Outcomes
What we looked at
7.1 Does the platform let you state what you want/need to happen as a result of sharing your information, specifically including reasonable adjustments and other actionable support needs? Do you feel confident that your needs will be met as a result of using the platform?
7.2 How trustworthy does the platform/process feel? How is this trust created, both for the person and for recipients? How can you be confident that there won't be unexpected and unintended negative consequences of making the notification?
What good could look like
An approach which...
Lets you share your actionable support needs clearly, in enough detail but without asking for too much, and which gives you trust and confidence that those needs will be met by any organisation or service you need to interact with.
Good practice
Poor practice
About Me, the Experian Support Hub, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, This is Me and Wel-co.me all perform strongly here. Between them they set an excellent benchmark for capturing support needs at a level of detail that is actually actionable. These five, along with the JAM Card and Life Ledger, emerge as the most inherently trustworthy platforms.
The Vulnerability Services Register misses the mark in both respects. Its list of support needs, while it may be actionable, is too inaccessible for people to find the options they may need; its lack of transparency and nebulous reach reduce its trustworthiness.
7.1
ASNs
DNS will work for you if you know which bank(s) you need to contact and if they happen to subscribe. However, there are several points where it says you'll need to contact the receiving bank before using the form, or they'll contact you - at least this is spelt out, but it suggests that the notification service doesn't cover all eventualities. One example might be verification of the death - gov.uk notifications don't require you to send death certificates, so could DNS not offer the same?
Good for notifications of death; excellent for gathering all your own information together prior to death; a thoughtful touch in asking if the new holder of a utilities account (after bereavement) wants to join the PSR.
However, there's scope for it to do much more. Ironically the platform's strengths highlight its future potential - ideally you'd want it to capture your own and/or your executor/representative's ASNs, as well as LPA, ADRT etc.
Actionable support needs have to be inferred from the conditions/diagnoses selected, and focus closely on someone's likely needs at a live event. Most of the structured options (except "Anything else") relate to physical disabilities and sensory impairments in the context of a live event/venue. Platform would be extremely useful in these situations but of limited value in others.