Helping Agnes and Jim

How best to help Agnes and Jim – two service users – was the challenge posed at an innovation event at Forth Valley College in Alloa.

Staff from NHS Forth Valley, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership, Clackmannanshire Council, Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service put their heads together to come up with the most effective solutions.

The event was aimed at increasing knowledge of technology and innovation and how it can be used within health and social care to benefit local people.

The two questions asked were “How can we simplify the communication about Agnes’s care?” and “How can Jim be better supported to live his life well?”  The scenarios were created by Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface who interviewed people in the community and developed Agnes and Jim as the stimulus for generating new ideas. Seven concepts were pitched on the day from two workshop sessions and delegates voted for their favourite.

This event, designed to generate new ideas, will be followed by further steps on the innovation journey. These will include building on discussions with local GP practices, pharmacies and the community to refine the concepts and explore what can be taken forward, possibly using existing technologies and online systems.

Feedback

“Invigorating and energising event.”

“Good to harness the energy, but need to follow up, go back and speak to our teams and encourage people to think differently.”

‘Translation of ideas into reality will be critical, while some ideas require resources; others are developments of current services.’

“Need to be more flexible in our thinking, release our creative thoughts and think out of the box.”

“Good energy and willingness to make changes in the ‘wee county’.”

“Now aware of services I did not know existed.”

“Better informed about how social care operates and the challenges.”