Purpose

We have already seen significant cost savings
through the introduction of a part time OT supporting STEPS team
over the past six months – resulting in savings exceeding
£1 million. This demonstrates the clear value and impact of
optimised care approaches in practice.
Key points supporting this proposal:
• Proven impact: The part time OT post has directly
contributed to substantial savings, despite being a limited
resource. This highlights the potential for even greater
efficiencies if the role is expanded or dedicated to a specific
sector.
• Capacity Building Across system: optimised care training has
already been delivered to hospital OT staff at DRI, and discussions
are underway with RDaSH to explore rolling out this approach to
their OT’s as well.
• Addressing Sector-specific challenges: Hospital based OTs
frequently face pushback from providers in the independent care
sector, particularly around double-handed care requests.
Introducing a dedicated OT to work within the independent sector
would enable more consistent application of optimised care
principles, improve collaborative working relationships, and
provide ongoing training and evidence-based rationale to care
providers.
This would also strengthen decision making support for hospital
teams like those at DRI.
Sustainable change: The proposal is to maintain this role in the
independent sector for a two-year period, after which a formal
evaluation will assess impact, outcomes, and long standing
sustainability.

Content

To approve the funding for an additional OT
role to decrease the amount of care used by the independent sector
– under optimised care.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Do Nothing
We could do nothing but there will still be people who are having
care calls x 2+ carers that maybe not required if we can provide
appropriate equipment. The hospital staff will also continue to
have challenges with getting the independent sector to change their
practices and to see that 2+ carers is not needed in some
cases. - This was not a recommended option.