Adult social care early invention and prevention

As part of an ongoing co-production process within Adult Social Care a variety of stakeholders were consulted via workshops, staff information sessions, questionnaires, road shows and surveys to get their opinions and ideas in relation to improving support in South Tyneside. Part of the identified principles and areas for development focus on Prevention in particular approaches the service takes in relation to preventing, reducing and delaying needs.

The stakeholders involved included members of the public, service users, carers, council members, social care staff, providers, voluntary/ third sector and the wider community.

Of the people responding to the survey 83.7% of all responses agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed principles which including a stronger focus on prevention. Only 9.1% did not agree with the principles.

Feedback highlighted -

• Delays in the Social Care process in relation to accessing services, advice and support especially quickly during and soon after a crisis as well as gaps in information and advice in relation to community services.
• Importance of supporting people and their families to be in control of their support and only to a level they need including supporting the informal carers
• When asked directly if people agreed with the strategies ideas around preventing needs 80% of people that responded agreed with the ideas for preventing needs whilst only 11% disagreed with the idea.
• Comments also highlighted that purely relying on technology is a general concern for Learning Disability / Mental Health and clients with cognitive impairment and whether older people are receptacle to technology given not everyone can use a computer.
• Improving options in terms on how people communicate with the service - increasing variety and engagement.
• A common theme throughout the questions focussed on the need to have easy to access, timely, accurate information and advice.
• Focus on improving knowledge and skills to self-care and be in control a person's own health and wellbeing including controlling the resources available to them.
• 78.2% agreed with our ideas in relation to reducing needs.
• Respondents highlighted the need to have different conversation and have new innovative services and support. Earlier feedback also highlighted that co-ordination of services and support was also important
• Early identification of needs and strength based assessments with flexible, time limited recovery focused services based upon needs.
• Be clear about what is realistically expected of carers and what can be accessed in the community again highlighting the need for clear and consistent information and advice.
• 76.4% agreed with the councils ideas in relation to delaying needs including 30.9% who strongly agreed.
• The importance of rapid responsive support especially following a crisis(easy access and flexible support was identified in the earlier survey)
• Improving the front door and access into support (92% of people responded to the earlier improvement survey to say the right information and advice would help put them in control of decision making)
• People commented about the resources in voluntary / third sector already being stretched and the need for additional resources
• More promotional work is needed in relation to assistive technology and what it can and can't do, the risks involved and that it should not be at the expense of social interaction - getting the balance with people interaction, the use of technology was identified as a good resource to help people live independently in the earlier survey.
• The need for Adult Social Care to work closer with the wider council and community - housing, planning, transport companies and emergency services to ensure a more holistic community wide approach.
• Comments also related to providers having a focus on recovery
• 60% agreed that providers should work in a way to maximise people's independence and reduce reliance on services indicating that the majority of people are in agreement that, wherever possible people would prefer to be reabled and exit the system.