Mr. Niall Redmond:

One area of work we are looking at is a statutory home care scheme and its roll-out. I refer to regulation, a finance model and service configuration in the basket of services. Work is, therefore, ongoing on that scheme. We had hoped to be able to test some elements of it on a pilot basis this year, but that became challenging due to the impact of Covid-19 and we were unable to do it. We are, however, examining and planning the reinstatement of that testing programme, which will be evaluated as we go to inform the overarching development of the scheme. We are hoping to do that in 2021.

Several elements will be involved. We will be looking at the regulatory framework required, because the home support system and home care services are not currently regulated. Consequently, we will be examining putting regulation in place. We will also be looking at financial models and the type of modelling required, as well as future funding and service capacity requirements. Equally, we are exploring the type of service to be delivered on the ground and how that will be delivered. We are undertaking a fundamental examination of the home support service and what it needs to look like in future. There will be a greater focus on providing far more care at home and, in that context, we are looking at some new models. Those include the enablement model, and work is ongoing with the Health Research Board on an international evidence review.There is also some general work being done on needs assessment and care planning in the community.