Mediated and Facilitated assessments are designed for different
circumstances so it is difficult to describe them in terms of one
having an advantage over an another.
The Facilitated
Assessment
SmartAssist
is the ADL SmartCare Limited self assessment tool and is primarily
designed for users who do not normally approach social services for
advice or assistance. It takes the user through the various stages
of identifying the user's problem(s), capabilities and their
environment.
Once completed the system will advise the user of equipment that
is available for their circumstances and if, for any reason
appropriate equipment is not recommended they are signposted to
another agency (GP, District Nurse, Adult Services etc.)
As some users may not feel confident, or English is not their
first language, a friend or relative and in some cases a charitable
body like Age Concern can complete the assessment documentation on
their behalf as the "facilitator".
The functionality of SmartAssist is limited to that which is
appropriate for completion by a member of the public without
knowledge of Occupational Therapy.
The Mediated
Assessment
SmartCare is
the ADL SmartCare Limited assessment tool and is designed for
professional or trained users to speed the normal Adult Services
assessment process for those service users with straightforward
needs.
The trained assessor collects into the system all the
appropriate data relating to the service users problem(s)
capabilities and environment in a face to face situation thereby
enabling a more holistic approach to the assessment.
The mediated assessor has access to the full functionality of
SmartCare, can place orders direct with stores for items of
equipment recommended, and where the system does not recommend a
solution can use the analysis tool to identify the "problematic"
issue and offer an alternative (depending on their level of
training) or refer direct to a professional for resolution. The
mediated assessor can also input search for individual relevant
assessments and complete Adult Service forms where relevant.
As the record of the mediated assessment is available to the
Occupational Therapist a solution can most times be identified by
requesting a few more items of information.
Where a solution was clinically constrained the OT can advise
the service user of the necessary steps to be taken. Live
information and reports are viewable by managers as required