Working together to explore how to embed personalisation in primary care

A project report by Alison Smith, Workforce Development Lead, It’s All About People Personalisation Programme

Introduction

The It’s All About People team has teamed up with Sheffield-based Peak Health Coaching, Lincolnshire Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Lincolnshire Stroke Service, and a range of health and care partners in an exciting new programme that builds on the work that’s already taking place to embed strength-based and personalised approaches in Primary Care.

This programme aims to identify local priorities and focus on new ways of working to address capacity and demand issues that PCN’s, and Primary Care in general, are facing.

The first workshop day

On Wednesday 22 January, Dr Ollie Hart, Clinical Lead for Sheffield’s Person-Centred Care Programme, led the Peak Health team in hosting an inspiring and insightful first workshop day for colleagues from Primary Care, LCHS, ULTH, ICB, and the voluntary and faith community – and the energy and enthusiasm was infectious!

The programme is designed to equip participants with skills that will both enhance their professional practice and support their work on a priority improvement project of their choosing based on real data and real people.

Participating PCNs have been encouraged to develop projects that are meaningful and impactful to them and their teams. The size and scope of these projects were left to the discretion of the participants, allowing for flexibility and creativity.

The emphasis is firmly on the learning journey rather than specific outcomes, using the concept of ‘island hopping’, moving from ‘Where are we now?’  to ‘Where do we want to be?’.

The day’s presentations and discussions covered:

• Tailoring healthcare: ensuring that people can access health and care services that make sense to them, meet their needs, and focus on what really matters in their lives. 
• Understanding where people are in terms of their health and wellbeing: How assessing a person’s knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health  - using an activation measure approach - allows us to provide support best suited to the individual, leading to improved health outcomes and more effective use of healthcare resources.
• How small but key changes in practice can make a big difference: Taking time to listen is essential. In a powerful presentation, expert by experience Lee Vaughn described how, after living with pain for 30 years, his life was changed by just one conversation with a healthcare professional who took the time to listen to him.  Listen to Lee's story in It's All About People Podcast Episode 12

A highlight of the day was a panel of Care Coordinators, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, and Community Connectors. Each panel member talked with incredible passion about how working differently with people – taking time and actively listening, developing an understanding of people's unique needs, and creating personalised and creative care solutions in collaboration with the person – had led to meaningful and long-lasting change for those they supported.

Reflections on the day

It's wonderful to report that this first day of the programme was a resounding success. Throughout the day, the positivity and 'can-do, will-do' energy was palpable, and participants left buzzing, inspired, and equipped with new tools to enhance their practice and personal lives - and ready for the next stage of the programme.

Dr Ollie Hart reflected on the day: "This was a room full of courageous people willing to think outside the box and be open to new ideas.”

Whilst this session explored the ‘Why?’, the next workshop focuses on the ‘What?’ – just how will the participating teams work differently to achieve their intended outcomes?

We can’t wait to see what they come up with! And look out for the report about their progress.

More about Dr Ollie Hart

Dr Ollie Hart has been Clinical Lead for Sheffield’s Person-Centred Care Programme since 2014, which has followed an iterative process in engaging 70 GP practices to develop person-centred care skills. 

Dr Hart is also a director for Peak Health Coaching, a company that specialises in health coaching training and organisational development for person-centred care. Peak Health was the first company nationally to be accredited for health coaching training by the Personalised Care Institute and has trained over 2,000 people in coaching skills.