Local Authorities
CoLiberty has been created by Local Authorities and their health partners. Our flexible digital solution is available now to tackle the current deprivation of liberty caseload under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) scheme.
Our secure cloud based triage and referral tool provides Local Authorities with the facility to submit requests for authorisation into the Supervisory Body that has signed up to the platform. CoLiberty enables Managing Authorities to receive updates on the status of their requests for authorisation and facilitates engagement with ‘Consulted with People’ as well as the ability to attach supporting documents. Access to CoLiberty is free of charge to Managing Authorities to use.
CoLiberty provides an agile and flexible approach to managing your caseload and sharing information with other Supervisory, future Responsible Bodies, Assessors, Doctors, Consulted with People and Managing Authorities. It is also set up to incorporate the future Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) scheme.
Features
Organisations who are signed up to the platform will be able to request, where appropriate, access to relevant historic case data held by other Supervisory Bodies under DoLS and Responsible Bodies under LPS (with appropriate data sharing agreements in place). This includes previous assessments.
For organisations who require a facility to manage their caseload, CoLiberty provides complete workflow and case management functionality. This includes a facility for managing authorities etc to submit new requests for authorisation (‘triggers/referrals’). Under LPS, these triggers may come from a much broader pool of sources. Once the organisation has accepted the application for authorisation they can assign a priority level. Under LPS the system includes the ability to mark appropriate cases as requiring an Approved Mental Capacity Professional (AMCP). The organisation can assign them to individual assessors to complete assessments, collaborate on and review assessments in preparation for authorising – or otherwise.
Under LPS, the platform includes the ability to consolidate the assessments, consultation documents and other relevant materials in preparation for sending for pre-authorisation review.
Built-in scheduled AA1 eligibility check and Supervisory Body or Responsible Body ‘checker’ and standardised digital initial application for authorisation (referral/notification).
Assessments are supported with expert written advice throughout to assist more generalist staff in completing assessments. This also helps with the aim of assessments being done in advance of placement and enables deprivations of liberty to cement its place amongst day-to-day social work activities.
CoLiberty allows Local Authorities to choose how they manage their caseload. For example, they can continue to use their incumbent back-office supplier on a day-to-day basis, whilst making use of the DoLs system for accessing historic case data from other Responsible Bodies, as well as using the platform’s digital assessments. Alternatively, they could use it as a comprehensive case management system, with a full audit trail and all the features mentioned above or any variant in between. The product is designed to service the needs of all current Supervisory Bodies administering deprivations of liberty under DoLS and future Responsible Bodies under LPS, with any back-office systems they have already.
For those choosing to continue to use their existing back-office systems, CoLiberty seamlessly integrates with all workflow, back-office and care systems.
Looking Local have invested considerable effort in ensuring the data that the platform will hold is kept secure, whilst making sure the right people are able to get the appropriate level of access needed to complete the task at hand. The platform is supported by robust penetration testing.
User-center designed digital assessment forms, supported by guidance, will enable high quality comprehensive assessments first time, thus reducing overall processing time. With increased volumes and a broader spectrum of assessors expected, improvements to quality and time efficiency are crucial. Digital data capture and validation removes the need for emailing documents between assessors and the Local Authority. Multiple parties are able to collaborate on assessments as they are shaped into the final article.
Where there is a need to submit supporting evidence/documents relating to a case (e.g. from care homes, doctors and family), the platform will provide the facility to upload and submit these items into the system.
The system has been designed to assist with the data return, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, by ensuring that metadata is presented in a format that complies with the requirements of the return templates and the Strategic Data Collection Service (SDCS) data portal.
The system will provide tools for family/friends etc involved in the consultation process to provide their evidence in support of the cared-for person’s wishes and feelings. In addition, copies of the authorisation can be distributed to the cared-for person, their appropriate person, their representative or IMCA.
Comprehensive tracking on all cases will provide the ability to scrutinise and evidence the sequence of activities that may affect a specific request for authorisation, cared-for person or event. This is particularly relevant in cases which are being challenged.
Interaction with the platform will always feel familiar regardless of the users’ choice of operating system, browser version, screen size or resolution. Built using progressive enhancement, the system will render faithfully on PC screens and handheld devices of varying sizes whether used in landscape or portrait mode.
The platform is fully cloud-based with no requirements for on-premise hardware or program installations. Interaction with the system requires only a modern internet browser and a suitable connection. It has been designed to be universally accessible via all Government-recommended browsers, whilst remaining compliant in terms of accessibility and compatibility with assistive technologies.
Outcomes and Efficiencies
Less duplication of data
Our software allows Responsible Bodies to have sight of historic data and consider previous assessments carried out by other Responsible Bodies on the cared-for person. This will make it possible to reduce the number of completely new assessments or the amount of effort required to conduct them.
Reduced time and effort
The cared-for person’s wider support network will be able to digitally submit supporting evidence during the consultation process which will help reduce the elapsed time and effort taken to authorise deprivations of liberty.
Better outcomes
Reducing the amount of effort it takes to complete assessment administration will deliver better outcomes for the cared-for person by allowing professionals to spend more time with them, putting their needs first.
Improved form experience
Improving the form experience will deliver efficiency savings. Introducing guidance for more generalist staff will also improve the quality of assessments, allowing the Responsible Body to make the best use of the assessors they have.
Improved data security
Digital collaboration on assessments will improve data security by removing the need for emailing sensitive information and instead collaborating efficiently within a secure platform.
Efficiency from staff
More input from generalist staff who will be able to use the tools to more efficiently deal with the anticipated increased caseload, whilst not compromising on quality.