Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme
Working for change: Community equipment and wheelchairs provide a significant gateway to independence for millions of people.The transformation of community equipment is an important element within health and social care policy as set out in the new cross-sector concordat Putting people first: a shared vision and commitment to the transformation of adult social care.
The shared ambition within this concordat is to enable people to live their own lives as they wish, confident that services are of high quality, are safe and promote their own individual needs for independence, well-being and dignity.
With this continuing emphasis and with input gained from 18 months of communicating with key stakeholders (service managers/occupational therapists/practice nurses/service users and carers etc) including hosting 18 public forums in nine cities throughout England and working with five local authority and health partners in the North West, the community equipment model has been improved. Our over-riding principle is that any improvement or change must centre on the interests of the individual.
The new system for delivering community equipment will not change the way a user or carer/personal assistant, who needs state support, is assessed. The new system will however change the way that equipment is provided with accredited retailers exchanging equipment for a prescription. This model of service delivery will give state supported users the choice that they have not previously enjoyed. They also have the option of topping up existing prescriptions to a different product within the same functional range to suit the user's lifestyle or preference.
Background to the Programme
On 22 June 2006, the then Prime Minister announced the launch of Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme. The programme (which is part of the Department of Health's Care Services Efficiency Delivery Programme) was tasked with developing a collaborative model for new service delivery that puts users and carers/personal assistants at the heart of the service and leverages the strength of the third and private sectors.
1. Retail Model for Users and their Carers
Having completed a comprehensive review of existing Community Equipment services in England, the programme produced a collaborative outline business case in February 2007 that recommended a retail model to deliver low-level community equipment (aids to daily living). Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services gave approval to develop the new retail model design to an operating model.
The new retail model is designed to:
The community equipment retail model demonstrates a way of delivering personalised services for service users and their carers/personal assistants supported by the state and those who self-fund, which aligns powerfully with health and social care policy and vision.
Click here for more information on the components within the Retail Model for Users and their Carers
2. Shadow Running
The retail model has been developed and is currently being tested with a number of local authorities and their health partners in the North West. The measurement data that we are collecting from this shadow running exercise is providing invaluable feedback to inform the national model and strategy. It also is informing the development of local business cases for change.
Click here for more information on Shadow Running
3. Operating Model for Local Authority and NHS Partners
The operational model has been designed with our Lead Partners in the North West, and supported by additional local authority/NHS partnerships, but some national components of the model are still in development.
Click here for more information on the components within the Operating Model4. The Model for Practitioners
Practitioners play a vital role supporting people to remain independent and in their own homes, in education and at work. The new model proposes a small change to their current practice. Instead of writing a requisition or a purchase order for simple aids to daily living or more complex equipment, a prescription will be written.
5. The Marketplace
A vital component of the model is the marketplace. There are a wide range of opportunities for businesses, voluntary organisations and individuals to provide services in relation to community equipment.
The overall ambition for a transformed community equipment service is increased availability of information, well designed and useful products and competent, knowledgeable individuals to provide assessment, product demonstration and advice, delivery, installation and fit of equipment that enables individuals to achieve choice and control over their lives.
To fully support the preventative health agenda information, products and competent individuals need to be available in every locality across the country.
Click here for more information for Retailers
Click here for more information for Third Sector organisations
Click here for more information for Partnerships
6. Wider Implementation
The TCEWS team are now planning how to support wider implementation of the retail model in the future.
Click here for more information on the Wider Implementation
7. Wheelchairs
Originally the TCEWS team considered developing a new model for service delivery that encompassed both community equipment and wheelchairs as there are synergies between the services.
As the team gathered views from service users and information on the current service from clinicians, practitioners, providers and suppliers it became clear that a separate model for the provision of wheelchair services was emerging.
Click here for more information on Wheelchairs
For more information about this programme please email Lynne Horn
Equality Impact Assessment
Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme – Phase 1
Phase 1 of the TCEWS Programme developed a radical new model of service delivery for community equipment that puts users and carers at its heart. It was delivered to the Minister in February 2007, supported by a robust outline business case and an indication of market appetite for change .. read more
Community Equipment Services Phase 2: Developing the retail model
The model has been developed to ‘outline business case’ level. This means that it is seen as broadly the right solution by the majority of stakeholders; and has been developed to a sufficient level of robustness to demonstrate that further investment in resources is worthwhile. The model supports access to information and services to enable all people and their supporters who use statutory community equipment services, as well as those who self-fund to make informed decisions about how and what they need in terms of equipment. There is still a lot of work to do and we do not have all of the answers yet. In Phase 2 the team will be working closely with all of our stakeholders to find answers and to understand how to make the model a reality .. read more
Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services Programme – Wheelchair Review Phase 2
The next phase for wheelchair services is a further data gathering exercise approved by the Review of Central Returns Steering Committee – ROCR – Reference number ROCR/O7/010) to enable Ministers and the NHS to determine the future shape of wheelchair services .. read more