Health and social work services

Description

The service is for people newly diagnosed at the earlier stages of dementia within the City of Edinburgh boundaries. This specialist service is unregistered to provide 1 to 1, person-centred support to: understand and self manage the condition; access peer support; maintain links with local community/activities; make future plans such as Power of Attorney; develop person-centred support plans. This is based on Alzheimer Scotland's 5 Pillars of Support Model. (www.alzscot.org/campaigning/five_pillars). It includes face to face contact, onward referrals, liaison with other professionals and community based supports, involvement in community engagement and developments. Delivery of the service will link explicitly to Scotland's National Dementia Strategy 2013-16 (http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Health/Services/Mental-Health/Dementia/DementiaStrategy1316) (and any future National Dementia Strategy) which outlines the importance of increasing the availability, consistency and quality of post-diagnostic support. The service needs to deliver on the Scottish Government HEAT target. To deliver expected rates of dementia diagnosis and by 2015/16, all people newly diagnosed with dementia will have a minimum of a year's worth of post-diagnostic support coordinated by a link worker, including the building of a person-centred support plan. The Service requirements are as follows: — To be delivered by a provider with knowledge and experience in providing dementia services and dementia post diagnostic support; — The service delivery model includes 6 WTE equivalent post diagnostic support link workers with line management and administration support to provide service leadership, development and coordination within City of Edinburgh boundaries; — Service provision to a minimum of 300 people per year; — Link workers are required to have a recognised professional qualification in social care, social work, nursing, occupational therapy, community learning and development, counselling or other related occupations to a minimum of SVQ Level 3 or Nursing Grade 5 and have experience of working with people who have dementia and their families. Recognised qualifications in Dementia Care, SVQ level 4 or equivalent in Health and Social Care or other related discipline would also be desirable. — Link workers are required to be trained in post diagnostic support to a minimum Enhanced Level within the Promoting Excellence Framework; — Work in partnership with NHS Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council and voluntary sector services to ensure best outcomes for people newly diagnosed; — Service delivery model is within each of the 4 Health and Social Care localities. Link workers will be assigned and based in these specific geographical localities and will work closely with NHS and local authority teams; — Service provision is subject to agreed data sharing and governance arrangements between partnership organisations; — HEAT target data collection a requirement; — Active engagement in the ongoing interagency coproduction partnership work to further develop the post diagnostic support model across Edinburgh services and dementia pathways.