Self Assessment project - Harrow

How it started …….

Telephone ReviewsTelephone Assessments

SELF ASSESSMENTSContext: Govt thrust towards

self care, self management, self assessments

1st step - Research Contacted 3* Authorities – and othersLooked at research and tools conducted by others –

SWISH, Kent onlineDr. Griffiths, Kings CollegeOther authorities willing to share

Overall – not many models to choose from, everyone trialling

Around 20% of authorities who were contacted, do telephone reviews

Usually done on a stable group of people where it is unlikely there will be

substantial changesCould have been receiving services for

some time

Findings …………….Telephone Reviews:

Previous research by Age Concern and Joseph Rowntree indicates OLDER PEOPLE prefer contact meetings

Not applicable for people with communication difficulties, confusion etc.

Appropriate where care package stable and care package is less than 10 hours weekly / less than visits twice daily

Advance notice required so client prepared

Negatives:Safety concerns, might miss somethingNot providing an equitable serviceDeters use of Direct PaymentsUnable to determine FACS eligibility

Findings …………….Telephone Assessments:

3 out of 24 (13%) authorities do telephone assessments, then provide a service2 of the 3 provide low level services, e.g. assistive aids - grab rails1 arranged home care but only short termAll screen first

All followed up with face to face review visit

Self AssessmentsSelf Assessments5 out of 25 authorities (20%) offer self

assessmentsAll 5 provide low level services only, i.e.

simple OT aidsOne authority (N Lincs) did Self

Assessments in the past, but stopped due to low take-up

A further 5 are thinking about it, 3 of them actively pursuing

Overall - Observations and Myths

Social Services generally screen all referrals prior to making an appointment

Self Assessment is the same as self reporting

Telephone AssessmentsPlanned (not necessarily informal)

Carers AssessmentsOften self assessments

Staff say …… Might miss something if they don’t see a person

Modelling – for HarrowSelf Assessment doesn’t mean no face to

face contactSelf assessment gives service users an

opportunity to think about their difficulties and possible solutions in advance of a SW visit

We will trial it for anybody who wishes it (not limiting for low level only)Developing for Disabilities Team as starter

(Can we trust it? How do we validate it?)

So far we have: Choice of 3 models

1. Short (3 + 1 pages) – Bolton / in-house screening / pink

2. Medium (4 pages) – Torbay and hybrid / yellow3. Long – similar to Overview - Southend and

hybrid / cream Hybrid mixture – other authorities, in-house

screening, How Are You, Rapid Assessment, Overview Assessment

Flier (blue) which goes to new service users inviting them to be involved

Not much interest Not always appropriate:

First language not EnglishPhysical issues (fits / child care / prognosis)Learning disability / Residential review out of

BoroughControversial (potential complaint / multi faceted)History of assessmentsMental health issues

Linking in with service user groups and vol orgs

Trialling now ……….

Next stepsContinue to engage service usersEvaluateExtend to other groups, i.e. older peopleFACE introducing an online self

assessment

Big challenge …..We will get there …….