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Sharon Blackburn

CommonAge Board member and Policy and Communications Director for the National Care Forum, Sharon Blackburn, offers a whistle stop tour of activity from the UK.

Major reform is taking place across the UK in relation to how people are seen as leaders and owners of their own care. It is referred to as ‘personalization’ and stems from the desire to put people first. This has led to major reforms across health and social care. Currently we are in a rapid period of change which incorporates legislative changes (The Care Act 2014); regulatory changes (Care Quality Commission); major reform as part of the Care Act to funding for social care; a mandate for health and social care to work more closely together to achieve better outcomes for people using services.

As part of these landmark changes, people and informal carers rights have been increased ensuring their voices are heard and that real choice is given to people and that they are in the driving seat concerning what happens to them. People who use services are referred to as ‘Experts by Experience’. All this is taking place against a back drop of austere financial pressures and cuts. The challenge for providers is to how to do something different for less as it is not possible to keep doing more for less. There is a real fear that there are insufficient funds in the system to fully implement the Care Act …and all this as we lead into a general election in 2015. There are numerous consultations taking place as the various components of the Care Act have guidance and regulations formed to support implementation.

Think Local, Act Personal

National Care Forum

The organisation, Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) www.thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk has produced some excellent resources to guide people through the changes. The Social Care work force is vital to the success of implementing these changes. The workforce will need to increase substantially as the population increases. In the UK , whilst Social Workers and Registered Nurses are recognised as professionals; people working in care as care assistants continue to have a lower status. Good providers do invest considerably in their workforce and help them attain qualifications. Systems can so often stand in the way of achieving good outcomes for people who use services. The work of My Home Life www.myhomelife.org.uk recognises and validates the relationship between the person in need of care; the staff and the family. Person centred care can only be achieved through relationship centred practice. In the UK there has been substantial media attention around poor practice . Those of us in the sector want poor care eradicated but know that we have a responsibility to promote good care. An initiative to do this is the Third Sector Care awards http://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/viewNews.asp?news_ID=1939

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