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Scottish Community Care Statistics 2002

ANNEX A

CHANGE IN METHODOLOGY

In 1998 a new methodology was introduced for dealing with non-response for the home care, day care and residential care data collections. Where a return is not received, or is partially completed, the missing data are estimated using returns from similar establishments (in the case of day and residential care). Prior to 1998, if a return was not received, the data from the previous year were used.

The new methodology is felt to be more robust and provides a more reliable picture of provision. However, the change in procedures means that care must be taken when comparing data over time if the time period covers data before and after 1998.

For more information on the methodology used, or advice on interpreting time series data affected by this change, please contact Community Care Statistics branch.

DOMICILIARY CARE

Data on home care are provided annually by local authorities on the H1 return and relate to the last week in March. This form was revised in 1998. The return records details of all home care services provided by LA staff, and in addition, services bought in from other local authorities and private and voluntary providers. Prior to 1998, information was only recorded about home care provided directly by local authority staff.

For the purposes of the data collection, LAs are advised on the scope and definition of home care as follows.

Scope

Include all Home Care services:

• provided by your Local Authority to users within your own Local Authority area
• purchased from other Local Authorities
• purchased from private or voluntary sector providers

provided at home:

• in mainstream housing, rented or owned
• in sheltered accommodation, amenity housing or
• in supported accommodation.

Definitions

Include:

1. practical services which assist the client to function as independently as possible and/or continue to live in their own homes
2. routine household tasks within or outside the home
3. personal care of the client
4. respite care in support of the client's regular carers, e.g. Crossroads Care Attendance Schemes funded by the Local Authority
5. overnight, live-in and 24-hour services
6. home care provided to clients living in sheltered housing or supported accommodation.

Exclude:

• home care services provided to clients in residential care
• services paid for completely by the client and provided totally by the private or voluntary sector
• clients receiving a laundry service only, without other domestic or personal care
• outreach services provided by day centre staff to clients at home which fall short of home care as defined above.

In line with general policy, where local authorities were unable to provide complete information figures have been estimated.

A number of authorities have had difficulty in providing information on services purchased from private and voluntary providers. Care should therefore be taken when interpreting figures in this area of provision as a considerable amount of data has been estimated.

DAY CENTRES

Day care data are provided by local authorities and individual day care establishments on the D1-B return and relate to the last week in March. The form was completed annually until 1998 when it was changed to a triennial return. The census was undertaken again in March 2001.

For the purposes of the data collection, the scope and definition of day care is as follows.

Scope

The form should be completed by all local authority administered and all registered day care services providing a range of practical, personal and social activities for adults. Self-help groups, lunch clubs and social clubs should NOT be included in this return.

Residential Homes which provide day care places for non-residents should complete this form in addition to the residential return R1. Only the staff specifically allocated to the day care service should be included in this return.

Definitions

Number of Places - the maximum number of places available "at any one time".

Number of People Attending - up until 1998, this included all those people on the register who still make use of the day centre regardless of whether they attended during the survey week. From 2001, this counts only those people who used the day centre during the survey week.

Day centres are identified as being primarily intended for a particular client group. People in other client groups may attend. The figures presented in this publication show the number of people attending centres primarily intended for a particular client group, whether or not the individual belongs to that client group.

SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING

Special Needs Housing data are collected by Housing Statistics Branch in the Scottish Executive Development Department via the S1-B form.

Definitions

Definitions of each of the types of special needs housing are as follows:

Sheltered Housing

The design is based on the standards for general needs housing with the addition of the following features:

• the housing should be provided at ground or first floor level, or in blocks over 2 stories high served by at least one lift
• space standards should be the same for one or two person general needs houses
• handrails should be provided on both sides of all common access stairs and on at least one side of all common access areas and passages
• bathroom doors should be either sliding or capable of opening outwards, and fitted with locks operable from the outside
• bathroom floors should have a non-slip finish
• handrails should be fitted beside the WC and bath/shower
• a space heating system must be provided which is capable of maintaining a temperature of 21-C when the outside temperature is -1-C in the following parts of the house: living area, sleeping area, kitchen, bathroom, hallway
• light switches arranged to line horizontally with door handles
• socket outlets fixed at a height of at least 500mm above the floor
• a warden service should be provided
• an emergency call service should be provided connecting each house to a warden system.

