Decision details

Health and Social Care in West Sussex are working together to develop and implement a pathway for people who are medically fit for discharge from acute hospitals but who may have continuing health or social care needs. People meeting these criteria and who do not require 24 hour care would be supported to return home immediately through this ‘Home First’ pathway without having their care needs assessed in hospital.  The service will provide support to meet people’s immediate needs at home whilst an assessment is completed. Following this assessment the need for ongoing support will then be considered. The aim will be to maximise the use of community support and to enable people to remain living as independently as possible.

This decision commissions hospital discharge social care services, which will form one part of the multi-agency support that will be provided to patients on their return home.  This includes plans to provide a county wide cohesive service that aligns with health services and enables the ‘Home First’ care pathway to be fully implemented across West Sussex.

The Executive Director People Services has approved the commencement of procurement activities to source a new hospital discharge care service and to proceed to let the contract for service commencement from April 2020, as set out in section 2 of this report.

None.