Personalising block contracts in supported housing – offering genuine choice, independence and control to customers

Look Ahead Housing and Care has today, Thursday 11 February, launched a report in partnership with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, showcasing the interim findings from an innovative personalisation pilot which embraced the challenge of personalising block contracts in supported housing.

The aim of the pilot trial, which took place at a high needs mental health accommodation-based service, was to offer an alternative model to personal budgets, which increased choice and control to customers while also enabling staff to deliver a safe and effective rehabilitation and recovery service.

The research highlighted the importance in addressing the real meaning of personalisation in a social care landscape, providing customers with greater choice, and ultimately greater control over their lives and the support they receive. The report also focused on the need for a genuine transformation of the way that service providers and commissioners think, plan and operate when considering the personalisation agenda.

Chris Hampson, Executive Director of Operations at Look Ahead, said: “Whilst user involvement has provided customers with opportunities to input and shape the services they receive, the personalisation agenda takes this one step further by actually allowing them to act as active agents within the social care market. The likely impact on staffing, organisational infrastructure and, critically, how we work with customers going forward is hugely significant.

“Through this trial we have seen the immeasurable benefits when commissioners and providers work together to deliver this agenda and the significant difference this can make to the experiences of vulnerable people living in supported housing.”

To see the full report, please click here: Choice, control and independence - Personalising block contracts in supported housing

Ends

11 February 2010

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