The pursuit of person centred care is a central theme in all current
policies including:
a. the transformation of social care and
the personalisation agenda set out in Putting People First[1];
b.
ambition and competencies set out as part of World Class
Commissioning;[2]
c.
High Quality Care For All - NHS Next Stage Review[3], which
sets out the direction of travel for NHS services in England and
endorses more personalised approaches to the delivery of support and
care to individuals;
The Dignity in Care Campaign[4] - aims to stimulate a national debate around dignity in care
and create a care system where there is zero tolerance of abus
a. and disrespect of older people in particular. It is about
changing the culture of care services and placing a greater emphasis on
improving the quality of care and the experience of citizens using
services including NHS hospitals, community services, care homes and
home support services;
b. NHS Constitution[1], which sets out the individual's and publics rights and the
pledges from the NHS in response to these rights;
c. Living
Well with dementia - A National Dementia Strategy, setting
out the government's commitment to individuals with dementia and their
family carers ensuring high quality care and support, based on
individual need and enabling people to live well with the condition[2];
d.
‘Everybody's Business - Integrated mental health services
for older adults: a service development guide[3],
which sets out what the components of a modern service should look like
for older people with mental health needs;
e. Improving
services and support for older people with mental health problems[4],
which is the second and final report of the UK Inquiry into Mental
Health and Well-Being in Later Life. The Inquiry was launched in late
2003 as a result of concern that mental health in later life is a much
neglected area. It published its first report, Promoting Mental Health
and Well-Being in Later Life, in 2006. This final report sets out to
answer how we can we improve services and support for older people with
mental health problems;
f. End of Life Care Strategy:
Promoting high quality care for all adults at the end of life[5]
g.
the Independent Living Strategy[6] - a cross-government strategy for all disabled people;
h. the
Carers Strategy, Carers at the heart of 21st-century
families and communities;[7]
i. Aiming High for Disabled Children:
transforming services for disabled children and their families;[8]
j.
The Children's Plan: building brighter futures (2007)[9]and
k.
Valuing People Now - a new
three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities[10]
All
of these policies focus on
· Individual led
services, based on needs and preferences
· Putting the person
in control and offering choice and
· A trained and competent
workforce
Life
Story work helps to challenge ageist attitudes and assumptions. It can
be used as a basis for individualised care and significantly improve
assessments of need, assisting in the transitions that many individuals
have to make in the course of the care journey, between different
living environments (e.g. home to hospital, extra care, sheltered
housing, extra care, care home or other care setting). During these
transitions, life story work can help to initiate, develop and sustain
better relationships between the individual person and staff who work
with them and between family carers and paid staff.
[1]The
National Health Service, Constitution, Department of Health (2008)
[2] Living Well with dementia - A National Dementia Strategy Department of
Health (2009)
[3] Everybody's Business - Integrated mental health services for older
adults: a service development guide CSIP (2005)
[4] Improving services and support for older people with mental health
problems (2007) Age Concern
[5] End of Life Care Strategy: promoting high quality care for all adults
at the end of Life, Department of Health (2008)
[6] Independent Living Strategy, Office for Disability Issues (2008)
[7] Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities,
Department of Health (2008)
[8] Aiming High for Disabled Children: Better Support for Families, HM
Treasury/Department for Education and Skills (2007)
[9] The Children's Plan: building brighter futures. DCSF CM7280 (2007).
[10] Valuing People Now: a new three year strategy for people with learning
disabilities