Single Assessment Process and Self Assessment Seamus Breen Change Agent December 2004

Outline of presentation Key Principle of SAP NHS Improvement Plan To-days reality New Challenges Self Assessment Possible ways forward Seeking Examples.

Key Principle of SAP SAP intended –we take a person-centred approach to assessment and care planning for older people, regardless of both organisational boundaries and the health conditions and circumstances of older people. See original guidance. Was reinforced again in letter to Chief Executives and Directors of Social Services April 2004

Alf said as he got older his main concern was the trouble he was having with his joints. …But I commented that I thought his priority was for him to eat more fruit Maybe professionals sometimes think they know best! Thanks Keith for high-lighting the slide! Person Centred

Not the Single Assessment Process...

To-day’s Reality Thousands of adults each week need personal support or some form of assistance. Some use their networks or families to access help - unknown to social services or health Many others buy, from their own resources, their personalised form of support - unknown to social services or health. Others would love to if they had the means!

The NHS Improvement Plan Putting People at the Heart of Public Services Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health by Command of Her Majesty June 2004

2.2 Our priorities are based on the public’s views captured by the consultation process carried out in 2003 and published in Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS. The aim is a service which responds to 21st century public expectations by offering: –flexible access to services shaped around individuals’ needs and preferences, rather than an expectation that people will fit the system; –greater choice and shared decision-making between patient and clinical team over treatment and care: –better access to the information and support that people need to exercise choice

2.9 Empowering Rapid access is not enough. To meet today’s expectations, people need to be able to choose from a range of services that best meet their needs and preferences. Between now and 2008, we will be making the changes which enable people to personalise their care and for those choices to shape the system and the way that it is run.

New Challenges Thousands know what they need to support their independence and can go and get it. – how do we help those who know what they need to support their independence and cannot afford to go get it? navigateHow do we help those who do find it difficult to navigate through the many choices and yet do not want to come in contact with statutory services? –Irrespective of their ability to pay.

Self Assessment Local authorities and PCTs fund independent sector providers and people use the services they provide without a formal assessment process. Some places may be assisting people get access to direct payments via an assessment done by user with support from independent agency. Some may allow access to certain equipment services upon a self assessment process. Others may be using the contact assessment as a means of initial self assessment and referral

Possible Ways forward What are the possible ways forward for empowering people to do more self assessment? How might this be utilised to further promote the direct take up of services? What services might be offered this way? What might we say about the longer term development of SAP tools ?

Seeking Examples Have you examples in your area where the principles of SAP have been extended to empowering people to do their own assessments? Have any of these extended to receipt of a service? Are their examples of people assisted to navigate their way to the service of their choice without direct contact with the PCT or the LA? –Any thoughts or information to

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