Somerset Council’s innovative work to provide care in a more efficient way without compromising on quality has been recognised nationally.
The practice, known as Optimal Handed Care, uses equipment and specific techniques to assist care workers when they are providing moving and handling support, meaning that caring activities which may previously have required two or more care workers only require one.
Somerset’s population is ageing at a faster rate than is the case nationally, with projections suggesting that by 2036 just over a third of the population in Somerset will be aged 65 or over. Meanwhile, Somerset’s working age population is set to decrease.
With this being known, innovations in care practice such as Optimal Handed Care which are not dependent on multiple people delivering care for one person are now perceived as having more longevity than traditional care practices.
Councillor Sarah Wakefield, Lead Member for Adult Social Care at Somerset Council said:
Optimal Handed Care is all about finding more efficient ways to provide care and support without losing any quality of the care. One of its many benefits is it enables people to be actively involved in their own care which promotes their independence and, in turn, increases their wellbeing.”
“In Somerset, we’re keen to push back on the historic idea that people with complex needs cannot retain their independence when it comes to their own care. We believe that working with people on a case-by-case basis to determine the care that works best for them is the best way to keep, and even increase, their independence whilst also helping people to retain their dignity.”
“I am so proud that Somerset is leading the way for other Local Authorities who are exploring Optimal Handed Care.”
Nigel Pluckrose, an Occupational Therapist at Somerset Council, leads on the Optimal Handed Care programme in Somerset and has set up and co-chairs the Southwest Optimal Care Network. In the summer, Nigel was invited to attend an interview session as part of the recent Royal College of Occupational Therapists Annual Conference with fellow lead therapists where he shared the developments in Somerset so far.
The full interview is available here and a shorter excerpt is available here.
