The Department of Health began a 12 Week consultation on 29 January 2010 concerning the charging arrangements for residential social care.
Views are sought on proposed amendments to the residential charging arrangements suggested by a stakeholder group. The consultation will close on 23 April 2010.
Read more
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Relieving the pressure
The Audit Commission has made a series of recommendations to deal with the challenges of caring for a growing ageing population as public spending decreases.
Published in February 2010, recommendations are detailed in the report 'Under Pressure - tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population'. It states all councils should:
• update their sustainable community strategy, medium-term financial plans and service strategies to prepare for the impact of an ageing population
• build older people’s opinions and experiences into plans for services that deliver what older people need and value, and also deliver better value for money
• update commissioning strategies to reflect future roles in preventing, reducing, or delaying, health and social care costs.
Councils with social care responsibilities should also:
• use unit cost data and benchmarks to identify priorities for short-term change; and aim to reduce residential care costs below the Department of Health’s suggested target of 40 per cent of the budget for older people’s care services
• develop an action plan for medium-term change to meet the financial challenge
• work with partners, and older people, to develop an area-wide approach to later life that delivers value for money by integrating prevention, early intervention and care services
• use delivery chain analysis to overcome obstacles to joint working in reducing needs for hospital admissions and high-level residential care support.
The Audit Commission is providing tools to support the report, plus further analysis and guidance to achieve value for money in social care, and for strategic financial management.
Read more
Published in February 2010, recommendations are detailed in the report 'Under Pressure - tackling the financial challenge for councils of an ageing population'. It states all councils should:
• update their sustainable community strategy, medium-term financial plans and service strategies to prepare for the impact of an ageing population
• build older people’s opinions and experiences into plans for services that deliver what older people need and value, and also deliver better value for money
• update commissioning strategies to reflect future roles in preventing, reducing, or delaying, health and social care costs.
Councils with social care responsibilities should also:
• use unit cost data and benchmarks to identify priorities for short-term change; and aim to reduce residential care costs below the Department of Health’s suggested target of 40 per cent of the budget for older people’s care services
• develop an action plan for medium-term change to meet the financial challenge
• work with partners, and older people, to develop an area-wide approach to later life that delivers value for money by integrating prevention, early intervention and care services
• use delivery chain analysis to overcome obstacles to joint working in reducing needs for hospital admissions and high-level residential care support.
The Audit Commission is providing tools to support the report, plus further analysis and guidance to achieve value for money in social care, and for strategic financial management.
Read more
Casebook for efficiency
The Efficiency casebook is a practical guide to support given by RIEPs on efficiency, procurement and transformation.
Available from the IDeA, the casebook illustrates how collaboration unlocks efficiencies for local authorities and their partners by:
• procuring goods and services collaboratively to secure better deals
• transforming services to reduce running costs and improve services for customers
• ensuring innovation is embedded within procurement and transformation programmes.
Read more
Available from the IDeA, the casebook illustrates how collaboration unlocks efficiencies for local authorities and their partners by:
• procuring goods and services collaboratively to secure better deals
• transforming services to reduce running costs and improve services for customers
• ensuring innovation is embedded within procurement and transformation programmes.
Read more
Top tips for improving outcomes
A guide for members on how to make savings through better commissioning of adult social care is available from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).
One of a series on procurement, the 'Members guide: top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care', gives advice on improving results and ensuring services are cost effective.
Local authorities spend approximately £18 billion each year on adult social care including £11.6 billion on external providers.
Download the guide here
One of a series on procurement, the 'Members guide: top tips on improving outcomes through better commissioning of adult social care', gives advice on improving results and ensuring services are cost effective.
Local authorities spend approximately £18 billion each year on adult social care including £11.6 billion on external providers.
Download the guide here
New registration system for adult health and social care
From April 2010, all health and adult social care providers will be required by law to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
To do so, providers must show they are meeting new essential standards of quality and safety across all of the regulated activities they provide.
