Connect to Support Lincolnshire
"Making it easier for people to find, save and share information and support when they need it most"
Overview
When people are looking for care and support, they need reliable, up-to-date information that is easy to find, understand and use. This is particularly important for those using mobile devices or accessing services where connectivity may be limited.
Our work with Lincolnshire County Council and Connect to Support Lincolnshire has focused on bringing care information together through Care Quality Commission (CQC) data integration, an interactive map and a Progressive Web App (PWA).
The result is a more accessible service that helps people across Lincolnshire find, save and share important information about care providers and support when they need it.
Our Approach
A key part of our work has been integrating the CQC API, allowing provider information to be automatically updated with the latest available data. Users can view each provider's overall CQC rating alongside ratings for the individual areas assessed by CQC: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
The platform also provides access to the most up-to-date CQC report for each provider, allowing users to explore the detail behind the ratings without needing to navigate between different websites.
An Interactive Map
Working in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, an interactive map was introduced to show the locations of care homes and home care agencies across Lincolnshire.
Users can explore providers by location and filter results by CQC rating, for example choosing to view only providers rated Good and/or Outstanding. Bringing location and quality information together provides a clearer and more intuitive way to identify relevant care services.
Improving Access Across Devices
The partnership also led to the development of Connect to Support Lincolnshire as a Progressive Web App (PWA), providing an improved experience for users accessing the service on smartphones and tablets.
The PWA can be accessed across different devices and platforms without requiring a traditional app download, while also supporting use in situations where connectivity may be limited. This helps make the service more flexible and accessible to people across Lincolnshire.
The new CQC-integrated Care Homes & Home Care Agencies directory and mobile-friendly Progressive Web App have strengthened our Connect to Support offer, making it easier for people to find, save and share information and support when they need it most.
Sam Francis, Lincolnshire County Council
Helping people make informed care choices
By bringing CQC data, location information and care provider details together in one place, Connect to Support Lincolnshire gives people a clearer picture of the services available to them. The PWA also provides greater flexibility in how and where the service is accessed, while ongoing CQC integration helps keep information current.
It has been a pleasure working with PPL Innovate to enhance the Connect to Support Lincolnshire website. They have been approachable, responsive and genuinely invested in helping us achieve the best outcomes for Lincolnshire residents.
Sam Francis, Lincolnshire County Council
Delivering Value
Together, these developments have:
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Made it easier to find care services
Location-based search and filtering help people quickly identify relevant care providers in their area.
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Supported more informed care choices
Up-to-date CQC information and ratings help people understand the quality of services and make more informed decisions about their care.
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Improved access to information
The PWA makes the service available across smartphones, tablets and other devices, including where connectivity may be limited.
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Created a flexible foundation for future development
The platform can continue to evolve in response to changing user needs, with potential future functionality such as push notifications.
