Issue - meetings

The Board received an introduction to ‘strengths based approaches’ which was referred to at a presentation that was given at the last PPB meeting, ‘Everyone Early Help Strategy 2018-2021’.  Members requested additional information on this approach so a report and presentation had been prepared to explain this.

It was reported that the Care Act 2014, statutory guidance for Adult Social Care, required local authorities to ‘consider the person’s own strengths and capabilities, and what support might be available from their wider support network or within the community to help’, in considering ‘what else other than the provision of care and support might assist the person in meeting the outcomes they wanted to achieve.’  It was said that in order to do this the assessor should lead to an approach that looked at a person’s life holistically, considering their needs in the context of their skills, ambitions and priorities.

Local authorities should therefore identify the individual’s strengths – personal, community and social networks – and maximise those strengths to enable them to achieve their desired outcomes, thereby meeting their needs and improving or maintaining their wellbeing.

The presentation further outlined the strengths based approach to care which was received well by Members.   The consensus of the Board was that the concept was good and people would be seen for who they were and what they were about, as opposed to just being service users.  It was also noted that if the approach led to strengthening communities and prevention of ill health then this would form an important element of the Early Help Strategy.   

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be received.