Very sheltered housing

This form of housing (sometimes known as "care" and "extra care" housing) generally has all the features listed for sheltered housing but will usually have special bathroom facilities. In addition, a greater level of care and support is offered through the service of extra wardens, full-time carers or domiciliary assistance and the provision of meals.

Sheltered wheelchair housing

The design is adapted to wheelchair standards but also has the features listed above for sheltered housing and is for elderly people confined to wheelchairs, rather than other such disabled people.

Amenity housing

The design is based on the standards of general needs housing with the addition of those features listed in the first nine points of the sheltered housing definition. A community alarm may or may not be fitted.

Community alarm

A system of alarms in more than one special needs house linked to a central point either manned or temporarily supervised or via telephone link-up, where a response can be guaranteed to a distress call.

Wheelchair housing

This consists of dwellings for people confined to wheelchairs. It is built or adapted to give extra floor area, whole house heating, special bathroom, kitchen and other features.

Ambulant disabled housing

This consists of dwellings for people with disabilities who are not confined to wheelchairs. It is built or adapted to general needs housing standards but has a level or ramped approach, WC and bathroom at entrance level and other special features.

Other specially adapted housing

Dwellings with other adaptations, such as those with renal dialysis equipment, are included here, if information is available.

Exclusions

Wardens' housing and Hostel accommodation are excluded.

RESIDENTIAL CARE

Residential care homes data are provided annually by local authorities and independent homes on the R1 return and relate to the 31st March.

The census covers all adult residential care establishments in Scotland, which are registered with or run by local authorities.

Establishments are asked to provide detailed information on their residential care provision covering the period from 1 April of the previous year to 31 March of the current year.

Homes are identified as being primarily intended for a particular client group. It is possible that residents may belong to another client group other than that which the home is primarily intended for. Figures presented in this publication show the number of residents in homes primarily intended for a particular client group, whether or not the individual belongs to that client group.

Definitions

Short Stay

Homes are given the following advice when identifying short stay residents:

• Short stay normally means up to four weeks although your own definition would be acceptable.

Categories of funding

Homes are asked to identify the main source of funding for each resident from the following options:

• Wholly or mainly by Private Means

NURSING HOMES

The private nursing homes described in these tables were registered under the terms of the Private Nursing Homes Registration (Scotland) Act 1938 (as amended), or under the Mental Health Act 1960/1984. The data include hospices registered under the Act, but data for private hospitals have been excluded.

The figures shown are collated from information supplied by nursing homes to ISD Scotland on form ISD(S)34 at the end of each financial year. However, since the previous edition of this publication, figures from year ending March 1997 onwards have been revised: quality assurance work has been undertaken, and additionally, for each home which did not supply data, figures have been imputed from data for those years which were available. The number of homes which did not supply data and for which figures have been imputed are as follows: 1997:- 29 homes; 1998:- 31 homes; 1999:- 49 homes; 2000:- 52 homes; 2001:- 75 homes; 2002:- 65 homes. In addition a small number of records have been modified or deleted.

Note that information has not been available to impute missing data prior to year ending March 1997, nor is it known how many homes failed to submit data at that time. This may result in discontinuities in the figures

HOSPITALS

Geriatric Medicine

Prior to 31 March 1996, figures for 'Geriatric Long Stay' and 'Geriatric Assessment' were derived using separate specialty codes. Thereafter there was a transition period, and by the year ending 31 March 1998 data were being analysed and reported for one specialty, Geriatric Medicine, and activity is divided into that which occurs in long stay units for care of the elderly (equivalent to 'Geriatric Long Stay'), and activity which occurs in other types of unit (equivalent to 'Geriatric Assessment'). There may be discontinuities when comparing figures before and after this change and so comparisons over time should be made with caution.

