On 2nd December 2013, The Wales Government published statutory guidance for Health Boards and Local Authorities called “Integrated Assessment, Planning and Review Arrangements for Older People”. Link
The guidance set out the responsibilities and duties on Local Authorities and Local Health Boards to provide integrated arrangements for the assessment and care management for older people and it replaced the guidance: Creating a Unified and Fair System for Assessing and Managing Care. The aim is to simplify the assessment process to ensure older people receive better services and better outcomes.
Welsh Government required the development and implementation of the common assessment template (comprising the Common Data Set and ‘This Is What Matters’ record of conversation) by 30 April 2014.
All 6 North Wales Authorities and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) agreed to use this new approach for all adults other than those under the Mental Health Measure. The new assessment documentation was introduced on the 30th June 2014.
What’s Changed?
Staff working at the first point of contact within Health and Social Services are completing the new assessment templates when members of the public make contact. The basic information is completed along with initial actions taken – this may include further simple assessment for provision of aids and equipment or a referral to reablement or intermediate care services.
Referrals to Conwy Social Services from internal and external agencies are made using the Core Data Set and ‘What Matters Conversation’ as are referrals to those agencies. To support staff and to save the need for a second or third conversations to collect additional service specific information, a series of aide memoirs have been produced. These include referrals to and from Welfare Rights, Approved Landlords, Court Appointed Deputies, Carers Outreach, Alzheimer’s Society, Age Concern and British Red Cross.
What Difference Has it Made?
The aide memoirs have been shared with the 6 North Wales Authorities and BCUHB. BCUHB have since produced similar documentation in their own service areas.
Service Users are now able to tell their story and give essential information to people once, whether this is in a health, social care or voluntary setting, a far less intrusive method of data collection.
The conversation has highlighted what really matters to the individual and holistic support can be offered meeting the well-being agenda.