SSA: Indicator of Relative Need
What is the Indicator of Relative Need (SSA: IoRN)?
Essentially, the SSA-IoRN is a questionnaire comprising 12 questions that draw on the information a practitioner will already have gathered from an individual's assessment of need (SSA).
The SSA IoRN, previously know as the Resource Use Measure (RUM), was developed as a national tool to be applied following the assessment of older people which places individuals into relative need groupings from low (A) to high (I).
Why use SSA: IoRN?
SSA: IoRN is designed to support professionals and managers in decisions about the use of resources and the planning of services, and hence therefore contribute to delivering Joint Future's wider goals of better and faster access to services.
How will SSA: IoRN be introduced?
To facilitate a smooth introduction of the tool, the process for completing the SSA: IoRN will be linked to systems already in place in local areas. Some areas will use paper systems (i.e. score cards), while others will calculate the IoRN score electronically where electronic information sharing systems are already developed. Ultimately, the aim is to have the SSA: IoRN incorporated into electronic systems that are being developed for SSA and that the SSA: IoRN score will be generated automatically.
When will SSA: IoRN be implemented?
The SSA IoRN is being implemented incrementally across Scotland. The expectation is that all partners will begin using the IoRN by March 2006. SSA electronic systems are also incorporating the SSA IoRN question set in line with the minimum information standards for older people.