The data are derived from three ISD national data sets: ISD(S)1, which collects aggregated data on hospital bed numbers and hospital activity for a range of services and of types of patients; SMR01, which collects patient-based data on inpatient and day case episodes in general and acute wards; and SMR50, which collects patient-based data on inpatient admissions to and discharges from hospitals and units providing Geriatric Long Stay Care.

Learning Disability

Data are based on the specialty Learning Disability using two ISD national data sets: ISD(S)1, which collects aggregated data on hospital bed numbers and hospital activity for a range of services and of patient types; and SMR04, which collects patient-based data on inpatient admissions and discharges for people admitted to hospital into mental health or learning disability specialties. SMR04 data are not shown for the year ending March 2002 as they are not thought to be complete. Note also that this data set is undergoing quality assurance, so that figures for recent years may differ from those previously published

Mental Health Specialties

Data are based on the Mental Health specialties: general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry (introduced in 1997, but previously included in 'general psychiatry'), psychiatry of old age, child psychiatry and adolescent psychiatry. Data are derived from two ISD national data sets: ISD(S)1, which collects aggregated data on hospital bed numbers and hospital activity for a range of services and of patient types; and SMR04, which collects patient-based data on inpatient admissions and discharges for people admitted to hospital into mental health or learning disability specialties.

SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

The structure of the Scottish Household Survey is a continuous cross-sectional survey, each complete sample being covered in the course of two years.

The sample is being drawn from the small user file of the Postcode Address File (PAF). The sample in each quarter will be geographically representative so that statistically reliable results for Scotland as a whole are available for each quarter. In addition, the survey design is such that results will be available for each of the larger local authorities (those with populations of 150,000 or more) each year, and for all local authorities, regardless of size, over two years.

Among other things, the SHS focuses on health, care, childcare and volunteering. It explores self-defined health and long-standing limiting illness; health problems or disabilities; the adaptations and special equipment those with long-standing limiting illnesses, health problems or disabilities have to help them manage independently; receipt and provision of regular care and childcare; and volunteering for charities, clubs and other organisations.

For further information on the Scottish Household Survey please refer to the website at www.scotland.gov.uk/shs

EXPENDITURE DATA

Data on social work expenditure are provided by local authority finance departments to the Scottish Executive Development Department, Local Government Finance Statistics branch via the LFR3 return.

The format of this return has changed over time, and therefore extreme caution must be used when comparing time series information as many changes in expenditure patterns are due to changes in the form rather than changes in actual expenditure on services.

REGISTERED BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS

Data on registered blind and partially sighted people are provided annually by Local Authorities on the SWB return and relate to 31 March.

The return asks for the number of blind and partially sighted persons by age, sex and additional disabilities. It does not include persons who may meet the criteria for being blind or partially sighted but have not registered with their Local Authority.

The Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 gives Local Authorities the power to maintain a register of people who are blind or partially sighted. However, registration is voluntary and while registration provides access to a number of benefits and concessions there remain a large number of people who meet the criteria but are not registered. Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) research in 1991 ¹, undertaken at a UK level, indicated that the number of people on registers is some 23 per cent of those eligible. In 2001 they have estimated it to be under a third.

There are known problems with this data series where people have not been removed from the register of blind and partially sighted persons. Local Authorities have recently improved their registers by comparing with the register of deaths and this may in part explain the decrease in the number of registered blind persons in 2001.

The Scottish Executive is carrying out a review of the registration and certification process. This may lead to more accurate statistics, therefore enabling providers to plan the provision of services.

SYMBOLS

The following symbols are used in this publication.

.. not available

- zero or negligible (less than 0.05)

REVISIONS TO PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED DATA

Much of the data included here have been previously published elsewhere. In some cases where more information has subsequently become available, some figures have been revised.

ROUNDING

Due to the methodology used to estimate for non-response, in some tables the sum of the component parts may not equal the total due to the effects of rounding. This is indicated in footnotes where relevant.

¹ Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain: The RNIB Survey, Volume 1, HMSO, 1991

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE STATISTICAL SERVICES

Our Role

The aim of the Statistical Service is to provide relevant and reliable statistical information, analysis and advice that meet the needs of government, business and the people of Scotland.

