Letter issued on April 1st 2004, to Directors of Social Work, Chief Executives of NHS Trusts and Health Boards.
RENAMING THE RESOURCE USE MEASURE (RUM) TO SINGLE SHARED ASSESSMENT - INDICATOR OF RELATIVE NEED
This letter advises that we are changing the name of the Resource Use Measure (RUM) to the Single Shared Assessment - Indicator of Relative Need (SSA-IoRN). This reflects the greater integration with Single Shared Assessment (SSA) and the changing purpose of the tool. Originally, the RUM was conceived as a possible measure of the level of resource use in relation to free care.
However, during the course of the development phase of creating a robust measurement tool the emphasis changed from a measure of resource use to a measure of relative need. The outcome is a standardised process which 'falls out' of the SSA and which provides a summary classification of overall relative need. Minimal extra effort is required by the practitioner carrying out the SSA. It will provide a standardised measure of relative need which practitioners/managers can use to support strategic planning, caseload management and, through time, to record comparisons and trends.
The Joint Future Unit has undertaken a series of briefings to provide an update on the RUM developments and implementation across Scotland. One of the outcomes was the recognition that the term RUM was no longer appropriate. From 1 April the title should more accurately reflect the purpose of the tool. Therefore RUM (Resource Use Measure) will be replaced by "the Single Shared Assessment - Indicator of Relative Need".
We plan to issue shortly operational guidance to assist the roll-out and implementation of the SSA-IoRN. The guidance will consist of 2 documents; a Resource Pack for managers, planners and trainers available on CD ROM, and a Users' Handbook for practitioners day-to-day use, in the form of a ring binder file. These documents reflect the hard work undertaken during the development and implementation phase by a range of practitioners and managers in the field.
As a consequence of renaming of RUM, we will change RUM-ICADS to Care Assessment Data Summary. This will be available in due course on the Joint Future website.
We will contact the appropriate partnership leads on their roll-out plans and implementation arrangements for the Single Shared Assessment - Indicator of Relative Need over the coming weeks.
If you require further assistance please do not hesitate to contact the Joint Future Unit.
Attached for information is a copy of the article on the development and implementation of RUM which was included in the Nuffield Database of Good Practices "Community Care Works".
Yours sincerely
Winona Samet Margaret Anne Dale
WINONA SAMET
MARGARET-ANNE DALE
Joint Future Unit