Adult social care and wellbeing service - Find a freedom of information request

I am requesting information on the following:

The recent Adult Social Care and wellbeing minutes for this month have a section on information provision. This document highlights a report done on wellbeing service, self assessment of care needs and consultations via Everyone.

https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=550&MId=8571&Ver=4

Appendix D

1) With regard to the wellbeing service, can you tell me how this is accessed?

2) How many people have accessed it, and what steps are taken if someone does not have online access. How are they supported?

3) Does the authority when stating wellbeing, mean as in section 1 of the under the Care Act? Ie are the definitions used to check needs against?

4) If not, what definition do you use and why?

5) Please provide information on the self assessment process for needs, when is it estimated to be online? When will it be coasted on? How much will it cost? Who is in charge of managing the project?

6) With regards to consultations done by Everyone, please explain How they are meeting proper due regard requirements for section 149 of the Equality Act?

7) How was the Everyone information exercise publicised?

8) Please provide directions given to Everyone in writing or otherwise regarding the coproduction for information?

9) How many people participated and how where they split according to protected characteristics under Equality Act?

10) If Everyone used online advertising only, how many times did this happen?  what provision was made for people who can't online? If they used other methods, please advise what these where?

1. The current Wellbeing Service is accessed by telephone through Lincolnshire County Council’s Adult Care Customer Services Centre, by the service user or a friend or family member; or a professional referral (e.g., from a healthcare professional), by telephone or an online referral form sent direct to the Supplier.

2. Over the five-year period from April 2018 to March 2023, 39,216 people accessed (were referred to) the current Wellbeing Service. Support is only provided online (e.g., using video conferencing) where appropriate. In other situations, support is over the telephone and/or face-to-face (in person), often in the service user’s home.

3. The Council does mean the definition of wellbeing as in section 1 of the Care Act for the purpose of commissioning the Wellbeing Service. However, the Wellbeing Service is a generic support service and does not support people with all aspects of that definition. Some needs may be met by referral on to other specialist services. Eligibility for the current Wellbeing Service requires someone to meet several ‘triggers’ that suggest they might, without the support of the Wellbeing Service, enter regulated adult care services or require more services than they currently receive. Needs are identified by a dedicated assessment team against prescribed outcomes that the Wellbeing Service can deliver on.

4. See question 3.

5. The online self-assessment tool is planned to be available later in the summer of 2024. The tool will be utilised as a stand-alone online tool to support people in knowing what help is available as a result of completing the form. There will be no cost for people to complete the online tool. The Head of Service responsible for managing this project is Head of Quality and Information, Theo Jarratt.

6. Section 149 of the Equality Act as per this link is applicable. As a registered charity that is providing support to a Local Authority, Every-one is aware of the duties set under the Equality Act and the need to advance equality of opportunity relating to the nine protected characteristics. Every-One gives due regard and makes every effort to ensure that co-production activities are promoted and accessible to people in whatever ways possible within limitations of capacity and resources.

7. Every-One, working with partners, promote co-production exercises as follows:

• Publicising on Every-One website
• Sharing on other websites where available / appropriate
• Sharing opportunities on various social media channels
• Publicising through the regular Co-production newsletter that is issued direct to over 1,200 people and also via further circulation to databases held by other partner agencies such as LPFT and ICB
• Hard copy postcards and flyers circulated at every opportunity
• Training provided to over 40 x Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) teams in Adult Care services to seek their support in identifying people with lived experience to get involved
• Dedicated flyer printed and shared across LCC Adult Care services
• Internal communications within LCC Adult Care services
• External comms at LCC
• Calls outs included in LCC ‘Let’s Talk’ call outs.
• Training of 2 cohorts of Co-production Champions within Lincolnshire County Council to raise skills, knowledge and confidence to co-produce and help identify people with lived experience to take part.
• Attendance at numerous events, meetings, and forums to promote co-production generally and opportunities to get involved.
• Videos available on YouTube to promote co-production opportunities.

8. The co-production scope as provided to Every-one is attached.

9. Eight people in total involved. Data relating to their protected characteristics is not captured or held.

10. Please see question 7 above for methods of promotion used.