FOI request (FOIR-579517266)

Trusted Assessors

Requested Mon 22 January 2024
Responded Mon 12 February 2024

We are leading a review of the Competency Framework for Trusted Assessors first published in 2005. The goal is to publish a revised Framework fit for today. The model tackled the increasing demand for equipment for home adaptations for older and disabled people wanting to stay put, the associated demand for equipment-based assessments and the need to broaden the assessment work beyond the role of occupational therapists (OTs) to be able to meet that need. Over the years, thousands of staff in health, social care, housing, and other organisations involved in care and housing have now been trained as Trusted Assessors to be able to assess for minor and major home adaptations and to know when to refer to an OT (Occupational Therapist).

Trusted Assessors can be accredited or unaccredited; there are national qualifications at level three (minor adaptations) and four (major adaptations). A recent DFG (Disabled Facilities Grants) Summit suggested that awareness of these national qualifications was patchy.

These questions aim to understand the level and type of adoption of the model to inform recommendations.

We are requesting this information under freedom of information requests and have tried to find this information through the public domain, but unable to do so.

1. How many equipment-based assessments did you carry out in the last financial year?

2. What is the current average wait time for this type of assessment?

3. Is it your organisation's current policy to use Trusted Assessors within your equipment assessments pathways?

4. How many staff do you employ as Trusted Assessors?

a. What percentage are accredited/unaccredited?

b. If accredited, how many are accredited at level three? At level four?

5. Which roles and services are they based in?

6. What is your policy on refreshing their training?

7. Is the number expected to grow?

8. What percentage of equipment assessments are carried out face to face/remotely?

9. What percentage of assessments that are remote are telephone based/video based? Can people access a DFG funded home adaptation without the involvement of an OT?

10. Is any of your Trusted Assessor provision outsourced?

11. Do you accept prescriptions or recommendations for equipment from external organisations such as care and nursing homes, housing associations, supported living providers or domiciliary care providers if the case handler is an OT (Occupational Therapist) or Trusted Assessor? How many cases were handled of this type in the last financial year?

12. Is your community equipment service managed in-house or via an external contract?

Response

1. Hastings Borough Council does not complete equipment based assessment, we assess for adaptations as the equipment should have already been supplied. However, we frequently do order some items of equipment as part of our assessment.

2. As above.

3. No.

4a. None.

4b. None.

5. Not applicable.

6. Not applicable.

7. We may consider using Trusted Assessors in the future.

8. All of our assessments are face to face.

9. No.

10. Not applicable.

11. None so far, but would do so if recommended by OT or Trusted Assessor.

12. Not applicable.