GNCR ambassador case study – Emma Anderson, Head of Therapies, Sunderland City Council
Emma Anderson is an occupational therapist by trade, as well as being head of Sunderland City Council’s Community Therapy service. With over 30 years of experience in social care, Emma leads a uniquely integrated service, working closely with several health partners.
Among the services provided, her teams help support residents of all ages, focusing on independent living through equipment and property adaptations – delivering community rehabilitation through care pathways and providing specialist support to care homes.
Emma also oversees teams dedicated to technology-enabled care, a city-wide falls coordinator, and wheelchair service practitioners.
How Emma uses the Great North Care Record
Emma’s varying role means she is regularly involved in complex cases. Having access to the Great North Care Record (GNCR) is vital to help her act quickly and be prepared to support colleagues to make decisions on how to progress specific cases.
“A lot of our work supports people to live independently by shaping care plans that are going to have the biggest impact that they can have – and sometimes, that can be challenging.
“People aren’t always able to tell us their history clearly. Their understanding and interpretation can vary or be influenced by their family or even neighbours’ views on how they are managing their condition. So, the more information we have about somebody’s healthcare, the better support we can put in place for their needs, ensuring we address any issues around patient safety and stability.”
Before having access to the GNCR, Emma and her team had to contact multiple GPs and consultants to collect the same information, using up valuable time. Since adopting the GNCR, their efficiency has significantly improved. They can access reliable and up to date information, including diagnoses, recent investigations, hospital admissions, treatment interventions and more.
Why the Great North Care Record makes a difference
There are multiple ways in which the GNCR is positively impacting the Community Therapy service in Sunderland – including supporting practitioner safety by providing key information before visits.
“We had a referral that on the surface seemed entirely normal – a new patient with no previous history on our social care records.
“Because our practitioners are encouraged to review all available information in advance, one of our therapists accessed GNCR and found a significant risk to their own health and safety that we otherwise would never have known about. This allowed us to put appropriate safeguards in place before any face-to-face contact occurred.”
Emma has also seen significant reductions in her team’s administrative burden. Immediate access to relevant information has streamlined daily operations and empowered them to manage increasing demand more effectively, as they can develop long-lasting care plans that, ultimately, help save costs for the local authority.
“Whether we’re providing equipment or supporting a Disabled Facilities Grant application, having access to the right information helps us get it right the first time. That means better outcomes for the person, fewer repeat visits, and smarter use of financial resources.
“When we’re uncertain, there’s a risk of over-prescribing because we naturally err on the side of caution. But with more complete information, we can work in a truly strength-based way – giving just enough support to help someone maintain their independence, without taking away their ability to do things for themselves.
“That balance is at the heart of what we do, and the GNCR helps us strike it more confidently.”