Our Objectives

1. To ensure that all statistics work is relevant to meeting user needs by

• Continuing development of new and improved statistics in key areas, including the economy, social justice, equality and rural issues.
• In each statistics branch, continuing to improve the relevance and timeliness of work, to meet user needs.
• Developing more data for small areas through the Neighbourhood Statistics project.
• Developing the contribution of statistics to broader initiatives, including performance information, measurement of government targets, better policy making and other modernising government objectives.
• Improving the involvement of users and providers, working on a partnership basis wherever possible.

2. To ensure the reliability of our statistics by

• Implementing a systematic and transparent approach to quality assurance in line with National Statistics.
• Maintaining and promoting integrity through implementation of National Statistics standards and protocols.
• Developing statistical expertise and use of integrated statistical methods and classifications.

3. To ensure the efficient and effective delivery of statistics products and services by

• Improving access to data and analysis, through better use of the Web, improved publications and improved systems for holding and accessing background data.
• Producing and implementing an annual Scottish Executive Statistics Plan.
• Maintaining comparability of statistics across the UK and developing collaboration with the other administrations.
• Minimising the burden on data providers.
• Ensuring value for money in our activities.
• Promoting the statistical service, its outputs and standards.

4. To ensure that the statistician group is equipped to meet its objectives by

• Ensuring as far as possible that all Departments/Divisions have statistical staff required to meet their needs at all times.
• Improving the development and support arrangements for statistical staff and supporting implementation of Civil Service Reform.
• Ensuring effective management of the statistics group.
• Ensuring effective use of Information and Communications Technology.

This is a National Statistics publication

National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

National Statistics publications are grouped under the following broad subject headings (themes):

Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry
Commerce, Energy & Industry
Compendia & Reference
Crime and Justice
The Economy
Education & Training
The Natural and Built Environment
Other Government
Health & Care
Labour Market
Population & Migration
Social & Welfare
Transport, Travel & Tourism

This publication belongs to the Health & Care theme.

Correspondence and enquiries

Enquiries on Scottish Community Care Statistics 2002 should be addressed to:

Steven Gillespie
Social Work Statistics
Scottish Executive Health Department
Room 2 N08, St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG
Telephone: (0131) 244 3777; Fax: 0131 244 5427
e-mail: steven.gillespie@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

General enquiries on Scottish Executive statistics can be addressed to:

Kevin Meenan
Central Statistics Unit
Scottish Executive
Room 4ER, St Andrew's House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG
Telephone: (0131) 244 0442; Fax: (0131) 244 0335
e-mail: statistics.enquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Advice on specific areas of Scottish Executive statistical work can be obtained from staff at the telephone numbers given below:

Scottish Executive Statistics contacts

Other contacts for Scottish statistics

For general enquiries about National Statistics contact the National Statistics Public Enquiry Service on

020 7533 5888
minicom: 01633 812399
Email: info@statistics.gov.uk
Fax: 01633 652747
Letters: room DG/18, 1 Drummond Gate,
LONDON SW1V 2QQ

You can also find National Statistics on the internet - go to www.statistics.gov.uk

Current staff names, e-mail addresses and the bulletins listed below can be found on the Scottish Executive Website at www.scotland.gov.uk/stats.

Further information on the General Register Office for Scotland is available on the website www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

Most recent Social Work Statistics Publications relating to the Health & Care theme

Additional copies of these publications may be purchased from Scottish Executive Publication Sales, The Stationery Office Bookshop,
71 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9AZ, Telephone: (0131) 228 4181, Fax: (0131) 622 7017. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Stationery Office Limited'.

Complaints and suggestions

If you are not satisfied with our service, please write to the Chief Statistician, Mr Rob Wishart, Room 4ER, St Andrews House, Edinburgh EH1 3DG, Telephone: (0131) 244 0302, e-mail rob.wishart@scotland.gov.uk . We also welcome any comments or suggestions that would help us to improve our standards of service.

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