The new system will make sure that people can expect services to meet essential standards of quality and safety that respect their dignity and protect their rights. It will focus on outcomes rather than systems and processes, and places the views and experience of people who use services at the core.
Read more
To do so, providers must show they are meeting new essential standards of quality and safety across all of the regulated activities they provide.
The new system will make sure that people can expect services to meet essential standards of quality and safety that respect their dignity and protect their rights. It will focus on outcomes rather than systems and processes, and places the views and experience of people who use services at the core.
Read more
Coventry’s drive for excellence
Coventry’s safeguarding board has prioritised three areas for action in its drive to develop excellent safeguarding practices in the city.
This follows publication last December of the Care Quality Commission’s annual performance ratings in which Coventry’s adult social care services were rated as performing well for safeguarding as part of the ‘maintaining dignity and respect’ outcome.
The priorities are to:
• use personal stories to shift attitudes and drive practice change
• continue to improve multi-agency and partnership work
• continue to ensure users are at the heart of all safeguarding work undertaken.
Director of Community Services, Brian Walsh, said: “the priorities were identified at our recent Safeguarding Adults Board away day. We implemented a programme of significant change and development last year, and this resulted in a positive rating from CQC.
“We will now build on these achievements by focusing on three areas for action to ensure vulnerable people in our city are safeguarded from abuse.”
For details contact: Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director, Adults Social Care on 02476 833402
This follows publication last December of the Care Quality Commission’s annual performance ratings in which Coventry’s adult social care services were rated as performing well for safeguarding as part of the ‘maintaining dignity and respect’ outcome.
The priorities are to:
• use personal stories to shift attitudes and drive practice change
• continue to improve multi-agency and partnership work
• continue to ensure users are at the heart of all safeguarding work undertaken.
Director of Community Services, Brian Walsh, said: “the priorities were identified at our recent Safeguarding Adults Board away day. We implemented a programme of significant change and development last year, and this resulted in a positive rating from CQC.
“We will now build on these achievements by focusing on three areas for action to ensure vulnerable people in our city are safeguarded from abuse.”
For details contact: Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director, Adults Social Care on 02476 833402
Giving care and reassurance in Birmingham
Use of low level, stand alone telecare equipment in Birmingham is helping to keep service users safe and reassure their carers.
The city’s telecare service recently carried out a review of the impact of standalone telecare equipment during 2009/10, and have compiled the following summary of results (Client names have been changed):
Keith, 74 years, Just Checking (electronic sensor monitoring system) – Is proving very helpful to the family. User had assured his daughters he was going to bed and sleeping well, but they were worried because his bed often appeared not to be slept in. Just Checking confirmed that he rarely went upstairs, and cat-napped in his armchair, getting up frequently during the night. The family moved his bed downstairs. His sleep, and general functioning, improved.
Connie, 80 years, Pill Dispenser (automatically dispenses pills at programmed times) -Equipment a brilliant help. Daughter much less stressed when she saw her mother was taking medication regularly. Although use of the dispenser stopped when Connie moved into a nursing home, it helped maintain her independence for longer than envisaged –she was on the verge of being admitted to care when equipment was supplied.
John, 88 years, Pill Dispenser - Equipment proving a “godsend” to son and daughter who care for John. He functions better with a controlled medication regime.
Barbara, 64 years, Bed Exit Monitor - Equipment really helpful to daughter. Instead of leaving her bedroom door open and listening for her mother getting up, she could sleep much better knowing the pager would alert her should her mother get out of bed.
Helen, 88 years, Just Checking - Daughter reported: “while mom was living on her own in the flat, the system gave us all peace of mind, and although circumstances dictated that we could not be with her 24 hours a day, at least we could check that she was OK. Thank you for the excellent service."
Francise, 88 years, Just Checking - Family say it is an absolutely brilliant system. Daughter in Spain monitors the data. It gives her something to talk about when she calls her mother. Any concerns can also be discussed with other family members. The system has considerably improved the family’s quality of life and continues to help Francise be independent.
