A blueprint for effective accommodation based intermediate care and reablement has been published by the National Care Forum (NCF) in partnership with the Care Provider Alliance (CPA).

The blueprint, which supports the recent release of the NHS intermediate care framework, describes what effective, high quality, timely rehabilitative care in a variety of community settings looks like to ensure that people being discharged from hospital to a place they call home can achieve the level of independence they desire.

Liz Jones, policy director at NCF, said: “We now have a blueprint for what an ideal accommodation-based intermediate care plan looks like. This is going to make an enormous difference to outcomes for people who are coming out of hospital with a real need for comfort and stability.

“It’s been fantastic to work in partnership with The Care Provider Alliance to produce this vital blueprint and huge thanks need to go to all of the providers who shared case studies showing the valuable role that residential care settings can play in intermediate care.”

The blueprint sets out the five key ingredients required for successful accommodation-based services in care settings:

• An effective 24/7 rehab and recovery environment
• An intermediate care workforce with a rehabilitation mind set where 24 /7 staffing provides a real opportunity to make every interaction with the person a ‘rehabilitative’ interaction
• Multidisciplinary commitment and collaboration between care workers and registered specialists and therapists as well as families, social workers and other key people, focused on the individual person
• The essential role of technology in supporting the rehabilitative journey
• Sustainable commissioning and funding that is built for the long-term.

Chair of the Care Provider Alliance, Jane Townson commented: “Intermediate care sits at the centre of a truly integrated health and care system.  It is where our services must come together to support people leaving hospital. We need all potential intermediate and reablement services in place – including accommodation-based services and home care. The Care Provider Alliance is delighted that this new blueprint is available and we encourage all Integrated Care Systems to use it to review and plan their local arrangements.”