Devon County Council is unique amongst Local Authorities in how we integrate our social and health care provision. Social workers are based within multi-disciplinary Complex Care Teams, meeting the needs of older people and people with physical disabilities. The teams work collaboratively with colleagues across the entire health care sector, which means our service users benefit from an integrated health and social care management structure and a “whole system approach”.
“Core Group Meetings” within the Complex Care Team are typically held on a weekly basis, and offer a forum where the GP, District nursing team, Community Matrons, re-ablement teams (physiotherapist/OT), community OT, Community Psychiatric Nurses, voluntary sector representatives, and social work staff all come together to solve any issues within a professionally supportive environment.
The Core Group structure is currently supporting the implementation of the “virtual ward model”, which uses predictive data to identify and tailor support around those people who are most at risk in the community.