Peter, 67 years, PIR Sensor & Pager - Peter was terminally ill and confined to a medical bed. He could only be discharged home if equipment was in place to alert his wife should he try to get up. Due to the size of his bed he had to sleep downstairs and his wife slept upstairs. Peter died 5 weeks after returning home. However his wife reported it was marvellous to have use of the equipment which gave her peace of mind, and allowed Peter to pass away at home with dignity
The city’s telecare service recently carried out a review of the impact of standalone telecare equipment during 2009/10, and have compiled the following summary of results (Client names have been changed):
Keith, 74 years, Just Checking (electronic sensor monitoring system) – Is proving very helpful to the family. User had assured his daughters he was going to bed and sleeping well, but they were worried because his bed often appeared not to be slept in. Just Checking confirmed that he rarely went upstairs, and cat-napped in his armchair, getting up frequently during the night. The family moved his bed downstairs. His sleep, and general functioning, improved.
Connie, 80 years, Pill Dispenser (automatically dispenses pills at programmed times) -Equipment a brilliant help. Daughter much less stressed when she saw her mother was taking medication regularly. Although use of the dispenser stopped when Connie moved into a nursing home, it helped maintain her independence for longer than envisaged –she was on the verge of being admitted to care when equipment was supplied.
John, 88 years, Pill Dispenser - Equipment proving a “godsend” to son and daughter who care for John. He functions better with a controlled medication regime.
Barbara, 64 years, Bed Exit Monitor - Equipment really helpful to daughter. Instead of leaving her bedroom door open and listening for her mother getting up, she could sleep much better knowing the pager would alert her should her mother get out of bed.
Helen, 88 years, Just Checking - Daughter reported: “while mom was living on her own in the flat, the system gave us all peace of mind, and although circumstances dictated that we could not be with her 24 hours a day, at least we could check that she was OK. Thank you for the excellent service."
Francise, 88 years, Just Checking - Family say it is an absolutely brilliant system. Daughter in Spain monitors the data. It gives her something to talk about when she calls her mother. Any concerns can also be discussed with other family members. The system has considerably improved the family’s quality of life and continues to help Francise be independent.
Peter, 67 years, PIR Sensor & Pager - Peter was terminally ill and confined to a medical bed. He could only be discharged home if equipment was in place to alert his wife should he try to get up. Due to the size of his bed he had to sleep downstairs and his wife slept upstairs. Peter died 5 weeks after returning home. However his wife reported it was marvellous to have use of the equipment which gave her peace of mind, and allowed Peter to pass away at home with dignity
Staffordshire residents offered a 'Helping Hand'
A simple device that helps people with their daily tasks will be distributed to hundreds of older and vulnerable residents in Staffordshire.
The Helping Hand is a grabbing aid which allows users to pick up items without bending, stretching or over-exerting themselves, reducing the risk of falls.
Three hundred Helping Hands will be making their way into the county's homes during the next month thanks to a donation to Staffordshire's Joint Commissioning Unit - a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and NHS North Staffordshire.
Falls are a major cause of death and injury in people aged over 65 and roughly 800 people fall each day in the West Midlands.
Read more
The Helping Hand is a grabbing aid which allows users to pick up items without bending, stretching or over-exerting themselves, reducing the risk of falls.
Three hundred Helping Hands will be making their way into the county's homes during the next month thanks to a donation to Staffordshire's Joint Commissioning Unit - a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and NHS North Staffordshire.
Falls are a major cause of death and injury in people aged over 65 and roughly 800 people fall each day in the West Midlands.
Read more
Testing efficiency of the pill dispenser
First findings from the automatic pill dispenser pilot currently underway are expected by summer this year.
Six authorities in the region are taking part, with eight residents in Dudley being the first to test the device in their own homes.
Organised by the JIP, the pilot aims to show how safe and appropriate technology can help vulnerable people stay well and live independently at home.
