Empowering and engaging communities:Seizing the opportunity

10 July 2015

TLAP describes building community capacity as: “a broad range of approaches that sustain strong, supportive communities and grow and release social capital.”

• I have a network of people who support me – carers, family, friends, community and if needed paid support staff

• I feel valued for the contribution that I can make to my community

• I have access to a range of support that helps me to live the life I want and remain a contributing member of my community

• I feel welcomed and included in my local community.

What we mean by Building Community Capacity?

Alignment?

Care Act 2014

Wellbeing…• Whenever a local authority carries out any care and support functions relating to an

individual, it must act to promote individual wellbeing• People should be considered in the context of their families and support networks, not

just as isolated individuals with needs.

Prevention…• At every interaction with a person, a local authority should consider whether or how the

person’s needs could be reduced or other needs could be delayed from arising. • This involves reaching beyond traditional health or care interventions to help people

develop or regain the skills of independent living and active involvement in community• Local approaches to prevention should be built on the resources of the local community,

including local support networks and facilities provided by voluntary organisations

Developing resilience and promoting individual strength…• Local authorities should ensure that individuals are not seen as passive recipients of

support, but are able to design care & support based around achievement of their goals.

“[local authorities] should …seek to identify the types of support and resources or facilities available in the local community which may be relevant for meeting care and support needs, to

help build community capacity to reinforce the more formal, regulated provider market.”

The Five Year Forward View

Chapter 2 focuses on Engaging and Empowering Communities:

• Need to harness the renewable energy represented by patients and communities

• Empower patients to take much more control over their own care and treatment

• Personalisation will only happen when services recognise that patients’ own life goals are what count – promoting wellbeing and independence need to be the key outcomes of care

• Patients, their families and carers are often ‘experts by experience• Engage with communities and citizens in news ways, involving them

directly in decisions about the future of health and care services • Sustainability of the NHS depends on a radical upgrade in prevention• The NHS will become a better partner with voluntary organisation

and local communities