Change 5: Maximising independence and recovery

Health, social care, housing and VCSE organisations working with people to maximise their independence and support recovery:

• Helps people to live the life they want
• Allows people to stay independent at home for longer
• Reduces or delays the need for emergency and statutory services

This will not be achieved through any one method but might include social prescribing, enabling self-care, adaptations and equipment, assistive technology or information and advice.

Making it Real statements

I can live the life I want and do the things that are important to me as independently as possible."

We work with people to make sure that their personal plans promote wellbeing and enable them to be as independent as possible."

Tips for success

• Talk to people about what matters to them and consider their mental, emotional and social needs as well as their physical health to support recovery.
• People recovering from a period of illness should be supported to resume their normal life including social activities, hobbies and interests to help improve their chances of recovery and reduce the risk of social isolation.
• Ensure staff training, technology, equipment and care planning processes all encourage and enable self-care and self-management.
• Ensure that carers and families are supported in their caring role. This can both help to improve the outcomes of the people they support but also avoid caring having a negative impact on their own health and wellbeing.
• Ensure that people can receive support, information and advice to prevent escalation of need even if they are not eligible for statutory services or fund their own social care.
• Consider how health and social care can connect people to VCSE and community support like social prescribing or peer support groups to support their independence or recovery.
• Use self-reported outcomes and people’s stories to show the impact of this way of working on people’s health, wellbeing, resilience, friendships, or ability to self-care.

Supporting materials

• NHS England and Improvement highlighting the Long Term Plan’s commitment to self-management including guides and resources.
• Social Prescribing Network – resources including research, evaluations, good practice and presentations.
• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline on supporting adult carers.
• National Association of Link Workers – membership association which has various resources on how to help link workers to succeed in their roles.
• Social Care Institute for Excellence guide highlighting the importance of involving families in reablement.

Case studies

• Surrey’s free remote monitoring service to identify signs of ill health early on so that prompt advice and support is provided which can reassure people and reduce anxiety.
• Dance to Health – an enabling therapy programme which uses dance, social connection and peer support to prevent falls.
• Audley Health Centre in North Staffordshire case study implementing assistive technology to better support people with long term conditions helping them to manage their conditions.
• Institute of Public Care report which outlines how Coventry City Council commissioned 12 locally-based organisations and supported their innovation to deliver a range of models which help people to maintain their independence in the community.