The battery operated dispenser is loaded with prescribed amounts of medication and is programmed to sound an alarm when it is time for the patient to take their pills.
It can prevent individuals, who have difficulty remembering, from overdosing or not taking enough, and, as a result, being re-admitted to hospital or placed in residential care for their own safety.
Data will be collected on:
• users' compliance with taking medication
• users' and carers' satisfaction and feedback
• savings to the NHS and social services
• impact on reduction of wasted medication
The following PCTs and local authorities are taking part:
• Worcestershire County Council
• Dudley MBC
• Staffordshire County Council
• North Staffordshire PCT
• Wolverhampton City Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
Contact project manager, Andy Jackson; mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
Six authorities in the region are taking part, with eight residents in Dudley being the first to test the device in their own homes.
Organised by the JIP, the pilot aims to show how safe and appropriate technology can help vulnerable people stay well and live independently at home.
The battery operated dispenser is loaded with prescribed amounts of medication and is programmed to sound an alarm when it is time for the patient to take their pills.
It can prevent individuals, who have difficulty remembering, from overdosing or not taking enough, and, as a result, being re-admitted to hospital or placed in residential care for their own safety.
Data will be collected on:
• users' compliance with taking medication
• users' and carers' satisfaction and feedback
• savings to the NHS and social services
• impact on reduction of wasted medication
The following PCTs and local authorities are taking part:
• Worcestershire County Council
• Dudley MBC
• Staffordshire County Council
• North Staffordshire PCT
• Wolverhampton City Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
Contact project manager, Andy Jackson; mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
Pricing tool savings set to exceed £1 million
Councils using the Care Funding Calculator to commission care for adults have recorded cumulative efficiency gains of £947,155.
The calculator is designed to help local authorities and PCTs manage the cost of providing care for adults who need support by providing a breakdown of care costs using national data and regional variances, allowing for a more fruitful negotiation and engagement with the providers.
There are two versions - one for residential care and the other for supported living.
So far over 270 staff including care managers, social workers and team managers have been trained to use the tools.
The calculator has been successfully piloted with other user groups including those with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. A children's services version is being developed to ease the financial impact of transitions cases and will be available later this year.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) is currently participating in a project, led by Improvement and Efficiency South East, to put the calculator on line. It is currently available for download from the national programme website.
Contact: Mihir Trivedi, Project Manager, mobile: 07977 160 163, email: mihir@hb21.co.uk
The calculator is designed to help local authorities and PCTs manage the cost of providing care for adults who need support by providing a breakdown of care costs using national data and regional variances, allowing for a more fruitful negotiation and engagement with the providers.
There are two versions - one for residential care and the other for supported living.
So far over 270 staff including care managers, social workers and team managers have been trained to use the tools.
The calculator has been successfully piloted with other user groups including those with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. A children's services version is being developed to ease the financial impact of transitions cases and will be available later this year.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) is currently participating in a project, led by Improvement and Efficiency South East, to put the calculator on line. It is currently available for download from the national programme website.
Contact: Mihir Trivedi, Project Manager, mobile: 07977 160 163, email: mihir@hb21.co.uk
JIP gives hands on support
The Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) operates as a programme board for the IEWM and oversees the adult social care brief. Included in its priorities is improving efficiency in adult social care services, specifically:
• ensuring access to national Care Services Efficiency Delivery tools (see story - Maximising benefits with CSED)
• supporting initiatives that deliver cash releasing savings and/or improved productivity
• supporting local authorities in meeting Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) targets
• roll out of the Care Funding Calculator tool used for gauging and negotiating the cost of residential and supported living placements.
Contact: Matt Bowsher, Regional Transformation Lead, telephone: 0121 245 0170, email: mbowsher@westmidlandsiep.gov.uk
Read more
• ensuring access to national Care Services Efficiency Delivery tools (see story - Maximising benefits with CSED)
• supporting initiatives that deliver cash releasing savings and/or improved productivity
• supporting local authorities in meeting Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) targets
• roll out of the Care Funding Calculator tool used for gauging and negotiating the cost of residential and supported living placements.
