2.1 Summarise local and national systems which promote personalisation

This guide will help you answer 2.1 Summarise local and national systems which promote personalisation.

Personalisation is a key approach in health and social care, ensuring that individuals retain control over their care and support. Local and national systems in the UK exist to support this ethos, offering frameworks, resources, and strategies that put individuals at the centre of decisions about their lives. These systems aim to meet individual needs, preferences, and aspirations, allowing people to live their lives with dignity and independence.

What is Personalisation?

Personalisation refers to the process of tailoring care and support to suit an individual’s unique needs and choices. It respects the person’s autonomy and promotes their involvement in planning, organising, and managing their care. People can say what they want, how they want it, and who should deliver the services.

The concept of personalisation is driven by the idea that every individual should have more choice and control over the services or support they receive, whether funded by their own money, local government, or the National Health Service (NHS).

National Legislation Supporting Personalisation

Several pieces of legislation in the UK promote personalisation in health and social care. Each of these laws strengthens the individual’s voice and rights:

Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 is a cornerstone of personalisation in England. It emphasises the importance of assessing an individual’s needs holistically and enabling them to decide how their care is delivered.

Key features of the Care Act 2014:

• It places the individual’s well-being at the centre of all planning decisions.
• It ensures personal budgets are provided, allowing individuals to manage their allocated funds for personalised support.
• It supports the use of direct payments so people can purchase services that meet their needs.
• It promotes advocacy services to help those who may struggle to make decisions independently.

Children and Families Act 2014

This legislation ensures personalisation for children with special educational needs or disabilities. It requires local authorities to create Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans that integrate support across multiple areas of a child’s life.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 protects people who are unable to make decisions for themselves, ensuring their care is still personalised. Any decisions made must be in their best interests and take their wishes and feelings into account.

Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act requires services to adapt their provision so that everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, or other protected characteristics, can exercise their right to personalised care.

Local Systems Promoting Personalisation

Local systems include structures and initiatives set up by local councils, NHS bodies, and other organisations to facilitate personalised care.

Local Authorities

Local authorities play a key role in promoting personalisation through the following mechanisms:

• Social Care Assessments: Local social workers assess needs while involving individuals in conversations about their preferred outcomes.
• Personal Budgets: Once an assessment is done, a personal budget is assigned. Individuals can use this budget to access services of their choice.
• Direct Payments: Local authorities offer direct payments to individuals who prefer to manage their care funds themselves. This increases freedom and independence.

Health and Wellbeing Boards

These boards are partnerships between local councils, NHS organisations, and public health teams. They ensure efforts are coordinated to improve care and focus on individual needs, aligning all services with the ethos of personalisation.

Community-Based Organisations

Local charities and voluntary organisations can be part of someone’s personalised care. These organisations are often deeply rooted in their communities and provide flexible and accessible services that meet a variety of needs.

Person-Centred Planning

Person-centred planning is the foundation of personalised care. It helps identify what is important to a person and creates a care plan around their needs. Local teams advocate this approach by organising:

• Planning meetings attended by the individual and their chosen representatives.
• Accessible resources such as easy-read documents for those with communication challenges.
• Feedback mechanisms to ensure care plans change as the individual’s circumstances change.

National Systems Promoting Personalisation

At the national level, organisations such as the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care, and regulatory bodies like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) deliver systems to promote personalisation.

NHS Personalised Care Model

The NHS has adopted a personalised care strategy across England. Its vision is to provide services that respect patients’ preferences and empower them to make informed decisions.

Three main elements of the NHS personalised care model:

• Shared Decision-Making: Patients are supported to make decisions about their treatment after discussing all options with their healthcare provider.
• Personal Health Budgets: Similar to personal budgets in social care, these funds allow patients to tailor healthcare services.
• Support for Self-Management: Patients receive resources or training to manage health conditions independently.

Social Prescribing

Social prescribing is an NHS initiative connecting individuals with non-medical services that improve health and well-being. It expands the personalised care approach by enabling access to activities like:

• Community gardening groups
• Counselling sessions
• Volunteering opportunities

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC monitors all registered care services in England. It enforces standards, ensuring providers deliver personalised care that respects individual preferences.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

NICE guidelines influence decision-making in health and social care. Recommendations often follow person-centred principles, ensuring services adapt to varied needs.

Final Thoughts

UK systems, both local and national, promote personalisation to give individuals more control and choice in their care. Frameworks like the Care Act 2014, NHS personalised care models, and direct payments are examples of how this is achieved. Personalisation builds dignity, independence, and satisfaction, aligning care with individual goals effectively. To continue this progress, sustained effort in funding, education, and advocacy is vital.