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26/04/2004: Single assessment process for older people: April 2004 milestone
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Document type:Dear colleague letter
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Author:Department of Health
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Published date:26 April 2004
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Primary audience:Chief Executives,Directors,Professionals
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Publication format:Electronic only
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Gateway reference:3077
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Pages:4
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Copyright holder:Crown
This letter gives details of the systems and processes which need to be in place by April 2004 to underpin the Single Assessment Process in local health and social care systems.
Letter
Dear Colleague
You will be aware that a key milestone in the National Service Framework for Older People has been reached. From 1 April 2004, the systems and processes needed to underpin the Single Assessment Process need to be in place in local health and social care systems. A summary of what should be in place from April 2004 is attached as an Annex.
Implementation of SAP is intended to ensure a person-centred approach to assessment and care planning for older people, regardless of both organisational boundaries and the health conditions and circumstances of older people. SAP is of critical importance in the modernisation of services for older people, underpinning a wide range of other policy areas including continuing care, intermediate care, and reimbursement. As the majority of users of NHS services are older people, an integrated and effective response to their needs will also support the delivery of other key priorities.
The 2003 SAP progress reports from local health and social care systems suggest considerable variation in the state of readiness to implement the new system. A range of support is being provided by the Department of Health to help localities achieve implementation, and plan for further developments after April 2004. This support includes:
- an updated and more accessible SAP website
- a series of SAP regional roadshows and follow-up events to offer advice to individual localities
- the commissioning of consultants to offer expert advice to localities on information sharing and learning and development.
As part of your overall responsibility for the NSF for Older People, I know you will want to be satisfied that the key steps laid down in the SAP guidance are being implemented through local strategic partnerships between PCTs, councils and other partner agencies. In view of the importance of this issue, I have agreed with Duncan Selbie that the Recovery and Support Unit will be in contact with your team to talk through local arrangements for implementing SAP, and to ensure you have access to any central support you may require. This support is being provided by the Health and Social Care Change Agents Team, working closely with the Older People's Programme.
With best wishes
Professor Antony Sheehan
Director of Care Services
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