Piloting the Anticipatory Care Calendar Sue Marsden Senior Health Practitioner Maidstone and Malling TPLD

What is the Anticipatory Care Calendar? The ACC is a free resource for any social care setting supporting individuals with learning disabilities or dementia. This simple tool aims to improve health surveillance for adults with Learning Disabilities. A “traffic light system” triggers a specified response to changes in health presentation across 12 domains. The tool was designed in the North of England, and has been widely implemented there through a strategic health authority grant.

What is the Anticipatory Care Calendar? The ACC was designed following the tragic and potentially preventable death of Robert; a young man with Down’s syndrome and Testicular cancer. With Free on line training, and local support the monthly by month Calendar can be used to review trends in health changes. This in turn can be used to cluster information; and to provide evidence to other health professionals.

The Anticipatory Care Calendar

Also: Health Observations, Behaviour, Seizures, other Changes.

The Anticipatory Care Calendar The Calendar works on a “traffic light” system Green – Normal for that person no action required Yellow – Requires response (detailed on calendar) Red – Requires response and manager follow up

Why use an Anticipatory Care Calendar? Key publications – “Six Lives”, “Death by indifference”, “CIPOLD report” all detail how health inequalities affect people with Learning Disabilities and contribute to: Early death Delayed diagnosis Poor treatment A calendar allows clear tracking of changes, with identified actions in response to those changes.

Why use an Anticipatory Care Calendar? Unqualified carers may lack confidence in responding to health changes. Use of bank staff, part time staff, and lone working may mean health changes are lost or not followed up. For example – Pain relief is often only given once a day; the calendar prompts to follow this up. A calendar allows clear tracking of changes, with identified actions in response to those changes.

The Maidstone and Malling Project In January 2013; 8 nurses from across Kent were trained in using the ACC. Maidstone (with 3 nurses trained) was identified as a pilot centre. Service users with either complex health or life limiting conditions were identified, and services approached to enroll in the free online training. More providers have since expressed an interest and the ACC is now being used at the West Kent Challenging Behaviour Project.

The Maidstone and Malling Project So far 11 Services (supporting about 55 service users) have registered for the online training. 5 local service providers are reviewing data from single home trials, to decided whether to roll it out across their provision. Initial feedback has been positive. The Maidstone Nurses continue to support where required with the calendars.

Contact us…. If you’re interested in using the Calendar: Find out more at www. Anticipatorycarecalendar.org DO NOT REGISTER FOR USING THE CALENDAR VIA THEIR WEBSITE - Please contact Sue Marsden for registration details! I’m happy to come and discuss the calendar with your team/ service Sue Marsden –