There are many examples of where the County Durham Care Partnership has brought different aspects of health and social care closer together, but occupational therapy is a strong illustration of the benefits of collaboration. This is personified by two occupational therapists, working for different teams, one in DCC and the other NHS. Both were born and raised in County Durham. Both are working mums, who share a passion for their jobs as occupational therapists and operate out of the same building.
And both are called Leanne Wood.
Not long ago, they were working 40 miles apart, and hadn’t even met, although it wasn’t unusual for either of them to receive emails and telephone calls intended for the other
Now, even though one is employed by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and the other by Durham County Council, they are working much more closely – largely due the work of the Integrated Care Programme run by the County Durham Care Partnership which is activity developing greater collaboration between health and social care services.
The NHS Leanne Wood is part of the Community Rehabilitation Team that covers all community occupational therapy and physio rehabilitation in the community. This includes supporting discharge from hospital, rehabilitation in both patients’ own homes and care homes, and responding within two hours to help patients in need avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and visits.
The team is located on Seaham’s Spectrum Business Park – in the same building as Durham County Council’s ‘East Team’ of occupational therapists, which includes our other Leanne Wood.
The East Team covers an area from Seaham, in the north of the county, down to Chilton, in the south, and is focused on working with people who have long-term conditions, helping them to manage at home.
Avoiding duplication
“It’s made a massive difference being in the same building, compared to being in a totally different location, because it’s so much easier to just pop upstairs and have a discussion,” says NHS Leanne. “It’s a lot more efficient because it’s a lot easier to communicate and build working relationships.”
Council Leanne agrees: “It definitely saves time and avoids duplication when we’re making assessments on the most appropriate care that’s needed for each individual,” she adds.
Both teams’ roles are to support patients achieve the greatest level of independence and to provide rehabilitation, equipment and adaptations to support that aim.
Where Council occupational therapy teams focus more on the adaptations and health staff, on the rehabilitation both services are responsible for equipment provision.
By working more closely together, the lines of traditional responsibility have been merged, with the focus being on who has the right skill set to deliver the required care and not duplicating work. Joint assessments are carried out where this is deemed appropriate to the patients.
Under the previous arrangements, the county council team wasn’t in a position to order certain equipment, such as walking aids, and had to go through the NHS team to get what was needed. But that’s changed due to a pragmatic approach and training provided by the equipment provider. There is also now a shared single point of contact telephone number, so that enquiries can be directed to the right team more easily. In addition, ‘integrated meetings’ are held monthly to explore new ways to collaborate and enhance the patient experience.
Impact
That’s all important because, for both Leannes, the greatest reward from working in occupational therapy comes from seeing the impact it has on the lives of local people.
“What I really love is being able to go into someone’s home and put what might seem like small things in place, but seeing them make a massive difference to that person’s quality of life,” says council Leanne.
“For example, it might be a case of someone not being able to get into their bath, and having to rely on carers, but the installation of a ‘level access’ shower can help them to be independent and transform their life.”
NHS Leanne feels the same and believes there’s plenty of scope for the progress that’s been made under the County Durham Care Partnership to continue.
“It can only make things better when you’re opening doors for each other all the time,” she says.