Complex Care Packages for Local Authorities

The Specialist CHCOT Assessment Role within Local Authorities:

CHCOT Network Occupational Therapists have extensive knowledge of the Care Act (2014) and National Framework (2018) and have worked across all sectors gaining unique skills and understanding of the complexities of assessment, review, ongoing support and funding of complex support packages.

All our Occupational Therapists have extensive experience and knowledge of working with people who have complex needs including people with head injuries, spinal cord injuries, degenerative neurological conditions and people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.

Thorough assessment allows an occupational therapist to be very specific about support needs, our OT’s are Health and Social care practitioners offering a combined full holistic/functional assessment, providing professional recommendations to support social workers in their decision-making process.

Frequently statutory provision of equipment, manual handling provision and adaptation does not relate to both the amount and the type of support needed and a full holistic / functional strengths based review / assessment of existing complex support packages ensures the most appropriate equipment, assistive technology, manual handling techniques and equipment and adaptations are provided. This ensures ongoing care and support is the least restrictive option and recommended support packages are appropriate to meet a person’s needs and are cost effective.

Our typical role within Local Authorities includes:

• Clinical OT assessments, assessing a person’s functional abilities (occupational performance), their aspirations, environment and level of support currently being provided. Recommending alternative least restrictive, cost effective solutions.
• Gathering assessment data either current or historical from health services i.e. CNLD/tissue viability/ continence/OT/SALT/psychology/ dietetics/ GP/Psychiatrist to support decision making process.
• Support social workers in a consultative role clearly identifying eligible needs. Our OT’s are Health and Social care practitioners and are able to clearly identify the difference between social care and health needs.
• Assessment & prescription of specialist equipment, including manual handling equipment and provide training in order to adopt the latest single handling techniques.
• Full environmental assessments and reviews with Disabled Facilities Grant recommendations, working alongside housing providers, architects, project managers and contractors to provide individualised bespoke accessible environments including property designs and layouts including provision of extensions, bathroom and kitchen designs etc. We also offer assessment and advice regarding assistive technology.
• Environmental assessments to identify the most suitable accessible placement i.e. shared lives/ group supported living/ residential/ individual supported living and completing site visits.
• Full sensory processing assessments identifying needs or reviewing previous sensory recommendation to re-iterate they are followed.
• Attendance at best interest meeting decisions in relation to social/ health/ clinical/ OT needs.
• Assess and visit day centre to ascertain if meaningful and/or purposeful activity engagement.

No two cases will be the same – Please see our case studies section for further information of how this can benefit.