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What is the Single Assessment Process?Single Assessment is a process to help health and social care professionals work together to identify and deliver better services to adults and older people. It means that the needs of older people are considered without undue delay.Guidance from the Department of Health states "the purpose of the single assessment process is to ensure that older people receive appropriate, effective and timely responses to their health and social care needs and that professional resources are used effectively". The Single Assessment Process will ensure that professionals in Derbyshire work together to ensure that assessments and subsequent care plans for older people reflect their needs, are effective and well co-ordinated. What are the benefits of the Single Assessment Process?The new approach to assessment will be person-centred, outcome centred and standardised across the country.There are five key points to remember:
What does the assessment process involve?Professionals will work with older people to make sure that everyone contributes effectively and do not duplicate each other’s assessments.The assessment will:
Are there different levels of assessment?The single assessment process will ensure that the scale and depth of the assessment is proportional to the needs; that agencies do not duplicate each other's assessments and professionals contribute to assessments in the most effective way.To achieve that, there are four levels within the single assessment process. The assessments can be undertaken in any order depending on the needs of the client. Contact Assessment - This is carried out when an older person first comes into contact with a service. At this stage basic personal information is collected, the nature of the presenting problem established and the potential presence of wider health and social care needs are explored. Overview Assessment: This assessment incorporates additional information, such as previous medical history and social care needs. This will help clarify the problems and identify the services that may be needed. It may lead to a specialist assessment. Specialist Assessment - A specialist assessment offers a way of exploring specific needs in one or more areas in greater depth. The professional who undertakes a specialist assessment will confirm the presence, extent, cause and likely development of a health condition or social care need and establish links to other needs. Therapists, specialist nurses, doctors, and social workers may carry this out. Comprehensive Assessment - This means a variety of professionals will work together over a period of time to ensure that the package of care incorporates every aspect of the older person’s health and social care needs. It may include things such as housing, mental health services, equipment services, residential homes, domiciliary services, day care, or medical or surgical intervention. What has already been done?
How will the work be taken forward?1. Local Implementation Teams will lead local practice change including:-
3. The County SAP Steering Group will continue to oversee business and practice issues arising from implementation. 4. Short term task groups will be established as appropriate to support ongoing implementation. How does the Single Assessment Process affect me?Everyone involved with the assessment or provision of health and social care services for older people will be affected in some way - many will be involved in the very fundamental changes that are coming with the implementation of the Single Assessment Process.You can do several things to help:
Contact InformationTo discuss any areas that are particularly significant to you contact Katey Twyford, the Single Assessment Process Planing & Project Manager for Derbyshire 01629 772065 or katey.twyford@derbyshire.gov.uk |
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