Voluntary Sector Single Point of Access

Health leaders have joined forces with the VCS in North Derbyshire to launch a brand new service that will help frail and elderly people stay at home rather than go into hospital.

NHS North Derbyshire, Hardwick and Erewash CCGs have contracted NDVA (formerly North Derbyshire Voluntary Action) to provide a Voluntary Sector Single Point of Access (vSPA) service that went live on Monday 2 June.

The service will link local people at most risk of hospital admissions to the extensive range of support services that exist across the VCS. 

Patients will be referred to vSPA by any health or social care professional, including GPs, community support teams, hospital discharge teams and staff working in social care. VCS organisations will also be able to refer their clients to the vSPA service for even more support. 

Referrals will be made to specially-trained call handlers who will use comprehensive and coordinated databases, organisational knowledge and support from VCS partner organisations. The call handler will, following discussion with the referrer and the person, use a holistic approach to find the most appropriate VCS support for the person at home or as close to home as possible.

The aim of the service is to reduce avoidable hospital admissions, support people returning home from hospital or when leaving statutory services, and help people to stay independent at home.

Call handlers will report the outcome of their search to the referrer within one working day when help is needed urgently, and within three days for non-urgent referrals.

The service will also feedback where services were needed but do not exist so that consideration can be given to supporting new VCS services to fill the gaps.

NDVA Chief Executive Jacqui Willis said: “The vSPA will improve patients’ quality of life by ensuring they get the right care from the right service at the right time. As such, the service will reduce unplanned and unnecessary hospital admissions.”

The service will be based at Clay Cross Hospital, alongside the clinical SPA. The vSPA will be supported by a full-time development worker who will promote the service to potential referrers, work with them to find new ways of helping patients live independently and identify gaps in service provision.

For medical reasons, the vSPA will not accept referrals for patients with acute mental health or dental problems, or patients in life-threatening emergencies.