The DCC service realist evaluation

ARC KSS have been pleased to support the evaluation of the dementia care coordinators (DCC) service, a new role and model of care in Kent and Medway. A small-scale evaluation of the pilot service took place in September, led by Dr Ruth Abrams at the University of Surrey. Ruth is currently leading a larger scale evaluation after a successful application for ARC KSS funding.

Kent and Medway dementia care coordinators are unique in that they are all employed through two providers via the ICS, with a DCC at each PCN across Kent and Medway. Their role is to support people living dementia, providing care from pre-diagnosis to end of life. Results from focus groups after the pilot showed that:

• DCCs felt PLWD and their carers were particularly benefiting from having the DCC as a key point of contact to help weave a web of care around them;
• Establishing the roles at PCN level with buy in from GPs could be problematic due to lack of communication and understanding of the role;
• DCCs felt the need to manage expectations about what they could and couldn’t help with, especially being non-clinical professionals.
• DCCs felt a degree of emotional burden, wanting to provide high quality care but also needing to manage their caseloads;
• People living alone were perceived to be more vulnerable with concerns over how to ensure they were supported.