Challenges facing domiciliary care agencies delivering person centred care

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to highlight the benefits of the 360 SF diagnostic audit for assessing person centeredness of a domiciliary agency and to highlight the challenges they face with some suggested actions. These are exemplars of what is raised in policy and recent reports relating to personalisation, dignity and integration of health and social care and have wider implications for all agencies as they strive to resolve issues for the client.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is a case study describing results of the audit in relation to challenges that include practice development needs, inter agency co‐ordination, collaboration and co‐operation for the achievement of relationship based person centered outcomes in quality improvement work. The pilot study involved data gathered from the clients, relatives and staff, which were analyzed resulting in findings, conclusions and suggestions for ongoing improvement from which action plans were devised and implemented.

Findings

The audit results provide examples of the primary interface relationship and co‐ordination challenges, highlighting leaning needs for staff delivering person centred care in domiciliary settings.

Practical implications

This paper raises important practice development issues both inside and outside the agency's responsibility. Use of the tool would support cultural and interface relationship issues affecting the client experience and highlight ways to assist the achievement of collaborative ways of working needed for the integration of health and social care.

Social implications

The 360 SF (DS) can help organisations provide evidence to CQC and the public for their performance and identify the close interface relationships and their effectiveness in delivering co‐ordinated and integrated health and social care.

Originality/value

The 360 SF DOM has highlighted with evidence the challenges of the systemic culture at the interface, in particular the nature and quality of collaboration, communication and practice development needs across the organisational divide to deliver person centred care and support.

Citation

Duff OBE, P. and Hurtley, R. (2012), "Challenges facing domiciliary care agencies delivering person centred care", Working with Older People, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/13663661211231800