CareDirector software facilitates public access to social care systems and allows them to actively involve themselves in the care management process. Clients can make choices about their own care in terms of how it is to be planned and implemented. They can take part in the administration process by having access to their own care management files and adding relevant information.

This alleviates much of the work load for care workers freeing them up to work with more clients or focus on specific aspects of cases that need more attention. Relationships between care workers and their clients are strengthened by working together in this way.

What makes all of this possible is CareWorks’ move away from using proprietary social care systems and software. The company focuses instead on implementing integration with more widely used applications such as Microsoft Office and Outlook to manage and retrieve case files.

Members of the public and care workers alike can access the care manager software platform with ease. Its familiar interface means there is a minimal adoption period which in turn minimises costs. For the public there is no requirement for them to be familiarised with a proprietary system removing any potentially frustrating barriers to their involvement with their own care.

Care workers are saved time by not having to introduce proprietary care manager software to their clients. On top of the time saved by having clients involved with administration this frees up care workers to work on more cases. In times of constrained budgets and funding this can have a significant improvement on the ability of organisations to provide their services.

CareDirector stores case files centrally which means clients and care workers can access and update information from remote and mobile locations. Files can even be accesses by mobile phone.

View demonstrations of CareDirector social care systems in action on the CareWorks website at http://www.careworks.co.uk.

Previously the voluntary social care sector has refrained from fully adopting care management systems and social care software. For the voluntary sector cost and efficiency are critical. Self directed care has a dramatic impact on these factors, making it crucial that the voluntary sector implement social care software.

CareWorks software has developed a social care software platform that is easy to use and effectively implements self directed care principles. The software is built upon Microsoft Dynamics CRM which means it integrates fully with all established organisation processes including invoicing, marketing and fundraising.

The intuitive and familiar interface makes the implementation process seamless and inexpensive. This keeps organisations free to meet the demands of providing quality self-directed, personalised care.

CareWorks social care software, CareDirector makes coordination between voluntary services and the public happen more smoothly. Providing the public with an easy to use and familiar interface gives them the ability to work on their self directed care process without prolonged familiarisation periods. Carers and the public can get on with the job organising the care process.

The Voluntary sector is particularly sensitive to financial constraints. The limited requirement for adoption of CareWorks’ social care software leads to significant savings in cost and time. Staff do not become frustrated spending time learning a new system when they would rather be providing care to the public. Management are freed from having to oversee prolonged transition periods.

CareDirector social care software allows case files to be accessed and updated from remote devices such as laptops, mobile phones and smartphones. Voluntary care workers can access client data while in the field, saving on unnecessary returns to the office and miscommunication with care providing services and clients.

It also prevents duplication of files and information by storing data centrally. This translates to substantial reductions in record errors and misinformation that may lead to unnecessary costs. Centrally storing care data with social care software also makes it easier to demonstrate success when it comes to raising funds.

It improves social care case management in three key ways:

• Client self-service means decreased workload and greater client control
• Non-proprietary technology for ease of use and faster adoption
• Centralised storage for improved flexibility of case access

Client self-service

The CareDirector case management software allows the public to be actively involved in their care process. Members of the public can create their own personalised support. This results in a greater sense of control in a process that can often leave clients feeling powerless. It also results in greater satisfaction with the overall process as patients have had a say in the planning stage rather than having a plan imposed on them with minimal room for feedback.

As well as giving control back to the public over their own care CareDirector alleviates much of the workload from care workers, freeing them up to work with other clients and attain workloads under conditions of restricted budgets and funding.

Non-proprietary software

By integrating with industry standard platforms such as Microsoft Office and Outlook CareDirector care management software enables greater flexibility and adoption. Care organisations are saved the time and cost of bringing a new system online and familiarising staff with the interface. It also means that staff do not have to spend time training the public to use a system they are not familiar with. Both staff and the public alike can use it easily and intuitively.

Centralised storage

With all client files stored centrally organisations do not need to worry about the duplication of paperwork which can lead to communication errors and mismanagement. Case management software that stores social care information centrally also allows for file access from mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and even through regular mobile phones via SMS. This ensures no delays in the progress of care as care workers can access client files at any time from any location.

CareDirector case management software from CareWorks offers the best in flexibility, adoption time and cost effectiveness.

