Self management is the transformation we need

Why self management is the transformational change needed within our health care services, from the Nursing Transformation Lead at NHSGGC.

With self management the focus is on the individual, their values, beliefs and experiences, not on their conditions. This supports the individuals to become active managers of their own health and lives, encouraging them to access information to have the knowledge to self-assess and make informed decisions, and develop their own goals.

For the health and social care professional, self management is when their focus is to ensure the individual has the knowledge, skills, confidence and support they need to manage their health effectively in their day-to-day living. Evidence has shown that by self managing, the individual does enjoy better outcomes that are important to them, socially and clinically (Health Foundation 2018).

There is a growing evidence base which strongly suggests when health and social care professionals support self management within routine health care, this has improved patient outcomes. Also, professionals working within health and social care advise they have greater satisfaction with their practice, as the individual is more prepared to commit to self management. Effectively supporting self management is a shift for the professional from ‘fixer’ to ‘enabler’, with the individual taking the lead. Also, appropriate services can be then implemented in a more cost-effective way, as the individual engages.

Not to be taken lightly, an awareness that the individuals’ willingness to engage can be effected by the relationship with the professional (Effective Practitioner).

So, when the ALLIANCE first brought the information regarding their Self Management Reflective Practice Sessions to our team, we were intrigued. For many years primary care practitioners have been encouraging people to be aware of and understand the effects of anything we do to our bodies, and thus would enable them to take control of their health with informed choices and self-satisfaction. So any educational session which would encourage the practitioner to be competent in promoting self management is positive step forward.

Our session was well attended, with a variety of professionals from primary care and social care attending. It was relaxed, with the overarching aim advised from the start. The ALLIANCE staff were very professional and quietly encouraging everyone to participate.

The session was very interactive, encouraged discussion among the participants regarding where they felt they could possibly change their ways of working to the individuals’ benefit, and overall a motivating morning. The aims and objectives were clear, with the main aim encouraging participants to look at individuals in a different angle by listening to their needs and encouraging them to take responsibility and empower them with increased knowledge and understanding, with the participants being a source of information to individuals and their families or carers and able to offer up-to-date expert advice, support, links for them to be able to look after their health with a long term condition.

We discussed the importance and need for self management and thus need for change within health and social care; we looked at ways this could be implemented including services that could be engaged to support self-care, and ways to positively encourage self management.

Self management is not leaving the individual to do it themselves but a collaboration between them, their families or/and carers and the professional to ultimately improve their lives in a way they wish to engage with.

The takeaway from the session was positive vibe from all the participants, who were keen to take this forward. Chronic disease management of long term conditions is an integral part of a nurse in practice’s role and encouraging an individual to look after themselves better is a huge undertaking but so rewarding for the professional when an individual engages and takes control, even in a small way, to care for themselves. Nationally supporting self management is part of implementing health and social care policies across the UK and the transformational change needed within our health care services.

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