Carr Gomm’s Argyll & Bute Responders share impact at European conference
Carr Gomm was invited to the European Social Services Conference in Malta to share the impact of their Responder Services across Argyll & Bute.
Operations Manager, Fiona Lawrence and Service Manager, Elaine McCormick, told the audience of public social service professionals about the innovative ways the Responders have supported people across the region to live safe and well in their home, where they want to be.
The audience of public social service professionals heard how this service has reduced the number of people having to go to hospital unnecessarily and how, during Storm Eowyn in 2025, the Responders teamed up with food providers and other public services to identify, check in on and deliver food and emergency items to 350 people.
Fiona Lawrence said: “We wanted to talk about our Responder Services because they are unique in how they support people across a wide geography in Argyll & Bute and, for such a small team, they have such a big and positive impact in our communities. The team’s knowledge has built up so much over the years, and we have strong partnerships with the emergency services and primary care teams. Our presentation opened up further opportunities to share our learning at other international events and we are thinking about how we can bring what we learned in Malta to benefit people we support in Argyll & Bute.”
The Responder Service made over 40,000 visits last year (April 2025 – March 2026) to people across Argyll & Bute. This includes responses to 2,200 telecare alarm calls per month. On average, over 700 welfare checks were made by Responders which reduced unnecessary police and ambulance call outs and supported families who live long distances from their relatives.
At the start of this year, the Care Inspectorate gave Carr Gomm’s Responder Services and Care at Home services in Argyll & Bute, a ‘Very Good’ rating. One person who is supported by Responders told the Inspectors that the team “were ‘angels’, explaining that when they ever had an emergency, they could simply press their alarm, and someone would be there to help them and make them feel safe”.
The Responder Service won ‘Team of the Year’ at our 2025 Time to Shine Staff Awards.