Personalisation strategy launched

Thursday 04 November 2010

Social care leaders launch sector-wide commitment to transform adult social care

Health and social care leaders have launched plans for a partnership agreement called Think Local, Act Personal. The agreement was announced at the National Children's and Adult Social Services conference in Manchester. It recommends that councils, health bodies and service providers work together to personalise and integrate health and social care services.

So far, 21 organisations have endorsed the agreement, including the Department of Health, In Control, Carers UK and the Social Care Institute for Excellence.

The group is calling for further comments and endorsements until 30 November. After this, it will set out formal plans to move the sector forward and build on the work of the Putting People First (the 2007 vision for adult social care) when it ends in March 2011.

While the plans don't outline any new messages, those involved say that it brings together initiatives from the last few years and reinforces personalisation as the main aim for social care services.

Among these messages is a need to focus on prevention strategies to reduce the need for more costly acute care and support. It also calls for more people to be given personal budgets using direct payments.

Philippa Russell, chair of the Standing Commission on Carers, said: "We live in challenging times, but we also have real opportunities to design and co-produce care and support services which are fit for the 21st century. The agreement sets out an exciting agenda of transformation, innovation, collaborative working and most importantly a shared vision of next generation care and support services."

Read Think Local, Act Personal

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