1. Care Navigator Service Lucy Garratt – Head of Services
Age UK Solihull
Care Navigator Service
Lucy Garratt – Head of Services

2. Introduction
Solihull CCG, on behalf of Solihull Together for better lives, has commissioned Age UK Solihull to deliver the Care Navigator Service. Alongside Age UK Solihull, Solihealth has been commissioned to facilitate arrangements with GP Practices and monitor and evaluate the project.
The Care Navigator Service is a pilot. It will become operational on 01st October 2016 and run until 31st March 2017.

3. Care Navigation - Benefits
Care Navigation has been evidenced to have many benefits:
For Patients:
Improved health and wellbeing
Maximised independence
Reduced anxiety and loneliness
Improved understanding of their condition or illness
Improved confidence to manage their own health
Better understanding from their families and carers
Better understanding of the health and social care ‘system’ so better able to self-navigate into the longer term.
Evaluation of the CN service in Bradford
‘76% of patients felt their condition would have got worse more quickly without the support’

4. Care Navigation - Benefits
For GPs and the wider health and social care system
Increased uptake of preventative services
Reduced demand on GP services
Improved uptake of appointments across health – less DNAs
Delay in worsening of conditions
Reduced A&E attendances
Reduced readmissions
Reduced costs
Evaluation of the CN Service in Bradford
‘80% of GPs felt care navigation helped them to perform their own role more effectively’

5. What do CN’s do?
Care Navigators support people in any area of their lives, across health, social care, finances, wellbeing and lifestyle
They work with people on a one to one basis, normally in their own homes, supporting them to find solutions to issues that may be affecting them
A Care Navigator can support in a crisis or help with prevention and early intervention
They will arrange and coordinate identified services
They ensure people have the skills, tools and knowledge to be able to help themselves into the future
Care Navigators will be experts on services
Care Navigators help people to achieve aims and goals.

6. Practical Support Care Navigators can:
Remind people they have appointments, particularly where they have a history of DNAs
Escort people to medical appointments and then help them to find a more permanent solution
Escort people to their first one or two visits to a club or activity and then support them to find a more permanent solution
Carry out Falls and Hazard Assessments in older peoples homes
Support people upon hospital discharge, making sure they have food, their heating is on and that all required care is in place.
Source and collect small pieces of equipment and aids

7. How will the service work?
Care Navigators will be phased in across the next few months, hopefully into all GP Practices across the Solihull CCG area.
The plan is to have 1 WTE (whole time equivalent) Navigator per 3 Practices (these are grouped by location and size of older population), and a Project Manager.
Care Navigators are based within GP Practices and a member of the practice teams.
Care Navigators have access to GP Clinical IT Systems (with consent of the patient).
Referrals to the service will come primarily from GPs and other health and social care professionals. Self-referrals will be accepted and the GP notified.

8. What can’t Care Navigators do?
Perform Miracles
A Care Navigator can only work within the system, if it’s not out there we can’t provide it, but if it’s out there we’ll find it.

9. Thank you
Any Questions