Information sharing to improve as council selected for care pilot

Rochdale Council is to take part in a pilot aimed at creating a more efficient and transparent system of information sharing across health, social care and community support services.

Nine councils, including Rochdale, have been chosen to take part in the Common Assessment Framework for Adults (CAF) Demonstrator Site Programme, aimed at avoiding duplication in assessments and ensuring people receive the best quality care and support.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, Portfolio Holder for Health and Social Care said that with people increasingly being given the power to choose and commission their own care and support services he welcomes the announcement. "Each person's individual circumstances and the way in which they want to live their life are fundamental to helping to choose services and support better suited to meet their needs," he said. "If a person has complex or long-term care and support needs there has been a frustration in patients repeating their story to different parts of the system, so by Rochdale being involved in this pilot we'll be able to learn how best to collect information just once and then share between our partners."

Rochdale Council will lead the pilot, but are in partnership with Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (Mental Health Service), NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Supporting People housing support services and Liquidlogic IT suppliers.

Also involved are partners in the voluntary sector, namely Age Concern Metro Rochdale, Making Space and Rochdale and District MIND.