Call for Submissions to Become a Demonstration Site

Adapting for Change

Call for Submissions to become a Demonstration Site

Introduction

The Scottish Government, working with the Joint Improvement Team, is leading an initiative to develop and test innovative approaches to some of the most challenging issues facing those providing adaptations services.

The 2012 report from the Adaptations Working Group[1] highlighted numerous opportunities to improve housing adaptations now, and it also concluded that a more fundamental review of adaptations was needed. The 2012 Report was welcomed by Scottish Government, particularly its focus on tenure neutrality personalisation, self-directed support, outcomes-focused approaches and prevention.

The Scottish Government and JIT are now seeking submissions from all those interested in becoming a demonstration site. Up to 5 sites will be selected to test approaches that will inform a new national framework for adaptations services, and practice improvement.

Aim and Objectives

The overall aim of the demonstration sites is

To develop and test key aspects of the approach recommended by the Adaptations Working Group to inform a revision of the national policy framework for housing adaptations, and to provide learning to improve practice

The specific objectives are to

·  Test approaches in relation to key issues around current services and supports

·  Identify approaches, consistent with recommended principles, which deliver better outcomes

·  Capture the learning on a continuing basis over the test period and share this across Scotland

·  Inform the review and revision of the national policy and funding framework for housing adaptations

It is expected that the demonstration sites will run for a period of 2 years, from autumn 2014.

Focus of Demonstration Sites

The Adaptations Working Group was clear that change was needed to the systems for delivery of housing adaptations. It developed a set of core values and principles, which could be used to shape and test any proposed changes. The Group was also clear that delivery should be based primarily on the needs of the individual, rather than the tenure (ownership) of the home. The key principles identified are:

·  The person and their carer(s) should be placed at the centre of service provision and be in control.

·  Support for adaptations should have a prevention focus.

·  Adaptations should promote enablement.

·  Access to assessment and provision should take account of need and be fair, consistent, reliable and reasonable, with a focus on prevention, and take a holistic view of a person’s life.

·  Assessment and access to financial and other non-financial supports for adaptation should be equitable, fair, anti-poverty and complement systems for self-directed support.

·  People must be able to understand the systems and rules, which should be uncomplicated and maximise the ability of the person to make informed choices, and to be and remain in control of the adaptation. The person and their carers should have access to up to date, accessible and relevant information and advice, which takes a holistic approach.

The Adaptations Working Group also identified a wide range of areas where improvement to the provision of adaptations was required: these are all set out in their 2012. Areas for improvement, new opportunities and issues of particular interest identified by the Adaptations Working Group are

·  The use of the self-directed support approach in housing adaptations

·  A single funding pot for adaptations, with tenure neutral access and eligibility

·  Greater focus on prevention and early intervention

·  Adaptations for people with dementia

·  Design aspects - making adaptations more attractive at the same cost

·  Adaptations as one response in an integrated menu of options to secure suitable/fit for purpose housing

·  Partnership governance - which includes people using services – and integrates with health and social care

·  Improved data collection on impact and effectiveness, including added value

·  Helping people to help themselves, offering services over and above those associated with funding

The Adaptations Working Group identified the following as key features of the future design and delivery

1.  Strategic leadership from the local housing authority, working in partnership with health and social care, and a clear local strategy;

2.  A strategy for housing adaptations, which is ‘tenure neutral’ with a single funding pot;

3.  Arrangements enabling people to have control and choice through personalisation and self-directed support;

4.  A single point of access with a lead agency – ‘one-stop shop’ – with clear communication and a single point of contact for service users throughout the process;

5.  A broader outcomes-focused service with early consideration of overall housing options; and

6.  Streamlined local partnership working and governance.

In relation to the first of these key features, it is worth noting that since the publication of the AWG Report there are proposals to delegate certain responsibilities relating to adaptations to the new integrated health and social care bodies. Future arrangements will become clearer during the course of 2014 and developing and testing effective working relationships will form an integral part of the scope and focus of the demonstration sites.

It is recognised that some of the features set out above will be challenging to achieve, particularly if all were to be pursued. The Scottish Government and JIT are aware that it may not be feasible to test all of these features in each site, or even within a whole local authority area.

Project management , site support and wider learning

Project management: Sites will report to a small Project Team, led by the Scottish Government. Reporting will not be onerous, but we are keen that learning from the demonstration sites can be shared with others promptly as it emerges.

