FAQ's
Later Matters
1. How will a Later Matters review benefit my organisation?
A Later Matters review can benefit your organisation in a number of ways:
- It gives you the space and time to think specifically about access and outcomes for BME older people
- It will help you to highlight good practice and identify gaps in service planning and delivery
- It will stimulate dialogue and creative thinking around future service development
- It will provide you with a practical and realistic action plan to implement
- It will provide you with good practice examples relating to engagement with BME older people
- It can be used as evidence of good practice in equality and diversity for formal inspection and assessment
2. How much time do I spend preparing for the Later Matters review?
This is entirely up to you but we do suggest that you talk to colleagues, access any relevant research, data or policies and prepare answers to all of the questions in the Progress Measure prior to the review.
3. Is this an audit or test? Will I pass or fail?
No, this is not and audit or test and you cannot pass or fail. This is designed to be a positive, organisation led exercise to help you identify areas for service development. We want you to think about new ways of working to improve engagement with BME older people. We also want you to recognise what you are doing well!
4. Do I conduct the review on my own?
No, we suggest that the review is led by someone who has attended the Later Matters training as well as a service manager and member of front line staff to represent the organisation/ service being reviewed and present the pre-prepared responses. A number of colleagues should be consulted to inform the responses before the review.
5. Do I need to be a trained Later Matters Adviser to conduct the review?
Ideally yes, however the resource is available to download from the Age Concern Yorkshire and Humber website. There are also a number of documents to support the review process and a training film. The Later Matters training will provide you will the skills, knowledge and resources to review how accessible your services are to BME older people using the Later Matters Progress Measure and Good Practice Guidance. The course also covers the specific barriers experienced by BME older people in accessing services and examples of good practice in service planning and delivery.
www.ageconcernyorkshireandhumber.org.uk/bme
6. How much time should I set aside for the review?
Give yourselves a minimum of 3 hours to conduct the review. You will need enough time to discuss the evidence for your responses, identify what needs to be done and develop your action plan.
7. How do I keep an accurate record of the review?
An excel version of the Progress Measure and action plan are available to download on the Age Concern Yorkshire and Humber website. This version of the action plan includes columns for six month and one year progress updates. Keeping a soft copy record of the review means information can be transferred to other plans, strategies and policies.