place in the university’s Pembroke building at Chatham Maritime. The MoU was signed on behalf of the council by Cllr Wendy Purdy, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, and Ann Windiate, Director of Community Services; and on behalf of the university by Professor David Wills, Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Cllr Purdy said: “Medway Council tries to enable people to live as independently as possible. The results of this exciting new partnership will support our wider plan to modernise older people's services in Medway.
“Our aim is to help people to keep active and healthy, and with the necessary resources available to them, so that they can remain a part of, and have an active involvement with, their local community as long as possible.”
Professor Wills said: “The University of Greenwich is excited by the prospect of closer working with Medway Council. It confirms the importance of the Medway area to our development, and we look forward to undertaking significant work on making Medway a centre of excellence in health and social care.”
The partnership will aim to :
- Increase the learning opportunities for people providing care services in Medway and students following professional training courses with the university
- Enhance the employability of students once they have graduated and, hopefully retain the best to work in Medway.
- Research and develop innovative services as well as challenge other professionals – engineers, IT specialists, designers and architects – to apply their skills and expertise to help people maintain their independence longer.
This is the first step in formalising an arrangement which will establish closer links between the university and a wide range of council services including not only care, but also leisure sports, recreation and telecare services.
For further information contact:
Nick Davison, 020 8331 8092
or e-mail N.A.P.Davison@greenwich.ac.uk