Site support: Support will be provided by the JIT. This support will include

·  Supporting the lead partner to identify relevant stakeholders, put in place governance, practical project support, communication arrangements, and detailed delivery plans

·  Providing constructive challenge to local partners throughout the demonstration period to draw on good practice and achieve more from their resources

·  Supporting local teams to identify solutions to problems that arise, such as through connecting to others, providing practice examples, or brokering between partners

·  Designing and facilitating progress reviews at key points in the project delivery

·  Channelling and referring experience, which has wider learning, to the Adaptations Network

·  Ensuring that local teams provide progress reports to the National Project Team

Adaptations network: the learning from the demonstration sites and other initiatives across Scotland will be shared across Scotland through a Network, which will be set up for the duration of the demonstrators. This will focus on practice improvement, and form part of the wider Housing Learning Network, which is currently being scoped.

Site evaluation

Sites will also be expected to provide data and other information to inform an evaluation of the impact of the demonstration sites. This will involve some data collection by the partners: this will be designed and specified with the selected demonstration sites.

Demonstration site selection

Submission

Demonstration sites will be identified on the basis of a submission describing the local proposal. Please complete the annexed Submission Form.

Submissions should include the following information

·  The lead partner and the other partners who will be participating in the demonstration site

·  The overall aim and the specific objectives for the demonstration site

·  A description of the particular issues that the demonstration site will seek to test, and the approach that will be used

·  A description of the thinking underpinning the identified aim, objectives and approach, explaining why the particular approach has been selected and why it will benefit wider learning and the national policy review

·  How service users, and carers, will be involved

·  The resources that the partners are able to contribute, and any additional supports that the partners will require but have yet to secure.

Assessment criteria

Submissions, including the written submissions and any subsequent interviews, will be assessed on the following basis.

(a)  Strategic Fit Does the proposal address key issues set out in the Adaptations Working Group report? Is it consistent with the current context of integrated health and social care?

(b)  Outcomes, Impact & Equity Is the proposal consistent with the principles set out in the Adaptations Working Group report, in particular having a clear focus on improving outcomes enabling people to stay independent, safe and happy in their homes for longer, and to realise their personal outcomes?

(c)  Collaboration with partners Does the proposal have the clear support from all key partners, and have these partners committed to their contribution?

(d)  Feasibility Is the proposal ambitious in its aims, but with a realistic chance of achieving its objectives within 2 years? Are the partners willing to support wholly different approaches at small scale for test purposes? Can the project be adequately resourced to complete it?

(e)  Transferability & Flexibility Is the proposal likely to have relevance and provide learning to other parts of Scotland? Is it likely to be adaptable to similar contexts, and capable of operating at different scales?

Outcomes, Impact and Equity is the most important of these 5 criteria.

Selection time-scale

The time-scale is as follows

Call for submissions issued 13 June 2014

Submissions made by 14 August 2014 (extended from 31 July)

Review (including any interviews) August/September 2014

Notification End September 2014

Initial site meetings Mid October

Further information

For further information about this call for submissions, please contact either

Amanda Britain T 07771 903891

Angela O’Brien angela.o’ T 0141 305 4152

Please return completed Submission Forms no later than 14 August 2014 (extended from 31 July) to Angela O’Brien, copied to Amanda Britain

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Adapting for Change Demonstration Sites

Submission Form

Please provide all of the information requested in no more than 5 pages

1.  Please provide the name of the lead partner, and list the other organisations and/or services who have agreed to participate in this demonstration site

2.  What is the demonstration intending to achieve (its aim and objectives)?

3.  What are the particular issues which the demonstration would focus on?

4.  Please describe the approach that will be used in the demonstration site in order to address these issues and deliver the aim and objectives

5.  Why have you chosen this particular focus for your submission? And how will it provide wider learning to other parts of Scotland and/or other organisations?

6.  What impact (changes) are you hoping to achieve and who will this benefit?

7.  How are/will people using services and their carers be involved in the demonstration site?

8.  In what ways would you describe your submission as being ambitious but realistic?

9.  What commitment (support and resources) do you need from each partner to this submission, and to what extent has this been secured?

10.  Is there additional support, approval, resources that will be required to deliver the aim and objectives, which have yet to be secured? If, yes, what are these requirements and how is it proposed to secure them?

11.  Who is the main contact for this submission? Please provide name, organisation and contact details.

Please return completed Submission Forms no later than 14 August 2014 (extended from 31 July) to Angela O’Brien, copied to Amanda Britain

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[1] The final report, and the Scottish Government’s response, can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/ROOPH/ADWG