A new plan to link care agencies across the Braintree district through the internet has won the backing of a £435,895 Government grant.

Braintree District Council with partners including the Braintree, Witham and Halstead primary care group, is heading the Healthy Living Project, which will be piloted in the north of the district.

The Colne Valley project aims to link Health and social care agencies, local authorities and the voluntary sector through new technology.

Using laptop computers and websites the project will enable community workers to offer a one-stop shop of information for care agencies and communities.

Health visitors, social workers, council staff and voluntary workers will be trained to use the websites which could offer advice on issues like housing, transport, health and money matters.

The grant, made by the Department of the Environment, the Treasury Office and the Department of Health, will be used to set up an IT infrastructure and websites for the initial four partner agencies - Braintree Council, a local NHS Trust, Essex Social Services and Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency.

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