Shropshire & Telford Activity Referral Scheme (S.T.A.R.S) Jenny Stretton Health Promotion Officer

1. STARS Shropshire & Telford Activity Referral Scheme(S.T.A.R.S) Jenny Stretton Health Promotion Officer Exercise Referral Meeting, PAN-WM 12th December 2006

2. STARS • History of ‘S.T.A.R.S’ • Started in 1991 as a Local Authority ‘pilot’ – 1 GP Practice and 1 assessor, known as ‘Exercise on Prescription’ • 1993 supported by Shropshire Health Authority, national conference, expanded to county-wide. • Developed to include 28 leisure centres • Working party reporting to county wide multi professional steering group • Accreditation of providers • Scheme currently under review

3. STARS • Training Standards • 2003 Telford & Wrekin PCT appointed a physical activity co-ordinator. • STARS working party agree new training standards for all GP referral assessors across the scheme. • 2006 Attain NVQ 3 by and maintain REPS accreditation at Level 3 • For specialist conditions eg. Phase 1V Cardiac, Fitness Instructors must have specific qualification • Annual registration and protocol training has been provided locally by STARS and accredited with REPS as CPD

4. STARS • Training Standards continued… • All fitness staff are on the REPS Register Level 2/3 • 6 GP referral qualified staff (Local Authority) • 3 BACR trained staff • 8 staff Diet and Nutrition trained – Level 3 • 9 staff Special populations - Kids Level 3 • 3 staff Advanced Instructor Adapted Physical Activity training– Level 3

5. S.T.A.R.S Organisation Telford & Wrekin Council Telford & Wrekin PCT ‘Lets Get Physical’ Steering Group • STARS Working Party • Lets Get Physical Programme Manager T&WC Leisure & Development Manager • T&WC Health or Fitness Facilities Manager GP • Private LC Rep STARS Co-ordinator STARS Co-ordinator Local authority assessors Private assessors

6. STARS S.T.A.R.S. Referral Process GP/Consultant - Patient Signposting STARS referral form Appointment with qualified assessor at accredited centre 1 hour consultation (£13.60 inc re-assessment) 12 week personal programme Fitness suite / gym Free induction Concessionary rates Appropriate referrals eg. ‘Why Weight’ Mental Health Team Voluntary groups Walkabout – Wrekin walking for health Fitness classes, Aquatherapy 12 week re-assessment 30 mins

7. STARS • Successes • Long standing, well known • High profile • Integrated into ‘Let’s Get Physical’ programme • Support and involvement from wide range of organisations • Provides local training / CPD for assessors

8. STARS • Challenges • Currently under review • NICE Guidance – brief interventions v. support for lifestyle change • NQAF – risk stratification • Evaluation criteria – local, regional, national? • REPs – training, accreditation, costs and retention of staff (no salary increase) • Demand v. capacity + cardiac rehabilitation • GP knowledge – training issues (eg BP guidelines) • Funding

9. STARS • S.T.A.R.S…..the way forward…… • Appreciation for PAN-WM mapping exercise • Awaiting results of audit • Development and implementation of monitoring framework • Co-ordination and communication with Primary Care • Provision of on-going CPD for fitness assessors • Robust evaluation • Tiered referral system eg. Triage categories of referral • Patient consultation forum • Sustainability

10. STARS Thank you! Jenny Stretton - Health Promotion Officer