Social care capacity constraints are commonly known to Local Authorities, and finding a solution to these problems in a systematic way is often easier said than done. Such constraints can mean that individuals who are recognised as needing homecare support are unable to receive a package of care. To try and address these issues Dorset Council designed and implemented a Home Care Optimisation programme, which covered four project areas:

  • Brokerage process – identifying and developing improvements to reduce the time taken to arrange a package of care
  • Zonal optimisation – providers working collaboratively to make best use of capacity
  • Technology enabled care – allowing some care visits to be completed virtually to reduce travel time and promote independence
  • Trusted practice – delegation of authority to providers to enable completion of annual reviews

What are the service user benefits?

  • Reduction in the time to place a package of care

  • Improved consistency and completeness of information provided to providers

  • Freed up capacity to allow support for those on the waiting list

  • Increase in the number of providers who are part of the Dorset Care Framework

  • Development of a robust training programme for homecare providers

  • Improved decision making for the management of existing care packages

How is this being implemented in Dorset?

  • A case study summarising Dorset Council’s implementation of the Home Care Optimisation programme is available here.