Module 8

Information and Signposting

Self Care Training

8.1

On completion of this module learners will:

Have knowledge of signposting individuals and explore the best ways to do this

Recognise the importance of gathering ‘information’ to support individuals to self care

Understand how to support people to access self care programmes and support networks to increase their self care skills

Module 8 outcomes

Signposting is supporting a person to gather information about their long term condition

Signposting is letting the person know about other services in their communities that can support their self care

Signposting is connecting individuals with others in their position so they can learn more about their long term conditions

Signposting is TAKING ACTION!

8.2

What is signposting?

Many local authorities will have a local directory of services that you can access

This will provide the right information, support and guidance to people who are interested in finding out more about self care

If you cannot access a directory of services then speak to your supervisor and they will support you to find the right information

Work with the person you are supporting, their next of kin and support networks to access information

7.1

8.3

How do I signpost?

Gathering information may help people to self care.

Where are the places you could go to find information for them?

8.4

Group discussion

Introduce information leaflets to the

people you support: This is often the first step for them to learn more

about their long term conditions Having more information can make a person

more confident to want to self care Offer to read the information for them or find

alternative formats for those with identified disabilities

Gather as much information as you can!

7.1

8.5

Gather information

8.6

The rules of information

The information that is given to individuals must always be:

Appropriate

Clear

Useful

Agreed

Having more information on their long term conditions may lead a person to:

Do nothing Be unsure of what to do next Ask for more information and support Set a goal to learn new skills to manage their self care

8.7

Knowing more leads to…

8.8

The key areas to signpost are…

Within self care education there are two main routes for people to learn more about their long term condition (LTC) and how to self care for them.

1. Disease-specific programmes• One-to-one programmes to learn more about the particular LTC• Run by health care professionals in the community• Goals are set to support individuals to self care

2. ‘Expert patient’ programmes• People helping other people with long term conditions• Focus on the symptoms of long term conditions• People learn to self care and take control over their symptoms

7.1

8.9

Self care education

Being active and involved in the community can motivate

individuals to take control over their symptoms and better self care.

There are a number of community services that individuals can join:

The benefits of community services can be to:

Relieve Stress - Improve Sleep - Improve Circulation - Prevent Mental

Health from worsening

Swimming, Meditation, Keep Fit Classes, Cooking Classes, Walking Groups, Singing Groups, Craft Classes, Dancing

Classes, Yoga Classes, Rehabilitation Classes

8.10

Community Services

Support groups are a good way for individuals to share their

experiences and challenges

They can be specific and meet the cultural or religious or personal needs

of individuals, e.g.

Alcoholics Anonymous; Multicultural Support Groups;

Bereavement Support Groups; Gay, Lesbian or Transgender Groups

Often informal, they support individuals to learn ‘self care tips’ from others

and put them into practice, e.g.

Stroke Association; Diabetes UK; Arthritis Care; British Heart

Foundation

7.1

8.11

Support networks

The key benefits of signposting to other services for the people you support are:

They begin to learn more about their long term conditions They become active in choosing how to take control over their conditions They are likely to be healthier in themselves and minimize the symptoms they suffer They are likely to reduce the number of times they go into hospital or respite care They will become more independent of others and meet new friends They will have a longer life expectancy

8.12

Benefits of signposting

Self Care Training Manual: Implementing the Common Core principles for Self Care© Skills for Care, 2009.www.skillsforcare.org.uk Albion Court, 5 Albion Place, Leeds LS1 6JL.All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced for non-commercial distribution in aid of social care workforce development, provided the copyright notices and acknowledgements are included in each reproduction.Requests for commercial publishing rights should be directed to Skills for Care.

Referencing:Short reference: Skills for Care, 2009Long reference: Skills for Care, Self Care Training Manual: Implementing the Common Core Principles for Self Care (Skills for Care, Leeds, 2009)

Acknowledgements:This material was commissioned from jdee Training and Lancashire County Council by Skills for Care’s New Types of Worker programme in the north west. It was researched and compiled by Shaun Douglas Galley and Sarah Johnson.