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Appendix A
AUDIT SCOTLAND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Scottish Government should:
- Update national guidance on roles and responsibilities in relation to community equipment and adaptations to reflect new ways of working promoted by the Joint Future Agenda; local government reorganisation; and developments in technology.
Local authorities and NHS Boards should:
- Ensure that community equipment and adaptations are developed as part of their overall community care strategy.
- Clarify partnership arrangements for the assessment and provision of community equipment and adaptations ensuring that all relevant partners are involved; and formalise these arrangements in agreed policies and procedures.
- Ensure all relevant staff across the respective partner organisations are aware of the agreed policies and procedures.
- Work towards joint information systems that provide good management information on the community equipment and adaptation services within their partnership area.
- Agree and implement formal operational policies and procedures which cover:
- recall of faulty equipment
- maintenance and repair arrangements
- recycling, including infection control procedures
- emergency arrangements.
- Jointly publish comprehensive information on community equipment and adaptations covering:
- what help is available
- who to contact
- eligibility criteria
- who needs to pay and how much
- what service people can expect, using information such as local targets for response times.
- This should be published in different formats and in other languages as relevant to local communities.
- Monitor the performance of equipment and adaptation services by collecting and using robust management information on:
- cost
- activity (including waiting times)
- quality of services (including users' views).
- Jointly review budgets for community equipment and adaptations and Housing Improvement Grants to ensure that they are set at a realistic level to meet need.
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