CareWorks is one of only 20 Global ISV Partners for Microsoft Dynamics selected by Microsoft for its proven competency in developing end-to-end social care management applications leveraging the Microsoft Dynamics CRM technology. CareWorks is the only supplier of social care software worldwide to achieve this status.

Microsoft Gold Partner CareWorks, a leading supplier of social care case management software, today announced it has been selected by Microsoft as a Global Independent Software Vendor (ISV) for its CareDirector solution. CareWorks was selected for its proven expertise in the design, deployment, and customisation of social care management applications that are built on Microsoft technology.

Participation in the Global ISV program for Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides for closer collaboration between CareWorks and Microsoft on research & development, marketing and sales. CareWorks is the first and only supplier of social care management software to earn inclusion in the Global ISV program for its solution, CareDirector. The company successfully expanded its global footprint with recent wins in the United States including the State of Oklahoma, the State of Wisconsin and non-profit organization, Opportunity Partners.

“CareWorks is pleased and honored to be named a Microsoft Global ISV Partner,” said Michael Dolan, CEO of CareWorks. “Microsoft technologies, such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Office tools embedded in our applications allow us to bring to our customers the standardisation, flexibility, interoperability and ease of use they require while lowering significantly the total cost of ownership of our solutions. This worldwide alliance allows us to clearly promote our expertise and acknowledges our proven track record for developing robust and reliable social care software.”

As a Global Microsoft ISV Partner for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, CareWorks will be eligible for resources from Microsoft in the form of research, training, marketing and sales initiatives, technical support and other services to enhance product performance and interoperability with Microsoft technologies.

“We are pleased to welcome CareWorks into our Global ISV program,” said Doug Kennedy, vice president, Microsoft Dynamics Partners and Support Services. “Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers a powerful and flexible foundation for partners to deliver innovative solutions to our customers and we look forward to working with CareWorks to deliver industry leading solutions for our customers in the Health and Social Care space.”

About CareWorks

CareWorks is a global software vendor with over 70 customers in the United States and across Europe, providing social care management solutions that enable the public to fully participate in and direct their own support. Our software solutions powered by Dynamics CRM are designed to help social services more effectively serve, engage and enable their citizens. CareWorks brings a unique customer service approach to the delivery of social services; our software enables choice and control, puts care professionals closer to the people they serve and improves organisational performance. Our information systems are certified for their high standard of quality and accessibility.

www.careworks.co.uk
Tel: 02890 327 329

Opportunity Partners will use CareDirector to create a single record for each person they serve, incorporating information from every element of Opportunity Partners’ support system into a central location.

RESTON, Virginia, March 15, 2012 – CareWorks and its partner Sogeti USA have announced that Opportunity Partners, a private provider of services to people with developmental/intellectual disabilities in Minnesota, has selected CareDirector as its new agency-wide information system. CareWorks is a global provider of case management software solutions for human services organisations. Opportunity Partners will use CareDirector to create a single record for each person they serve, incorporating information from every element of Opportunity Partners’ support system into a central location. The new system will extend information sharing possibilities across all stakeholders (including staff, people served, families, and interdisciplinary teams) helping staff deliver services as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Opportunity Partners is a nonprofit organisation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, serving 1,700 people with disabilities each year through employment, residential and training programs that build independence and shape a richer community. The organisation employs over 600 staff in over 30 sites across the Twin Cities and operates a wide variety of programs including day treatment programs, residential facilities such as group homes and independent living placements, brain injury services and production facilities.

Opportunity Partners was looking to replace an information system that was developed over 15 years ago. The bespoke system was unable to support the changing service environment and was making it difficult for staff to share critical information in real time. From January 2011 a cross-organisational team at Opportunity Partners reviewed 24 potential solutions including a combination of products, potential partners and VARs (value-added remarketer). The planning team collected requirements from across the organisation and analysed how each solution would serve all stakeholders including staff, people served, families, and interdisciplinary teams. The planning team also considered the current strengths and challenges of the organisation with an eye toward business process and service delivery optimisation, with the goal of positioning Opportunity Partners for the future. Opportunity Partners’ Board of Directors chose CareWorks’ case management and financial management solution as most closely meeting the requirements of the organisation. Uniquely, CareDirector has been developed using state of the art and industry-standard technology, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which provides seamless integration with other Microsoft products already used by Opportunity Partners (Outlook, SharePoint, and Microsoft Dynamics SL financial software).

