Named Person/Service Co-ordinator Policy

"People with learning disabilities who make substantial and long-term use of publicly funded services should have a 'named person' to act as their service co-ordinator. This person should pay particular attention to achieving effectiv organisation and monitoring of services provided by all agencies." Valuing People 2001

It is important to provide clarity about what individuals can expect in relation to this policy. The eligibility framework contained in the ‘Fair Access to Care Services’ has been used as a link to the allocation of appropriate personnel. Although FACS is concerned with eligibility for services once a decision to provide services has been taken, using similar principles will help to ensure a smooth transition from assessment to service provision, co-ordination and review.

The role and nature of the ‘named person’ will vary dependent upon the type of the service a person is receiving:

People making substantial use of services and in need of continual review / monitoring and / or people whose services are undergoing a period of change. (Critical services)

People who make substantial use of services and are currently stable. (Substantial services).
People who make moderate but continuing use of services and are stable (Moderate services).
People who make low or sporadic use of services and/or require supports traditionally found outside the health and social care system.
These definitions relate to the outcome of a holistic approach to individual needs and thus represent service provision across the health and social care system.

Following identification of service level requirements deployment of appropriate staff will be initiated. This will be based on the roles identified below.

Roles / tasks identified for the ‘named person’

Help to Get Services - responsibility for ensuring the effective monitoring of services and for co-ordinating decision making about the service being accessed.

Service Co-ordination - responsibility for ensuring that services are delivered coherently for each person. The named person will be in touch with all aspects of service provision and liase (if different people) with the person’s Person Centred Plan facilitator and health facilitator in connection with health action plans.

Communication – routinely holding together information and communication and being the first point of contact for the person, family carers, friends and other people who need to give or receive information about the person’s needs and service requirements.

Named Person Allocation

Named person allocation
Service Level	Help to Get Services	Service Co-ordination	Communication
Critical	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator
Substantial	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator
Moderate	Named Person/Care Co-ordinator	Service linked Co-ordinator	Service linked Co-ordinator
Low	Service or community linked person	Service or community linked person	Service or community linked person

With the provision of services defined as critical level and substantial level the Named Person will be an appropriately qualified professional e.g. Community Learning Disability Team member and will have responsibility for the quality and outcomes of the service based on the assessment of need and agreed care / support plan.

With the provision of services defined as moderate level the help to get services responsibility will / may remain with the named care co-ordinator but other functions of service coordination and communication may be taken on by someone more closely connected with the service e.g. Day Service Worker, Community Support/Care Support Worker.

With the provision of services defined as low level where the application of the FACS criteria has determined that the person is not eligible for health and social care services, support networks outside the health and social care system, such as a person’s place of work, or other natural community supports will need to be developed.

Where the person receives a service defined as low level, service linked personnel may fulfil the named person role e.g. landlord.

The Service Co-ordination and Communication roles could be taken on by one of a number of people including:

The person themselves.
An advocate or friend.
A family member.
A care manager.

A health professional (such as the person’s health facilitator)

A member of provider staff (e.g. key worker from a day service or support worker in supported housing service).

Summary of Actions

The Service Manager responsible for the co-ordination of each Community Learning Disability Team will ensure that a Named Person is identified for each person assisted by the Derbyshire Learning Disability Services Partnership and is recorded on written and electronic personal records for each of the three service areas (where more than one person allocated).
All service providers should be informed of the Named Person designations and changes to ensure effective co-ordination and communication.
A record of the decision-making process to be made and data collected for monitoring purposes.
This policy includes all people with learning disabilities assisted by the Derbyshire Learning Disability Services Partnership including people provided with services out of county.
A Personal Centred Planning facilitator may be the named person. Where this in not the case close contact with a person’s PCP facilitator should be maintained. Decisions about care/support co-ordination and resource allocation must take into account the PCP and follow a person centred approach. Similar links need to exist with health facilitation and health action plans.
Where someone is subject to Care Programme Approach (mental health services) this system should be followed by the designated Named Person who should be the designated Care Programme Co-ordinator.
Where a person is in receipt of services, the decision about who takes on the role of 'named person' should be reviewed, agreed and recorded at the initial assessment and subsequent review meetings as required in the FACS guidance.
The decision on who takes on these roles should involve and have the agreement of the person themselves, with support if appropriate from friends and family.
There may be circumstances where the person with a learning disability refuses to acknowledge and accept the Named Person role. Although they cannot be forced or required to work with the worker(s) designated as the Named Person the designation is still required in order to ensure that someone has an overview and is taking responsibility for assessment and provision of appropriate services. This may require evaluation under Adult Protection Procedures and should always be determined by a multi-disciplinary case review.

The adoption of the Single Assessment Process as a standard method for integrating and co-ordinating assessment and service provision for all adults health and social care services in Derbyshire is under discussion. The development of SAP will incorporate the requirements of the Named Person system.