‘INDEPENDENT SECTOR PROVISION OF REABLEMENT’ A THREE MONTH PILOT Copyright Lincolnshire County Council No use or reproduction without permission Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service Lincolnshire began the introduction of its Reablement service in January 2009. It identified one area of the county and the Skegness Action Learning Programme (SkALP) ran for three months. As the County Council had a substantive ‘In House’ Home Support Service. They were chosen to provide the new service having previously had some experience in offering a short and long term (maintenance) service. The Action Learning Programme that informed the introduction of a Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) was subject to Prince II Project Management. Having established the basis for the delivery of the service LARS was rolled out to other areas during the rest of the year Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) Part way through the ‘Roll Out’ The reablement board overseeing the introduction of LARS agreed to pilot the introduction re the viability of the Independent Sector to provide LARS. Using the same Project Management Approach and with information from the projections and modeling undertaken as part of the SkALP we used Mietool, to consider the efficiency savings that could be achieved through the independent sector providing a similar service and assist in developing a business case. Through a short listing approach from a cohort of interested providers we identified an Independent Company - Compleat Care -that met the criteria for the delivery of LARS One of the key elements of the criteria was the company’s location in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) The internal ramifications re outsourcing of services, were a major consideration particularly at an early stage in what had been already a significant shift within the county council’s own workforce. Choosing therefore a provider that could take up the shortfall in service within this area was important in justifying the pilot. Using a project team with the various skill sets to deliver the project we began the planning arrangements to introduce a small scale (Budget allocated for 20) Project was for three months It was important early on in the project to develop a positive business relationship with the Independent provider and vice versa. Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) Original pilot was set up to consider the viability of the Independent Sector providing not only a reablement service but also an assessment service as well. To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the service we used the same systems and measures that were already in use for In House service. This meant the same paperwork throughout. An amended specification was drawn up to reflect the changes mainly in wording to reflect the use of Independent as opposed to In House. Essentially the same specification. This was initially established as a three month pilot but has subsequently been extended to continue to provide a LARS service in this area of the county. Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) The pilot has been evaluated and the project report is due to be signed off at the boards next meeting. Headline re the objectives set are that the project achieved its objectives which were: • • • • To assess the impact of the Independent Sector providing an assessment and reablement service. To test out what would be the process and finance issues in offering this type of service To test out the service specification and its suitability in relation to LARS To capture outputs and outcomes for performance reporting Phase I of LARS, including Independent Sector provision has been completed on time and to budget. In House provision is currently being independently evaluated and the report is due to be produced next month. Lincolnshire Assessment and Reablement Service (LARS) Using this information we have already set out the key areas for Phase II. This includes the confirmation re the size and scale of service that will be provided by a mixed market of In House and the Independent sector provision of LARS We are also following on with work to look at a person’s pathway from the initial contact assessment undertaken by our Customer Service Centre through to a Personal Budget. The Pilot having been helpful in looking at how the assessment process element might evolve in a reconfigured service.