What is SOFI?

Observation and inspection

Observation forms an important part of how we understand what the experiences of services are like, from the perspective of a person with dementia, when they are not able to tell us for themselves.

The Short Observational Framework for Inspection 2 (SOFI 2) is the result of collaboration between Bradford Dementia Group and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who are the regulator for health and social care within England. SOFI 2 is based on the Dementia Care Mapping tool and process and is designed to help inspectors to capture the experiences of people who use services who may not be able to express this for themselves.

SOFI 2 is used to gather information about the experience of care from the point of view of people using a service, alongside other information an inspector would usually gather during an inspection. SOFI 2 observations do not replace talking to people who use services, but can help an inspector get a clearer picture where the person may not be able to reliably give a full picture for themselves.  Using SOFI 2 helps to raise questions about care practice that are then followed up to see if other sources of evidence support what the SOFI 2 data suggests. Likewise SOFI 2 data can be used to gather evidence to support information about services gathered from other sources (for example care plans, talking to staff or visitors etc).

SOFI 2 is one of the components of an inspector’s toolkit and is not designed to be and would never be, used alone. SOFI 2 is not a stand-alone tool and data is always triangulated with other sources before decisions about compliance are made.

What information does SOFI capture?

SOFI looks at the mood and engagement of people using services and the quality of staff interactions. Inspectors also make notes on other aspects of care practice during their observations. A presentation delivered by Joan Palmer of CQC and Claire Surr of Bradford Dementia Group at the UK Dementia Congress in 2011, which provides an overview of the SOFI 2 tool can be downloaded from www.careinfo.org/documents/PALMER~1.PDF

 

Can service providers train to use SOFI2?

SOFI 2 is not designed as a stand-alone tool and is one of a range of tools and methods an inspector would use. Inspectors also receive a range of additional training on observation, compliance outcomes and judgements, feeding back and reporting. Therefore, training on SOFI 2 alone would not provide an adequate level of knowledge to be able to use the tool appropriately and to make accurate judgements about compliance with outcomes. It is for this reason SOFI 2 training is not available to providers.

However, SOFI 2 is based on the DCM 8 tool and process. Training on DCM and its practice development process is available through the University of Bradford to all care providers. We offer open courses at Bradford or can delivered courses within your organisation. We also offer courses on DCM-SL which is used in domiciliary care, supported living, extra care and other community based settings.

For further information please click here: http://www.brad.ac.uk/health/dementia/dcm/

 

Who is currently using SOFI 2?

CQC inspectors are all trained to use the SOFI 2 tool. Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) have a license to use SOFI 2 and have inspectors trained in use of the tool.

The University of Bradford and CQC are happy to discuss licensing to use SOFI 2 with other regulatory bodies.

If you would like any further information about SOFI 2 and our work with CQC or other regulators, or if you are a representative of a regulatory body and would be interesting in discussing a license to use SOFI 2 please contact Dr Claire Surr at the Bradford Dementia Group on 01274 233996 or email: c.a.surr1@bradford.ac.uk