Unit information: Personalisation in Practice: Health and Social Care in 2013/14

Unit name	Personalisation in Practice: Health and Social Care
Unit code	ACHSM0008
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Heslop
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	ACHSM0001 Inclusive Research with Disabled People & ACHSM0002 Citizenship and Participation
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit was originally devised in response to student requests, and particularly addresses and critiques issues in health and social care, as well as offering perspectives on the international issues of personalisation in Health and Social Care.

Personalisation is the current government approach to the delivery of social care in England. It is also a philosophy that underpins changes in the provision of welfare services across the world. At its essence, it means putting the “service user” in control and thoughtfully building supports around them, rather than slotting people into existing services. The “Personalisation Agenda” was a three-year programme of change that the English government initiated in 2008 (DoH, 2008). The current coalition government has made clear its commitment to a more personalised approach to health and social care.

The purpose of this unit is to review and discuss the latest evidence on these changes, to explore and critique concepts of personalisation, and to reflect on the changes and positive actions that will need to ensue. It builds on research at Norah Fry Research Centre (for instance, Office for Disability Issues, 2011; Mind, 2009). The unit will guide students in discovering ways of thinking which allow them to make sense of some of the changes and critically evaluate some of the issues that the personalisation agenda brings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

• Describe and synthesize the societal forces and discourses which underpin changes in social, health care and education.

• Analyse and explain the implications of these changes for particular roles.

• Explore the meanings of person-centredness.

• Identify and evaluate what research has shown so far about the implications of personalisation.

Teaching Information

The unit will be delivered by a combination of methods of teaching. There will be presentations and discussion, to explore and critique the social model, social inclusion, and the evaluation of research evidence. Importantly, these methods will be combined with participatory methodologies which, as far as possible, mirror the topic of the unit, including the input of co-tutors who are disabled people. The sessions will also include small group work, discussion and practical exercises.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment: 4000 word essay (100%), in which students will be expected to demonstrate that they can:

• Describe and synthesize the societal forces and discourses which underpin changes in social, health care and education.

• Analyse and explain the implications of these changes for particular roles.

• Explore the meanings of person-centredness.

• Identify and evaluate what research has shown so far about the implications of personalisation.

Students will report on a small practical or library-based investigation into an aspect of personalisation. Drawing on research evidence, students will be expected to demonstrate why the chosen topic is important for disabled people.

Reading and References

• Carr, S. (2010) Personalisation: a rough guide. London: SCIE

• Duffy, S. (2004) Keys to Citizenship: a guide to providing good support services for people with learning difficulties. Paradigm.

• Goodley, D. (2000) Self Advocacy and people with learning difficulties. Buckingham: Open University Press.

• Glasby, J. and Littlechild, R. (2009) Direct Payments and Personal Budgets: Putting Personalisation into Practice. Bristol: The Policy Press.

• Hunter, S. and Ritchie, P. (2007) Co-production and Personalisation in Social Care: Changing Relationships in the Provision of Social Care. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers: Research Highlights in Social Work Series.