This project is preparing for the future of care and support for older people in Scotland. A key part of this future will be the integration of health and social care to provide holistic support for those who need it.
This article from the Guardian sets up a vision for care moving towards working towards outcomes for an individual through integration.
In the conversation about integration, there can be a risk on focusing on ‘structural solutions’ and ‘systems’ for integration. I believe that some of the critical foundation work that can be done now is to un-learn the formal distinctions between health and social care (the classic example is a ‘health bath’ versus a ‘social care bath’) and shift towards a shared understanding of outcomes.
One of the conclusions of this article is that care at home in the future will need a different type of staff team. Staff will need to be well trained and able to support people with more complex needs in their own homes.
Fit for the Future is currently working with providers in North Lanarkshire and selecting providers in Argyll & Bute to plan and recruit a workforce with the values needed to thrive as a part of an integrated, person centred system. This focus came from the shared understanding that building a secure, well-trained staff base with the values needed to succeed in this changing environment is an investment in the future of services.
In tandem, IRISS’ Keeping it Personal Project will work in a locality with both health and social care to achieve:
- More shared understanding of a person-centred approach across health and social care
- More effective person-centred support across health and social care
- Improved understanding of the issues that constrain effective delivery of support at the juncture of health and social care and how these can be overcome
For some inspiration of what integrated services could look like, please see the King’s Fund UK integration map:
http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/integrated-care-making-it-happen/integrated-care-map
