PRESS RELEASE: ADASS officially endorses CECOPS CIC and the Code of Practice for Community Equipment

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has added its name to the growing list of organisations endorsing CECOPS’ Code of Practice, joining other high profile supporters such as Care Quality Commission.

Brian Donnelly, CECOPS CEO, has welcomed ADASS’ endorsement and says,

“The official endorsement given by ADASS is most welcome. ADASS has instantly recognised the real value the Code will bring to service users and its member’s organisations, and has acknowledged the scope and application of the Code. We are already working with some Local Authorities, and will be contacting others in the coming weeks and months to help them register with CECOPS, so that they can start realising the benefits of the Code immediately.”

 In a letter sent to CECOPS, ADASS President Sarah Pickup said:

“I am writing on behalf of the Association of Directors of Adult Services to confirm our endorsement for the code of practice for community equipment that you have developed in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, under the leadership of your community interest company CECOPS.

 This Code will be widely applicable for councils and our partners, covering commissioning (including joint working and pooled funding arrangements), all service provision (e.g. health and social care organisations, care providers, care homes, special schools, retailers) and clinical and professional teams (e.g. therapists). It covers children and adults and applies to Social Care, NHS and education, as well as third and private sector.

 We believe that this Code will support sector-led improvement work, with its supporting software, and it could assist with providing the qualifying criteria for local E-marketplace providers. In terms of current changes and strategies (e.g. prevention and early intervention), it is very timely. We further feel that working with the Code will enable organisations to address all regulatory and legal requirements through one review of services.

 We note that the Code is already officially supported by CQC and it fits with their Essential Standards. It may provide a platform for joint working, integration and the pooling of funds with other strategic partners. It should make a contribution to the improvement of clinical (and financial) outcomes, and places the service user at the heart of commissioning and provision.”

 Sarah Pickup, ADASS President

 

Sir Bert Massie CBE, CECOPS Chair, says:

“I am pleased and encouraged that ADASS recognises the value of the Code of Practice and the benefits it brings to disabled people’s lives and to the organisations providing services to them. I hope this is the beginning of a long term partnership where, together, we can ensure disabled people everywhere, and of all ages, are in receipt of good quality and safe equipment services. The fact that ADASS officially endorses the Code of Practice, and is encouraging its adoption, is a clear sign of their commitment to ensure service users are at the heart of the equipment service; CECOPS looks forward to working with ADASS in the future.

For further details about the Code of Practice and CECOPS, and how it will benefit service users and commissioner/provider organisations, read the executive summary of the paper we sent to ADASS introducing them to the Code: download a copy of the paper HERE

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Media contacts

For images, interviews with spokespeople or more information please contact:

info@cecops.org.uk or call 01494 863398

Notes to editors

About CECOPS:

The Community Equipment Code of Practice Scheme, known as CECOPS, is a not for profit community interest company which has been set up to manage registration, training and accreditation of users of the Code of Practice for community equipment.

The Code of Practice is a recently written handbook. It is essentially a quality framework for the procurement and provision of services. It is primarily aimed at services in England, but also applies to other parts of the UK, and beyond.

CECOPS’ objectives are to assist all public and private sector providers and commissioners in bringing a high quality service to disabled children and adults, including elderly people, by promoting, encouraging adoption of, and providing training on, the Code of Practice for Community Equipment.

In terms of how the Scheme works: organisations, either commissioners or providers (including clinical teams), can register as working to the Code of Practice, as a Full or Associate Registrant, depending on their level of involvement with community equipment. Organisations can self-regulate/monitor their own compliance with the Code either manually or with CECOPS recommended software.

In addition, for reasons of credibility ‘Accreditation’ can be sought. Accreditation is optional, and involves external assessment of a registered user’s compliance with the Code of Practice.

About Community Equipment

Examples of equipment types:

• home nursing, e.g. pressure relieving mattresses, ventilators

• aids for daily living, e.g. shower chairs, kettle tippers

• children’s equipment, e.g. postural support chairs

• sensory impairment equipment, e.g. flashing doorbells

• minor adaptations, e.g. ramps, grab rails

• wheelchairs (short term)

• communication aids

• telecare/telehealth, e.g. environmental aids.

 

About ADASS:

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) represents all the directors of adult social services in England. ADASS brings together the accumulated wisdom and understanding of the way services for adults are managed and financed as well as inputs from a widening responsibility for housing, leisure, library, culture and, in some case, arts and sports facilities.

ADASS members are responsible for providing or commissioning, through the activities of their departments, the wellbeing, protection and care of hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled people, as well as for the promotion of that wellbeing and protection wherever it is needed.

ADASS members, too, are responsible for a whole range of wider services in addition to their responsibilities to adult social care. At the same ADASS members maintain the closest possible formal and informal links with colleagues in the health services, children’s services departments and in the independent provision of day and residential services to older people. ADASS actively inform and brief government ministers and civil servants about the impact of their policies; work with them on policy initiatives wherever appropriate, while engaging with opinion formers across the whole spectrum of current media outlets.

Visit ADASS here: www.adass.org.uk/