Dunhill Medical Trust: Developing a Network of Care for Older People at a Local Level

Overview

This call is seeking proposals for an innovative approach aimed at achieving a radical change to public sector provision from one founded not just on technical excellence, but also on a human framework that will provide for the specific wishes of older people, such as adequate time in providing care and interacting on a personal basis with the person being supported.

Proposals are invited from local consortia (which are likely to include statutory, voluntary and private providers, as well as other appropriate partners) who are able to demonstrate a track record of collaboration and achievements in improving care and support for older people.

Lead applicants should be organisations or groups which are charitable as defined by UK charity law (both registered charities and relevant exempt charities). Non-charitable organisations (such as the NHS or local authorities) may be the named lead applicant providing that the purpose of the proposal is primarily charitable and for the public benefit, with any private benefit being nominal only. Evidence will be required that consortium members have agreed to participate and they should be named as co-applicants on the proposal.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS AWARD IS SPECIFICALLY NOT DESIGNED TO REPLACE STATUTORY PROVISION.

The focus of this call for proposals

The focus of this call is to develop a network of care and support for older people at a local level, creating a bottom-up, asset based approach, using all the resources in a local area, to provide care and/or support to ensure the health and well being of older people.

The call is seeking proposals from local consortia for an innovative approach aimed at achieving a radical change in public sector provision from one founded not just on technical excellence, but also on a human framework that will provide for the specific wishes of older people, such as adequate time in providing care and interacting on a personal basis with the person being supported.

DMT does not wish to constrain the nature of the application, but rather to encourage projects that build on the team’s skills, experience and setting. Whatever approach the team develops, it should have the aim of improving the care and support provided to older people on a local basis and there should be clear outcomes that could be reproduced/adapted in other local areas as appropriate.

Proposals submitted should be person-focused and demonstrate all of the following attributes of high quality care and support for older people:

• Continuity of care (i.e. the older person receives care and support from the same adult social services personnel /support worker(s) and has a chance to get to know them and interact with them as a human being)
• Considerate care (including sufficient time to provide care and support, with due regard to the dignity of the person being supported)
• Cost effectiveness of care (both in respect of public and private/third sector funds and individual self-funders)
• Completeness of care (i.e. as far as the older person is concerned, there is one integrated health and social care team looking after them, not several different ones)
• Community focused (with due regard to avoiding unnecessary emergency admissions and minimising hospital readmissions).

Who is eligible to submit a proposal?

Proposals should be submitted by local consortia (which are likely to include statutory, voluntary and private providers of care and support to older people) who are able to demonstrate a track record of collaboration and achievement in improving care and support for older people.

Lead Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria set out in DMT’s grant making policy (although consortium partners are not so restricted). Accordingly, Lead

Applicants should be organisations or groups which are charitable as defined by UK charity law (both registered charities and relevant exempt charities).

Proposals may only be led by non-charitable organisations (such as the NHS or local authorities) where the purpose of the proposal is primarily charitable and for the public benefit, with any private benefit being nominal only. Evidence will be required that other consortium members have agreed to participate and they should be named as Co-Applicants on the proposal. Their involvement will include a commitment to participation in the delivery and monitoring of the project.

As this is intended to be a local initiative, it is not expected that large national charities would be involved in a consortium, although local charities who are part of a national entity may be appropriate partners.

The Lead Applicant organisation must be capable of managing a large budget, with effective financial systems in place to be able to reimburse other members of the consortia efficiently and appropriately, as well as providing a full audit trail and accountability for the use of the award.

Who should be involved in an applicant consortium?

There is no mandatory list of the organisations/participants who would be expected to be involved in a consortium; they may include any or all of the following:

• Adult social care
• Other local authority departments (e.g. housing, community development, leisure services, etc.)
• Local health professionals (both primary and secondary care)
• Public health
• Clinical commissioning groups
• Local charities
• Other third sector/not-for-profit organisations (e.g. social enterprises, community interest companies)
• Care and care at home organisations
• Older people’s organisations
• Researchers from local universities or other recognised research organisations.

Eligible Costs

• DMT will only meet the costs directly incurred in running the project to be supported. Full costs of statutory organisations or large companies will not be met and should not be included. For small voluntary and community organisations, detailed justification of full costs will be required if requested.
• Only salaries for posts specifically created for this project may be applied for (i.e. fixed term contract for the duration of the award).
• Locum payments may be covered where these are essential in order to allow a key person/partner organisation to participate in the project (e.g. GPs, care home/care at home workers, social workers, nurses, community pharmacists, occupational therapists etc.)
• Some consultancy fees may be paid, but only if full justification is provided and the use of the consultant is essential to the success of the project.
• Other non-staff costs required to run the project (e.g. office supplies, travel costs, etc.)