About the eSAY Project

Who are we?

• The eSAY project is being run by the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability.
• It came from the recommendations of ‘The same as you?’.
• We are funded by the Data Sharing and Standards Division at The Scottish Executive.
• Data Sharing and Standards job is to help make sure that people in all care groups in Scotland get better care. To do this, they use computers to share information to make sure that people like doctors, nurses, social workers and teachers get the information that they need to provide good care services to people. This only happens when people have said that it is okay to share their information.

What are the project's aims?

Provide better access to electronic information. We want to improve access to electronic information. We plan on using the latest technology to do this. This website will give lots of information about what is happening with services across Scotland . The website will let people: Share their stories with others. See what is happening in the local area. Providers can share information on the best way to do things and see how well they are performing compared to other providers. We are trying to make this website accessible for people.

Make sure everyone records and measures information in the same way. We have developed a dataset that will be used by local authorities and health boards when they are collecting information. The dataset will: Be used to create the national database, and be the basis of the local databases. Make sure everyone records and measures information in the same way. Give us an accurate picture of what is happening in an area. Allow us to compare information with other areas. See what is happening nationally.

Help set up joined up services between Health and Social Work. This was piloted by 4 local partners: Dundee City Council, Glasgow City Council, South Lanarkshire Council, Western Isles Health Board. We are still working with Data Sharing and Standards to help people set up databases locally with information coming from Single Shared Assessment. This will allow health and social care agencies to get a clearer picture of a person’s needs and will allow them to respond more quickly to a request.

What is a Single Shared Assessment?
	An assessment that is carried out with people with learning disabilities and either someone from health or social work services. People will complete one assessment, and if they agree to it, their information will be shared between their local services, so they won’t have to be asked the same questions every time they need access to a new service.

Roll out a national anonymous database. It won’t hold any personal information about anyone - only numbers and statistics. You can use it to find out things like: How many people with learning disabilities live in Fife OR How many people with learning disabilities in Scotland are over 50. But you wouldn’t be able to find out any personal information about an individual like names, date of birth etc. What are the benefits of a National Database? See how well a service provider is performing. Identify where there are unmet needs. Monitor the progress of the recommendations of ‘The same as you?’ and other policies. Make sure they are being implemented on time, and in the right way.

Does this page answer all of your questions? If not, please go to the About eSAY - Frequently Asked Questions. Find out more about the National Reference Group.

With thanks to Change and Photosymbols for the pictures used.