Nate Tyler, IT Director at Opportunity Partners, commented: “The use of CareDirector will significantly change the way our staff operates and support our shift to a more community-based workforce. The most important aspect to this transition is the impact it will have on the people we serve. Our staff will be able to reduce the amount of travel and documentation time, allowing them to more face-to-face support with the people we serve”.

CareDirector is expected to manage the lifecycle – employment, health, and personal – of clients/participants on a case-by-case basis while providing a framework for consistency, service, responsiveness, efficiency, and caring. The new system will enable staff throughout the agency to better manage cases, streamline communications, more efficiently track and document services, and bill in a timely manner. A citizen portal will enable Minnesotans to apply and communicate online with staff, resulting in a reduced burden of paperwork and a shorter intake process. CareDirector will support the agency in managing room and board in residential programs, scheduling of people and resources in day training, rehabilitation and brain injury services and tracking production work. Dozens of forms – such as assessments, care plans, service authorizations and risk management plans will be configured in the system, along with automated workflows, personalised dashboards, priority work queues and task reminders.

Tonya Harmon, CEO of CareWorks USA commented: “We are very excited to partner with Opportunity Partners to assist the agency in taking the “dis” out of disability and helping the people they serve find meaningful employment. CareDirector is a proven solution that will enable staff and the people they serve to be better informed, more directly engaged and empowered.”

To implement the project, Opportunity Partners has contracted with Sogeti USA, CareWorks implementation partner and 2010 Microsoft Partner of the Year. Sogeti and CareWorks will be implementing CareDirector over the next six months.

Visit Opportunity Partners’ web site

Our unique approach moves away from the proprietary systems that have traditionally been used in social care management, to one built on an industry-standard customer service platform. This paper examines the implications of personalisation and sets out our vision for supporting social care providers, practitioners and their clients through agile IT systems that deliver significant productivity and efficiency benefits, with tools that empower people to take control of their lives.

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Staffordshire County Council chooses CareDirector to implement new ways of working in Adult Social Care.

CareWorks, a leading provider of flexible social care information systems, is delighted to announce that Staffordshire County Council has chosen to implement CareDirector to deliver an ambitious social care transformation programme that includes personalisation, greater integration with health and effective safeguarding.

Staffordshire is the 7th largest shire county in the UK employing 30,000 staff to serve a population of over 800,000 people. The county council is responsible for providing social care for vulnerable adults and older people across Staffordshire as well as providing services and support for those who care for them. It directly supports 26,000 people with the help of around 4,000 staff. The Council was looking for a new information system to enable the organisation to fulfil its vision for 21st century social care: providing people with easier access to information, advice and support to enable them to live the life they choose. The Council selected CareDirector following an extensive evaluation of available adult social care systems. CareDirector will replace a bespoke solution and support the work of over 1,400 social care and health professionals.

County Councillor Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire’s Cabinet Member for Adult Wellbeing said: “When I took responsibility for adult social care I made a commitment to invest in new ICT and I am delighted that this is now coming to fruition. I’m certain the new system will transform working practices here in Staffordshire.”

“The implementation of CareDirector is not just about technology but about new ways of working” commented Jan Cartman Frost, Senior Project Manager at Staffordshire County Council. “We needed an information system capable to support our ambitious transformation programme. During the evaluation, we were very impressed with the level of flexibility that CareDirector provides to help us reach our goals”. Member of the evaluation team Darren Statham, Adult Care Manager for Tamworth added: “I am looking forward to seeing a new fit for purpose system that captures good practice and performance. This will help to make life easier for everyone who uses it, freeing up more time to get on with the jobs that they’re trained to do.”

CareDirector will offer staff, partners and agents access to modern technology that is designed to support delivery of social care services; a simple, efficient care pathway for customers; opportunities for flexible working so support can be delivered in a variety of ways; increased partnership working and improved business processes so bureaucracy is minimised. It will also give residents greater opportunities to take control of their lives and direct their own support; empowering people to access information, make choices, buy their own support through a personal budget and receive personalised services.

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CAREDIRECTOR for Adults is a social care information system that enables the public to choose and direct their own support. CareDirector maximises public self-service capabilities and increases an organisation’s ability to serve more people more efficiently, resulting in greater citizen satisfaction.

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