Overnight Support Service

Description and objectives

Southend Borough Council wishes to procure an Overnight Support service for 6 months from February to July 2016. The model is a waking-night Domiciliary Support package, for older adults who are:

• in hospital and are medically fit for discharge or
• in the community but at risk of hospital admission.

The service will provide individuals with short term overnight support (up to 5 nights) in their own home, minimizing admission into secondary care for vulnerable adults (who do not need an admission into acute care but need extra support at night time) whilst a care needs assessment is carried out. This will include individuals who are receiving treatment for infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) and respiratory infections.

Outcomes

The service is expected to achieve the following outcome

• Individuals will be supported within their own home environment at night to maintain their independence and wellbeing to avoid a hospital admission

The service will help to achieve the following efficiencies

• Reduce the number of unplanned hospital admissions and re-admissions
• Reduce the number of service users requiring long term residential / nursing care

Service Expectations

It is expected that the successful Service Provider will deliver personal care, toileting support, falls management, emotional reassurance and other practical support in the night (including medication management, if required), to support individuals to develop confidence and maintain their independence and remain at home during a period of acute illness which might otherwise have led to a hospital admission.

The Service Provider is required to provide accurate observation records to inform risk assessments and future care planning for each adult.

Occupational Therapy will be provided by Southend University Hospital Therapy services and appropriate equipment such as commodes will be supplied.

• The Service is to be available 7 days a week from 22:00 - 07:00 (9 hours)
• The service will be available to receive referrals 7 days a week between 08:30 - 17:00 until the end of the pilot.
• A review of care needs will be carried out within 48 hours of the start of the service to evaluate the requirement for longer term care
• Referrals will come from GPs, other primary health care staff and community social workers.
• A formal review/reassessment will be carried out by the hospital/SPOR social worker prior to the person being discharged from overnight care

During the pilot the model of service may develop and change as we review and monitor the service.

Please note that the full specification is attached as a word document which can also be used to complete your submission.