Lothian Carers Centres Partnership within NHS Lothian
This is a joint application by the three carer organisations in Lothian region:
- VOCAL which covers the City of Edinburgh and Midlothian
- Carers of East Lothian (CoEL) which covers East Lothian
- Carers of West Lothian (CoWL) which covers West Lothian
Objectives:
- To strengthen partnership working between NHS Lothian, local authority social care departments, the three Lothian carers’ organisations and carers.
- To strengthen policies and procedures, and deliver improved practice and outcomes of carer support in hospital discharges and Carer’s Assessments.
One worker will be based with each organisation and will focus on the following workstreams:
Hospital Discharge, prior to discharge (based with CoWL)
This workstream will focus on identifying and offering support to carers during the cared-for person’s stay in hospital and at the point of discharge. The Carer Support Worker will operate within the hospital wards and discharge lounges at St. John’s Hospital and the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, working collaboratively with hospital social work and occupational therapy teams. The work will strengthen carer involvement in discharge planning so that the person being discharged is better supported at home and less likely to face short-term re-admission to hospital. Carers will be more aware of available services, including support from their local carers organisation and Expert Carer training courses.
Hospital Discharge, immediately after discharge (based with VOCAL)
This workstream will focus on identifying and supporting carers following the cared-for person's discharge from hospital. The Carer Support Worker will operate within community based multi-disciplinary discharge teams, working collaboratively with health and social care and occupational therapy teams in Edinburgh. A significant focus will be on long-term condition management and self care support, to support particularly those carers looking after patients at risk of hospital admission or re-admission.
Single Shared Assessment/Carers Assessment (based with CoEL and VOCAL - Midlothian)
This workstream will enhance identification and support for carers at the first point of contact with community care services, either when a cared-for person is discharged from hospital or from contact started in the community. The Carer Practitioners will work within nursing and social work teams, both carrying out carer’s assessments and assisting health and social work practitioners with carer’s assessments. This partnership approach will work to increase the number and quality of carer’s assessments carried out by local authorities and health practitioners.
