March 2018 – New Adult Social Care Guidelines

01/03/2018
The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) have issued new guidelines covering the care and support of adults receiving social care in their own homes, residential care and community settings.

It aims to help people understand what care they can expect and to improve their experience by supporting them to make decisions about their care

The guidelines have two overriding principles – to recognise that each person who uses services is an individual and to support people to maintain their independence. This means finding out what people want from their life, and providing the support and assistance they need to do this.

The guidelines then make a series of recommendations including the following:

Respect peoples right to make their own decisions, and do not make assumptions about peoples capacity to be in control of their own care and support (for example, if the person is severely disabled).

Actively involve the person in all decisions that affect them.

Provide support to people, if they need it, to express their views, preferences and aspirations in relation to their care and support. Identify and record how the person wishes to communicate and if they have any communication needs requiring assistance such as:

Advocacy support

An independent interpreter to enable people to communicate in a language they can readily converse in, including sign language

A carer, if that is what the person wants

Communication aids (such as pictures, videos, symbols, large print, Braille, hearing loops)

Additional time to understand and process information

Environmental conditions that support communication, such as clear lighting, and minimal noise interference

Use plain language and personalise the communication approach to encourage and enable people to be actively involved in their care and support. If technical language or jargon has to be used, or complicated ideas are being discussed, take time to check that the person, or a carer who knows them well, understands what is being said.

In relation to access to care the guidelines recommend that services ensure that everyone with social care needs has access to services based on their needs, taking take account their protected characteristics (such as Gender, Race or Sexual Orientation). Service providers should be aware of the cultural and religious needs of people who use services, and provide care and support that meets these needs. Examples include treatment choices, food choice and preparation, enabling people to dress in accordance with their culture or religion, personal grooming, or changes in timing of services around religious festivals.

The guidance also recommends that carers, families and friends be involved in discussions and decisions about their care and support.

In line with the Care Act 2014, local authorities must provide information about care and support services for people and their carers, including:

The types of care and support available

How to access care and support, including eligibility criteria

How to get financial advice about care and support

Local safeguarding procedures and how to raise safeguarding concerns or make a complaint

Rights and entitlements to assessments and care and support services

Personal budgets and all the options for taking a personal budget – for example, local authority managed, Individual Service Fund or direct payment

In relation to undertaking the needs assessment, the guidelines state that local authorities must ensure that care and support needs assessment under the Care Act 2014 focuses on the persons needs and how they impact on their wellbeing, and the outcomes they want to achieve in their day-to-day life.

Local authorities should ensure that:

The person is given details of the care and support needs assessment process and timescale at the start

The person is given details of the nature and purpose of the assessment

The person can have someone they choose to be present at the assessment

The assessment uses up-to-date information and documentation about the person

The person does not have to provide the same information in subsequent assessments.

If a person who uses services has caring responsibilities, their care and support needs assessment should take account of this.

Further recommendations relate to the accuracy and access to assessment documentation, care & support plans, personal budgets and Direct Payments. Particular consideration is given to the provision of care and support regardless of whether this is in a care home, some form of assisted living or in the persons own home.

Practitioners working in all settings where care and support is delivered are recommended to respond flexibly to the priorities a person might identify each day. For example, a person might ask a home care worker to spend more time helping them get dressed and less time on other tasks if they have a special event to attend.

Day care and residential care providers should offer a choice of activities that are led by the persons needs, preferences and interests. Encourage people to take part by including activities that motivate them, support them to learn new skills and increase their level of independence. Recognise that preferences are not fixed and may change.

The guidance also focuses on the provision of personal care and recommends that all practitioners providing personal care should ensure that personal care needs are responded to in a timely, appropriate and dignified manner in line with the persons wishes and their support plan – for example, making sure that people can go to the toilet when and how they want.

Full details of the guidelines are available from NICE

Contrast  Contrast : NormalContrast : Increase (For Dyslexic Users)     Font size   Font size : SmallFont size : MediumFont size : Large
News image