Contact: Matt Bowsher, Regional Transformation Lead, telephone: 0121 245 0170, email: mbowsher@westmidlandsiep.gov.uk
Read more
RIEP helps councils make savings
Councils in England are required to reduce their operating budgets by three percent per year between April 2008 and March 2011.
This equates to cashable savings of £500m in the region, 60% of which the Department for Communities and Local Government expects to be achieved through procurement.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midland’s (IEWM) is the RIEP for the West Midlands. Its purpose is to support councils and their partners to continually improve public services to meet customer needs and ensure they are more efficient.
IEWM assists local authorities in obtaining cost effective deals by sharing contracts and maximising their buying power by joint purchasing.
Since April 2008 IEWM has supported the region to deliver over £25m efficiency savings and predicts a total of £171m cashable savings from its current five year programme.
Read more
This equates to cashable savings of £500m in the region, 60% of which the Department for Communities and Local Government expects to be achieved through procurement.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midland’s (IEWM) is the RIEP for the West Midlands. Its purpose is to support councils and their partners to continually improve public services to meet customer needs and ensure they are more efficient.
IEWM assists local authorities in obtaining cost effective deals by sharing contracts and maximising their buying power by joint purchasing.
Since April 2008 IEWM has supported the region to deliver over £25m efficiency savings and predicts a total of £171m cashable savings from its current five year programme.
Read more
How CSED works in the regions
The Care Services Efficiency Delivery (CSED) programme is run by regional implementation managers who offer advice, guidance and coaching to councils with responsibility for adult social care, on how to achieve efficiencies.
They work with Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs), Joint Improvement Partnerships (JIPs) and Deputy Regional Directors.
Support in the West Midlands includes:
• expanding reablement services to help people with poor physical or mental health develop skills needed to remain independent for as long as possible. Effective reablement has been found to reduce hospital admissions and transfer to long term care following hospital discharge, resulting in greater independence for service users and minimising the cost of care.
• Introducing robust processes and systems for performance monitoring and achieving objectives.
Eleven of the 14 councils in the region are receiving support for their reablement work from CSED consultants Helen Miller and Simon Pickford. Consultant Bob Stanton is helping 4 councils in the region to identify alternative forms of supported accommodation for people with learning disabilities, and to develop greater control over pricing of residential placements.
Councils have found that many individuals with learning disabilities in residential care fail to live full lives or reach their full potential, and the cost of supporting them in residential accommodation is rising by over 7 percent a year.
Contact: Stephen Rea , email:stephen.rea@dh.gsi.gov.uk
They work with Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs), Joint Improvement Partnerships (JIPs) and Deputy Regional Directors.
Support in the West Midlands includes:
• expanding reablement services to help people with poor physical or mental health develop skills needed to remain independent for as long as possible. Effective reablement has been found to reduce hospital admissions and transfer to long term care following hospital discharge, resulting in greater independence for service users and minimising the cost of care.
• Introducing robust processes and systems for performance monitoring and achieving objectives.
Eleven of the 14 councils in the region are receiving support for their reablement work from CSED consultants Helen Miller and Simon Pickford. Consultant Bob Stanton is helping 4 councils in the region to identify alternative forms of supported accommodation for people with learning disabilities, and to develop greater control over pricing of residential placements.
Councils have found that many individuals with learning disabilities in residential care fail to live full lives or reach their full potential, and the cost of supporting them in residential accommodation is rising by over 7 percent a year.
Contact: Stephen Rea , email:stephen.rea@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Providing tools and solutions
CSED offers a range of tools and approaches for making work practices, processes, commissioning and service planning more efficient.
