Community Care
In tandem with the modernisation of acute hospital services there is
a need to expand the range of care services that can be delivered in the community. This is in
line with the strategic vision described in ‘A Healthier Future’ and the objectives set out in the Department’s
Public Service Agreement. The key aim is to support an increasing number of people to live independent
lives, preferably in their own homes. To do this, the HPSS needs to develop effective alternatives
to hospital care, which are designed to reduce inappropriate admissions and unnecessary lengths of stay.
There also needs to be a strong focus on rehabilitation in tandem with assessment of long term
care needs to avoid unnecessary reliance on residential and nursing home care.
To deliver on this vision, the HPSS needs to:
- Secure an appropriate balance between hospital and community based services within local health economies;
- Continue the expansion and evaluation of intermediate care as a way of working that is designed to prevent unnecessary hospital admission, promote faster recovery from illness, support timely discharge, maximise independent living and improve the quality of assessment of long-term health and social care needs;
- In co-operation with the independent sector, expand the use of supported living, domiciliary care, day care and assistive technologies as alternatives to residential accommodation, focusing on rehabilitation and independent living;
- Develop a range of housing and care options for different levels of support, offering a continuum of care as people’s needs change;
- Contribute to the development of a region-wide single assessment process, focused upon the person and designed to streamline and improve decision making about long-term health and social care needs and simplify access to services;
- Expand the range of flexible and responsive respite and support services for carers;
- Increase the take up of Direct Payments; and
- Engage actively with users and the voluntary and community sector in the design and delivery of services.
For further
information
please contact:
Elderly and Community Care Unit
Room D1.4
Castle Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Elderly and Community Care Unit
Room D1.4
Castle Buildings
Belfast
BT4 3SQ
Read People First Community Care in Northern Ireland in the 1990s
