Management of applications for DoLS authorisations within time scales has seen a reduction of 32% over a six month period.
Conwy has placed “The risk of legal challenge” due to DoLS on the Corporate Risk register. Positive changes have been observed in the number of cases waiting to be assessed, and the number of assessments being signed off.
We have increased resources such that there are now three full time assessors and a commitment from the six Best Interest Assessors located in other services to undertake at least one assessment each per month.
Changes made to the renewals of authorisations are being processed differently with a positive effect but this is resulting in additional pressure on the team of up to 12 additional referrals per week. In addition, part of the assessment process involves GP’s, to assess Mental Capacity. In order to optimise our use of GP’s time, we have been concentrating our efforts within residential homes in order to complete any outstanding DoLS within each home. This has also had a positive impact.
The waiting list is now down to 309 (at the end of March 2016), which represents a reduction of over 32% over a six month period.