These include:
• assessment and Care Management (e.g. electronic monitoring of homecare, effective financial assessment, improving processes)
• forecasting demand and planning capacity
• better buying (including a commissioning toolkit and TRACS – Tool for Rapid Analysis of Care Services)
• homecare reablement
• transforming community equipment services
• crisis response services
• integrated care and support pathway planning
• assistive technology
• supported housing
Read more
These include:
• assessment and Care Management (e.g. electronic monitoring of homecare, effective financial assessment, improving processes)
• forecasting demand and planning capacity
• better buying (including a commissioning toolkit and TRACS – Tool for Rapid Analysis of Care Services)
• homecare reablement
• transforming community equipment services
• crisis response services
• integrated care and support pathway planning
• assistive technology
• supported housing
Read more
Maximising benefits with CSED
The Care Services Efficiency Delivery (CSED) programme is designed to help councils identify and develop more efficient ways of delivering adult social care.
Set up by the Department of Health in 2004, the original aim was to assist implementation of recommendations in the report, Releasing resources to the frontline – the independent review of public sector efficiency. It centred on finding efficiencies in procurement, transactions and policy making functions; and identified opportunities for increasing the productive time of professionals working in frontline public services.
Since then the focus has moved to finding efficiencies to support the transformation of adult social care.
CSED seeks to help councils transform services in the most efficient way possible and ensure users get the maximum benefit.
Read more
Download the report here
Set up by the Department of Health in 2004, the original aim was to assist implementation of recommendations in the report, Releasing resources to the frontline – the independent review of public sector efficiency. It centred on finding efficiencies in procurement, transactions and policy making functions; and identified opportunities for increasing the productive time of professionals working in frontline public services.
Since then the focus has moved to finding efficiencies to support the transformation of adult social care.
CSED seeks to help councils transform services in the most efficient way possible and ensure users get the maximum benefit.
Read more
Download the report here
Drive for efficiency moves up a gear
Councils and partners across the region are developing new practices, procedures and services as part of transforming adult social care and improving efficiency.
Developments include:
• Warwickshire – with the help of the Care Services Efficiency Delivery programme (CSED), a new business model has been adopted to manage the flow of people seeking services by investing more in preventative measures. It entails updated techniques to baseline, monitor and evaluate existing services, and to make projections of future demands and resources
• Coventry – Contact and Connect helps people aged over 60 live safely and independently in their own homes, and improve their quality of life by connecting them to appropriate support services. Commissioned by the Older People’s Partnership and managed by Age Concern, the service is delivered by 10 local agencies working with West Midlands Fire Service, the Pensions Service and Coventry Carers Centre. It has led to increased take up of benefits, more people maintaining their independence at home, a rise in fire safety assessments, fitting of smoke alarms and a reduction of fires in the home; more safety checks and fewer falls.
• Telford& Wrekin – a single point of access for older people and individuals with physical disability has been set up, and commissioning is carried out jointly with the local PCT. The council is also working with CSED to set up a reablement support programme
• Coventry – provision of housing with care as a viable alternative to residential care. The purpose is to help older people live in their own homes and contribute to their communities and family life for as long as possible. Assessment for eligibility is carried out by a social worker. Between April 2005 and April 2007, seven percent of elderly people receiving care and support in the city moved into sheltered housing; 73 percent were able to die at home and only 17 percent went on to receive specialist care.
• Herefordshire – commissioning is carried out jointly by the PCT and the council. Intermediate health and care services are currently under review with an emphasis on reablement.
• Stoke-on-Trent – a telehealth care initiative between the NHS and council has resulted in over 100 people with long term conditions, and at risk of admittance to hospital, staying in their own homes supported by daily electronic contact with their clinician.
• Stoke-on-Trent – two integrated health and social care reablement centres have been set up to aid a speedy return home after discharge from hospital, and to prevent hospital admissions. The centres provide residential and day rehabilitation facilities including a fitness suite and telecare suite. Health and social care staff are based on site.
