We think that having a simulation model is an incredibly useful tool which can test our assumptions about how a service operates under different conditions.
Challenge/Aim of Project
The Help To Live At Home (HTLAH) Programme is targeted to two specific groups of people:
- Those in need of support at home following a hospital stay
- Those in the community whose needs have changed meaning they need more support to stay at home
The HTLAH Programme has been designed to help service users achieve maximum possible independence at home, by moving to a service model which is focused on reablement and maximising independence.
This service sees a significant reduction in the number of providers of domiciliary care services following a procurement process which concluded in July 2016. Domiciliary care provision was divided into 14 geographic lots, whereas the previous fragmented arrangements meant there were over 150 providers of domiciliary care in Leicestershire. The process was conducted in partnership between Leicestershire County Council, West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group. The service went live on 7 November 2016.
Results
The simulation model is able to show us the level of capacity that home care providers in Leicestershire have and what the implications and options are if capacity is reached. The project leads plan to work with commissioners and providers, using this knowledge to support them to improve both business continuity and capacity planning.
The level of resilience in the HTLAH Reablement Service to respond when the capacity of the market is reached has been positively demonstrated by the simulation model. This is something the service can build on as they are planning to review the reablement offer in the near future.
They plan to make more use of this tool going forward; as they get more validated data it will become increasingly accurate as a forecasting tool for demand and capacity in the service.
See the model here
Read our case study:
Read the full Report of SIMTEGR8 Workshops – Help to Live at Home Service