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We have published a report on the Home First service in East Kent, an early support service designed to help people back to living as independently as possible after a hospital stay.
As part of the project, we spoke to both patients, or a family member/supporter of a Home First patient, and to staff who work in the Home First team.
In total we spoke to 14 Home First patients or supporter/family member of a Home First patient and to 21 staff members between June and October 2024.
We have 4 key findings from the report:
Preparedness for discharge and care planning
The majority of people (86%) felt prepared to leave the hospital with care plans in place, though 40% reported limited involvement in discharge planning. This gap suggests an opportunity to enhance patient engagement in discharge processes, improving communication and understanding. We recognise that the Home First team itself has limited influence on this and so we will be sharing with the hospital discharge team for as an opportunity to enhance.
Empowerment and support
People appreciated the support provided by the Home First team, with 86% feeling that the service helped maximise their abilities. Having a designated point of contact was valued, though a minority (14%) felt their concerns were not adequately addressed.
Challenges in transition and support
Key issues identified included communication gaps in care planning (21% of people), short discharge notices (21%), and limited practical support at home (14%). Again, some of 2 The Home First Report these are outside of Home First control. Additionally, a significant proportion (64%) reported inadequate linkage to further support services after Home First assistance ended, which could impact long-term independence.
Team collaboration and problem solving
From the staff perspective, team dynamics were strong, with 90% rating collaboration and problem-solving as excellent. There are grounds for improvements in training, as 20% of the staff we spoke to did not receive an induction. Additionally 60% of staff expressed a need for further training in areas such as administration, handovers, and leadership skills.
We have produced 4 recommendations that have been shared with the Home First team. The recommendations have now been agreed with the Home First and will be implemented over the coming months.
Read our full report for more information and findings.