• Solihull – Solihull Care NHS Trust Reablement Service helps users learn or relearn skills impaired by illness and rebuild their confidence. Ninety percent of service users say they are able to do more for themselves as a result. The reablement team is made up of care assistants, occupational therapists and social workers.
Developments include:
• Warwickshire – with the help of the Care Services Efficiency Delivery programme (CSED), a new business model has been adopted to manage the flow of people seeking services by investing more in preventative measures. It entails updated techniques to baseline, monitor and evaluate existing services, and to make projections of future demands and resources
• Coventry – Contact and Connect helps people aged over 60 live safely and independently in their own homes, and improve their quality of life by connecting them to appropriate support services. Commissioned by the Older People’s Partnership and managed by Age Concern, the service is delivered by 10 local agencies working with West Midlands Fire Service, the Pensions Service and Coventry Carers Centre. It has led to increased take up of benefits, more people maintaining their independence at home, a rise in fire safety assessments, fitting of smoke alarms and a reduction of fires in the home; more safety checks and fewer falls.
• Telford& Wrekin – a single point of access for older people and individuals with physical disability has been set up, and commissioning is carried out jointly with the local PCT. The council is also working with CSED to set up a reablement support programme
• Coventry – provision of housing with care as a viable alternative to residential care. The purpose is to help older people live in their own homes and contribute to their communities and family life for as long as possible. Assessment for eligibility is carried out by a social worker. Between April 2005 and April 2007, seven percent of elderly people receiving care and support in the city moved into sheltered housing; 73 percent were able to die at home and only 17 percent went on to receive specialist care.
• Herefordshire – commissioning is carried out jointly by the PCT and the council. Intermediate health and care services are currently under review with an emphasis on reablement.
• Stoke-on-Trent – a telehealth care initiative between the NHS and council has resulted in over 100 people with long term conditions, and at risk of admittance to hospital, staying in their own homes supported by daily electronic contact with their clinician.
• Stoke-on-Trent – two integrated health and social care reablement centres have been set up to aid a speedy return home after discharge from hospital, and to prevent hospital admissions. The centres provide residential and day rehabilitation facilities including a fitness suite and telecare suite. Health and social care staff are based on site.
• Solihull – Solihull Care NHS Trust Reablement Service helps users learn or relearn skills impaired by illness and rebuild their confidence. Ninety percent of service users say they are able to do more for themselves as a result. The reablement team is made up of care assistants, occupational therapists and social workers.
Foreword JIP e-bulletin No.10 March 2010
With the end of the financial year rapidly approaching we take a closer look at the drive to make commissioning and the way we deliver adult social care more efficient.
The downturn in the economy has added to the pressure to deliver more and better quality services within tight financial constraints.
Nationally, councils will have to find £9 billion savings a year by 2013/14. This will be particularly demanding for health and social services with growing numbers of people needing care and support. It is estimated 1.7 million more will require social care by 2026.
Improving efficiency has never been just about saving money, it is also about using resources effectively and being more responsive in the services we provide. Implementing service reform, efficiencies, and cuts at the same time will challenge all of us for the foreseeable future.
Over the past year, the JIP, in partnership with Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) and the Department of Health, have helped councils across the region to work and provide services more creatively and efficiently.
This month’s bulletin gives an overview of the efficiency agenda and how it impacts on our region.
The downturn in the economy has added to the pressure to deliver more and better quality services within tight financial constraints.
Nationally, councils will have to find £9 billion savings a year by 2013/14. This will be particularly demanding for health and social services with growing numbers of people needing care and support. It is estimated 1.7 million more will require social care by 2026.
Improving efficiency has never been just about saving money, it is also about using resources effectively and being more responsive in the services we provide. Implementing service reform, efficiencies, and cuts at the same time will challenge all of us for the foreseeable future.
Over the past year, the JIP, in partnership with Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) and the Department of Health, have helped councils across the region to work and provide services more creatively and efficiently.
This month’s bulletin gives an overview of the efficiency agenda and how it impacts on our region.
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