What are micro services?
Micro care and support services have five or fewer paid staff and are based within the communities they serve. Due to their size, micro services are often able to offer very diverse, personalised and flexible support, such as:
- care and support at home
- breaks for carers
- meals or lunch clubs
- opportunities for exercise
- help with employment or volunteering
- making use of community facilities.
These services can be purchased by people funding their own care or by those getting help from the Council through a Personal Budget from Adult Social Care. Sometimes micro services are provided on a voluntary or barter basis, where no money changes hands.
Getting help for your business
We can provide advice for individuals, groups, community organisations or small businesses (with less than five full time equivalent paid employees). We can help you with:
- free market intelligence, based on what service users and Adult Social Care commissioners are telling us they want
- free advice and support in developing your business or idea from Adult Social Care and local business support organisations
- training and initial Criminal Records Bureau checks
- funding advice and details of local funding opportunities
- promoting your business, service or activity through events and the Support with Confidence scheme
- networking opportunities with other local ‘micro' providers.
Enquiries and mailing list
To find out what the Micro Market Development project can offer to existing and potential providers, or to join our mailing list to be kept informed of developments and future events, please contact:
Esme Hilliard
Phone: 01273 482750
Email: esme.hilliard@eastsussex.gov.uk
Download our guide for micro providers
This document includes sections on where to get support for your business, and detailed listings of sources of funding, tools and resources, and key contacts:
Please note: the information in the guide was accurate at the time of writing, but the availability of services and support listed may change. Please contact the organisations listed to check what they are able to offer you.
For more about the guide or to ask for a printed copy, contact:
Claire Caddick, Personalisation Development Admin Assistant
Phone: 01273 335670
Email: claire.caddick@eastsussex.gov.uk
Related information
November 2011
We held four promotional events in November to showcase local Micro providers and members of the ESCC Support with Confidence scheme.
This was an opportunity for service users, care managers and local people to see what these providers have to offer. It was also an opportunity for care managers and users of services to share their views with those providers still in the process of designing their services.
July 2011
Presentations from our latest free events:
Nearly 60 people attended earlier events around the county in May 2011, to share their ideas for new or diversified services, get advice on funding and business start-up, and find out about joining our Support With Confidence scheme.
2011 survey results
East Sussex County Council