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This blog post was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

https://socialcare.blog.gov.uk/2014/06/25/person-centred-care-invest-in-what-works/

Person-centred care: invest in what works

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, Guest author

'The drive towards person-centred care has never been stronger,' says National Voices Policy and Communications Advisor, Laura Robinson. But what could this actually mean for those receiving that care? Laura reminds us of the context informing this intent and signposts resources to help make person-centred care a reality.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires Clinical Commissioning Groups to promote the involvement of each patient. The Care Act 2014 will require local authorities to involve adults in their assessment, care and support planning and review.

Laura Robinson: 'Half of hospital inpatients say they would have liked more involvement in decisions about their care.'
Laura Robinson: 'Half of hospital inpatients say they would have liked more involvement in decisions about their care.'

A common narrative, developed by National Voices and TLAP and adopted by the National Collaboration for Integrated Care and Support has set out what person-centred, coordinated care would feel like from the perspective of the individual themselves.

But there is still work to be done. Half of hospital inpatients say they would have liked more involvement in decisions about their care. Only three percent of general practice patients with long term conditions have a written care plan, with 28 percent of those with a plan said that they were not involved in putting it together.

With ever shrinking budgets, we know that making decisions about the best ways to enable greater engagement and involvement and promote a genuine partnership-based approach can be challenging. That’s why National Voices has launched a new web resource which provides a succinct overview of the best international evidence in this area. Evidence for Person Centred Care provides accessible and accurate information from 779 systematic reviews to enable commissioners, health and social care professionals and groups of people who use services to understand what works best and consider how best to invest limited time and resources.

The web pages focus on five key components of person-centred care: supporting self-management, supporting shared decision-making, enhancing experience of healthcare, improving information and understanding and promoting prevention. There is an overview of the topic and summary tables of the key interventions. Also, each topic is supported by a simple downloadable booklet which provides a full discussion of the detailed evidence, with references and links to the research reviews.

You can find the Evidence for Person Centred Care webpages here on the National Voices website.

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3 comments

  1. Comment by Pearl Baker posted on

    As an Independent Mental Health Advocate and Advisor/carer it is very clear that a Care Manager Co-Ordinator is crucial if there is any possibility of achieving any success. Care Managers will require on-going training to keep uptodate with ever evolving laws and legislations. The Care Act 2014 and the rights of carers particularly.

    I would like to give an example of a recent Mental Health Forum, where only Statutory representatives were in attendance!

    The presentation by the individual commissioned to implement Health and Wellbeing to include Physical activities gave a presentation, however my concerns is what about those indivindivuals suffering from a severe and enduring mental illness, how will she 'find' them? My suggestion that they would mostly be on an 'enhanced' CPA so perhaps the Care Manager Co-Ordinator should be involved in this process led to this response! There is NO CPA anymore? and this was from a Health representative.

    I am involved with Section 117 aftercare patients suffering from Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders. On discharge from Hospital they would then be in the system, But what system!

    GP and Care Manager Co-ordinators are crucial in this exercise. Carers or significant others and IMCAs should be recognised as part of the team.

    It is not difficult, it is about education, on-going training of Care Manager Co-ordinators, carers information, GPs changing the way in which they gather information and disseminate to the various agencies involved in a health and social care system. The Care Manager would be the gatherer, all agencies including the carer experiencing problems would contact that person or someone within that agency for help and support.

  2. Comment by Janet Cobb posted on

    Hi Laura
    Its interesting that you talk about "The drive towards person-centred care has never been stronger", I've worked in health care for many years and can't remember a time when person centred care was not the intention of most staff?
    What gets in the way is time, resources, information and a comprehensive and equitable NHS - exactly what isn't and will not be available in the future as a result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

    See Prof Allyson Pollock lecture
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz5dl9fhj7o

  3. Comment by Jane Rutterford posted on

    I Recently took V.R after 16 years working in care as we were no longer Suffolk run .(Suffolk training was regular and to a high standard) Although new homes look all singing and dancing they are ill equipped to provide person centred care .
    New homes opening with a majority of staff not familiar with working with the elderly or Dementia.
    People with dementia need their person centred care to be delivered regularly following their care plan of needs. How confusing stressful frustrating and down right sad can it be if this doesn't happen.
    Many frail elderly can complain themselves or inform their family who can complain for them. Many residents with dementia cannot speak or verbalise when they are not happy with any given situation.
    If nothing else runs smoothly I just hope and pray person centred care is top of any inspection agenda.