This is a system wide review and new options for care support including much greater use of digital/tech solutions to reduce the need for in-person care.
This approach starts by looking at the strengths people receiving care have and then working to support and enhance those with the right care and support that enable people to live their best lives.
This sees people remaining as independent as long as possible and not needing to access care too early. This approach ensures better outcomes for people receiving care, while reducing in the council's demand pressures.
The problem
The council last year provided paid for care support to around 4,600 people, much of which is provided in person by carers or specialists. The type of support they receive may not have been reviewed for some time and there now may be new, more efficient or effective ways of providing the care they need, particularly through the use of new devices or digital support.
What is the project about?
If we can reduce the amount of in-person care needed through better use of alternatives, this will reduce the cost while still proving the same level of support. Reducing the amount of care needed also promotes greater independence for the person receiving this.
Why does this matter?
This about how we better provide ongoing care services to help someone to better manage their lives. Helping people remain as independent as possible for as long as possible and not needing to access care too early, ensures better outcomes for them and reduces demand and cost pressures for the council. Doing this will also help make the local care market, also under pressure due to cost and recruitment challenges, more resilient and better able to cope with Shropshire’s growing ageing population, which is already above the national average and only getting bigger.
How will the project be implemented?
We will work with people receiving care to assess their needs based on their strengths and ensure we have the right contracts and resources to support them to continue to thrive. This approach will also link across the health and social care programmes at neighbourhood level, putting people at the heart of their care and support within their communities.
We’re also looking at the opportunities to use different approaches that make the most of technology or digital solutions. For example we’re now using an “Autobot” to help people making home visits. The “Autobot” helps with manual tasks, such as lifting and can mean that whereas before two carers were needed now this can be handled by just one.
Who is involved?
As well as Adult Social Care we are also working closely with partners in the NHS as well care providers and community-based services that can offer support as close as possible to where people live.
When is it happening?
We are now investing in creating more capacity in a team that can review people’s care support and work with them to have things like direct payments where they control their own care and assistive technology to remain independent at home.