Equipment & Adaptations Guidance Review

1. Equipment & AdaptationsGuidance Review 11 September 2008 Quality Hotel, Glasgow

2. Policy Drivers • Joint Future Report • Shifting the Balance of Care • Delivering for Health • 21st Century Review of Social Work • Long Term Conditions Collaborative • Rehabilitation Framework • Wheelchair Review • Carers review • Independent Living • ………

3. Audit Scotland Report Recommendations • The Scottish Executive Should: • Update national guidance on roles and responsibilities in relation to community equipment and adaptations to reflect new ways of working promoted by the Joint Future Agenda; local government reorganisation; and developments in technology.

4. Audit Scotland Report Recommendations (cont.) The report also made 6 recommendations for local authorities/NHS boards. In summary these were to: • Clarify partnership arrangements for the assessment and provision of community equipment and adaptations ensuring that all relevant partners are involved; and formalise these arrangements in agreed policies and procedures which cover: • recall of faulty equipment • maintenance and repair arrangements • recycling, including infection control procedures • emergency arrangements • Jointly publish comprehensive information on community equipment and adaptations covering: • what help is available • who to contact • eligibility criteria • who needs to pay and how much • what service people can expect, using information such as local targets for response times

5. Political Context • Outcomes Approach • Single Outcome Agreements • Local government concordat • Range of work progressing in parallel: • Wheelchair Action Plan • Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 • Augmented Communication • Audiology Review • Eye Care Review • Sensory Impairment Action Plan Guidance • Equality and disability rights • ……….

6. Key Emerging Themes • Best practice model for equipment provision • Equipment provision in care homes • Legislative background for adaptation provision to different housing sectors • Developments in new technology • Transitions • Child to adult • Adult to older person • Information for users and carers: • Access to statutory providers • Access to private/commercial providers

7. Equipment Provision Model • Clear and simple ‘pathway’ through whole process, from assessment of need to service delivery • Clear referral routes and a single contact point • Staff groups identified for access to equipment • Appropriate training for staff • Co-ordinated equipment delivery, maintenance and uplift • Recycling • Clear information for users and carers

8. Care Homes • Care homes contracts group and Scottish care carrying out a linked review of equipment provision in care homes • Small working group with representatives from Scottish Care; Scottish Government; local authorities and health to be established to address the issues

9. Adaptations • Lack of staff familiar with legislation: • Local authority housing • Private sector housing • Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to be fully implemented by 2009 • Registered social landlords

10. Technology (telecare) • Community based – including healthcare • Enables independence • Supports assessment • Interactive • Currently at pilot phase across Scotland • The equipment of the future…..

11. Information (National and local requirements) • National: • Flowchart with key links • Care Information Scotland website • Local • One point of contact • What is available locally (from both local authority and to purchase privately) • Charging policies • Access

12. Specific Interpretations • Equipment includes everything that is not a structural alteration. (Adaptations covers the remainder) • Most equipment should be easily accessible • Self assessment • Appropriately trained community staff • Stairlifts • Social work responsible if no structural alterations required • Otherwise dealt with as adaptation by housing