Exploring the role of independent organisations in care coordination for older people in England

Abstract

Social care policies advocate the provision of coordinated care and the involvement of the independent sector in service planning and delivery. This study explores the characteristics of the independent organisations involved in care coordination for older people, the tasks undertaken, and management of the interface between the commissioning authorities and these organisations. The findings are based on semistructured telephone interviews conducted in 2009 with representatives from 25 local authorities in England regarding 40 organisations.Findings: All organisations identified are voluntary in nature. They were diverse in terms of size, staffing, and history, typically undertaking care coordination for discrete user groups but few exclusively for older people. A range of care coordination activities were reported: assessment, brokerage, support planning, and monitoring and review.contracting arrangements differed; most organisations had short-term contracts. The main mechanism of contract monitoring was activity data returns; there was a lack of more detailed service evaluation. Both opportunities and challenges exist with regard to the future role of voluntary organisations in care coordination.Applications: This study highlights the potential for voluntary organisations to undertake care coordination activities. To achieve this, partnership working between service commissioners and these organisations is required, and funding and support are essential for provider organisations to develop appropriate infrastructures. Information governance arrangements are required to facilitate information sharing. The potential expansion of the role of voluntary organisations and the implications for practitioners with respect to their employment prospects are explored.

Care co-ordination for older people in the third sector: scoping the evidence

“…, Xie et al . ). Most were concerned about the lack of evaluation and regulation with two recent UK papers suggesting that some monitoring and evaluation of quality of third sector care co‐ordination services was being undertaken but of limited scope (Jenkins et al .…”

“…, Xie et al . ). One paper recommended accreditation of support planners and brokers in SDS services, including those operating in user‐led organisations (Glendinning et al .…”

“…, Xie et al . , Sutcliffe et al . ) and others that stated that co‐ordination was just one of the services undertaken (Meyer ).…”

“…They included those that undertook all or a wide range of care co-ordination activities (e.g. Waugh 2009, Jenkins et al 2013, Xie et al 2013, Sutcliffe et al 2016 and others that stated that co-ordination was just one of the services undertaken (Meyer 2011).…”

“…Maintaining and improving the quality of third sector care co-ordination services was an issue raised by managers and staff in over a fifth of the papers (Parker 1992, Phillips & Schneider 2002, Glendinning et al 2008, Jenkins et al 2013, Xie et al 2013. Most were concerned about the lack of evaluation and regulation with two recent UK papers suggesting that some monitoring and evaluation of quality of third sector care co-ordination services was being undertaken but of limited scope (Jenkins et al 2013, Xie et al 2013. One paper recommended accreditation of support planners and brokers in SDS services, including those operating in user-led organisations (Glendinning et al 2008).…”