Social Care & Health Living Well Challenge - Domiciliary Care

This challenge seeks to build upon previous trials/small-scale testing, capturing the evidence and analysis required to inform the future sustainability of domiciliary care in Wales. Successful applicants will be expected to deliver wider demonstration and/or scale and spread projects which can evidence the potential benefits and sustainability of their solutions, whether that be innovative models of care delivery or complimentary technologies which can support the integration and sustainability aspirations set out in A Healthier Wales; and keeping ‘what matters’ to our citizens at the heart of everything we do.

An online briefing event was held on Wednesday 27th September: click here to watch the recording.

There is also an opportunity to enable collaboration between innovators and the future end customers through the Collaborator Marketplace – Social Care & Health Challenge.

Challenge theme

We are seeking to identify and support the delivery of Phase 2 and Phase 3 collaborative projects that can demonstrate the potential and scalability of near-market solutions and/or previously researched models of care, enabling the development of core evidence and case studies to inform future business cases and wider roll-out.

1. Domiciliary Care – new models of service & complimentary solutions/technology that can support the sustainability of care with a focus on prevention and person-centred care. New models of care must be co-designed and co-developed with the public and users of care alongside front-line health and social care professionals, underpinned by the design concepts set out in the Wellbeing for Future Generations Act (2015) and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
2. Supporting the foundations – Seeking solutions that can address underlying barriers such as skills growth, connectivity and recruitment/retention. This includes addressing issues such as digital literacy, accessibility/affordability of complimentary technology, poor signal in rural areas & internet “not-spots” and wider issues that may be impacting upon recruitment, such as access to affordable housing, shared living opportunities, and transport barriers.

The key focus will be on demonstrating sustainability of service, affordability and scalability of solutions that can be delivered at pace. We are looking to test emerging/near-to market innovations via real-world trials and are not seeking feasibility/research pieces. However, we are seeking rigorous evaluations to create an evidence base for further development and scale-up, with a core focus on the accessibility and affordability to the end user, ideally free at point of use to prevent inequalities of access and acknowledging the budget pressures that service providers continue to face.

How can solutions address the challenges?

Innovative solutions could:

• Demonstrate the viability, scalability and affordability of new methods of service delivery and/or commissioning.
• Accelerate the adoption of emerging digital and smart technology to support the wellbeing of people of all ages within their communities.
• Develop a place-based solution, showing an awareness of existing strengths within communities and outlining how the project will build upon those strengths.
• Encourage long term behavioural change, enabling people to play an active role in their own wellbeing; and/or
• Support equality of access to services, both in terms of price point/affordability, connectivity and language preferences.

Out of Scope 

We are not looking to fund projects which:

• Does not have at least one public and/or third sector end user/collaborator from Wales (evidenced by a signed letter of support for each collaborator).
• Are purely focussed on feasibility – we are seeking real-world practical demonstration (not academic/research papers).
• Do not engage with potential future customers to understand needs.
• Do not address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed.
• Do not evidence how a proposal will generate positive economic or societal impact.
• Do not consider the affordability & practicality of widespread implementation.
• Cannot meet Welsh language standards or demonstrate potential for multi-lingual functionality.

Who can apply?

The lead organisation may be based outside of Wales, but justification must be made in your application as to why the project could not be led by an organisation from Wales.  If the lead organisation is based outside of Wales, you must collaborate with an organisation in Wales.

To lead a project your organisation must:

• Be a UK registered business of any size, community interest company (CIC) or not for profit.
• Be based in Wales or collaborate with at least one UK registered business, research organisation, public sector organisation or charity, in Wales.
• Carry out the project work in Wales.

Funding Allocation and Project Details

This challenge is open to applications that deliver either a Phase 2 or Phase 3 project. Current funding of £1million is available to support up to 5 projects – which may be subject to change, dependent upon the number/quality of submissions received. Outline budget per Phase 2 or Phase 3 project is up to £200,000, subject to budget availability and the scale/calibre of project submissions received. We reserve the right to consider an increased budget for exceptional applications if the scale of the delivery across Wales warrants it.

Projects will be selected on a portfolio approach to ensure activity and evidence are gathered on a broad demographic basis across Wales.

Phase 2: prototype demonstration and evaluation – This should result in a real-world demonstrator or pilot programme to be developed and tested in conjunction with end users.

Phase 3: Spread and Scale – Supporting broader demonstration of successful near-to market projects across a variety of locations/demographics, providing evidence of the potential for spread and scale across Wales on a place-based approach, considering local assets, existing services and local unmet needs.

Project costs can be claimed for the innovation solution provider and for staffing resource requirements of the future end customer/subcontractor. This should be specified within the challenge application with clear roles stated – ideally with named individuals for each role.

Your application must:

• Demonstrate a clear plan for commercialisation and a route to market for affordable, developed solutions.
• Explain the potential positive contribution to the goals of Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act.
• Demonstrate how the solutions and/or service meets the requirements of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act and supports a person-centred approach.
• Consider, and address where necessary, equality, diversity and inclusion aspects across your project, your sector(s) and society.
• Address how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed.
• Work throughout with at least one potential future Welsh end user.
• Demonstrate an inclusive approach, considering any additional needs that may prevent end users accessing a technology/service.
• Ensure personal safety is paramount and that any risks are clearly articulated with robust mitigation in place.
• Demonstrate the ability to meet Welsh Language standards, and ideally demonstrate the potential for multi-lingual capability to improve accessibility.
• Include a full evaluation following project completion – this should include a benefits analysis and an economic analysis.

Please note any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be subject of a separate, possibly competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution although we may choose to investigate and explore innovative procurement routes as part of this challenge.

The total funding available for the competition can change and the funders reserve the right to adjust the provisional funding allocations, i.e. should additional funding become available.

The funder also reserves the right to apply a ‘portfolio’ approach to ensure funds are allocated across a broad range of strategic and geographic areas. This may mean that a proposal that scores less than yours may be successful.

The portfolio can be spread across a range of:

• Scope areas.
• Project durations.
• Project costs, including demonstrating value for money.
• Locations.

For full details of funding, technical and functional requirements, and timescales, visit the SBRI Centre of Excellence at the link below.