Common Assessment Framework for Adults Demonstrator Programme

Social Worker Access to Clinical Information

26 April 2012

CAF Objectives

• Main aims were simple:

• Choice and control for the individual and effective sharing of information between professionals working with an individual

• Primary purpose of CAF was to establish a common process for collecting disseminating, recording and sharing information between individuals and professionals

CAF IG Consent Group• Membership included both health and social care IG

leads• Programme of work included:

– Producing an Information Sharing Protocol signed by the Caldicott Guardians for each organisation. Requirement was each organisation had to reach level 2 or above on the NHS IGT to prove they were a ‘trusted’ organisation

– Privacy Impact Assessment in line with ICO guidance for all CAF projects to ensure that IG was considered at the beginning not the end of a project

– In co-production with our user/carer groups within the Consortium a consent to view and share form was produced, this reflects what ‘real’ users of our services feel about the way in which we share their information

Pan Hampshire Information Sharing Protocol

• Our local LMC have since provided the following statement:

• “Wessex LMC represents GP practices in Hampshire. GP practices and the LMC are well aware of the issues around IT and information governance and welcome this work on guidance for information sharing across providers”

Social Worker Access to Clinical Information

• People receive care from a number of organisations

• Access to information gives a better overview of the current situation

• Information is shared but not efficiently or effectively

Existing process (Social Care)

• Referral is received

• Initial review of internal records and reason for referral

• Attempt to understand what is happening in other areas – not always clear who is involved

• Undertake assessment and provide care

Experiences of process

• It was not clear where the information could come from

• It was unavailable out of hours/unplanned

• Social Workers could spend the entire day ‘waiting for a call back’

• Information was always given to Social Care (it could just take a long time)

What was needed

Not the whole record

• From the GP Record:– Significant diagnosis– Long term conditions– Current medication

• From the hospital records:– Discharge summaries

Piloting

• Piloted for new referrals over a ten week period

• Rapid Response, Hospital Discharge and Older Person teams

• With the individual’s permission

• Access to core clinical information

• No other change to normal practice

Pilot findings

• Where information was available, there was a very positive response

• Decrease in time spent looking for information. Information was available 24/7

• Better experience for the individual. Easier to confirm than to ask again

• Information viewed was the same as information already made available

• Cases are still verbally discussed, but can focus on planning and care provision

Lessons learnt

• Cultural changes– Awareness of who actually does what– Difference (or lack of difference) to existing

processes – efficiency not change

• Established relationships continue

Next steps

• Implementing Social Worker access to clinical information is being rolled out

• Introduced on a geographical basis – supported by awareness to individuals and staff

• Continued monitoring and reporting on use

Contact details:

Ian Bacchus – Consultant ian@bacchus.uk.com

Richard Allen – CAF Project Assurance

rja@maybecottage.co.uk

Jan Boucher – IG Lead for CAF Consortium and Portsmouth Social Care

Janice.boucher@portsmouthcc.gov.uk