Evidencing that it works Capturing carers’ personal outcomes in Midlothian Eibhlin McHugh, Director of Communities and Wellbeing, Midlothian Council Julie Gardner, VOCAL

Carer as partners in Midlothian Carers Action Midlothian Carer led and linking to carer groups Carers Strategic Planning Group Representation from all partners Other planning groups eg. Change Fund

Caring Together in Midlothian Local Carers’ Strategy  Developed through the planning structure outlined and taking a whole systems approach – everything from short breaks to employability and income maximisation  Key commitment in the strategy is to have an overarching personal outcomes framework to measure impact, alongside SMART objectives  Not enough to count activities/interventions need to understand what impact they have on carers

Capturing carers’ personal outcomes Conversations with carers  Shifting from carers’ assessments to conversations with carers, having the right conversations with carers is fundamental to this process  Supporting staff to have the right conversations - Permission to do so - Training and reflection  Looking at the systems around the practice  Building this into strategic planning and thinking

Capturing carers’ personal outcomes So what are we doing?  Realise this is a change process which will take time, work includes:  Training programme for staff – team leaders and front line practitioners  Different model for Short Breaks Bureau – building practitioners’ capacity to create short breaks  Work with Care at Home providers

Capturing carers’ personal outcomes So what are the challenges?  Recognising the challenges for professionals in moving from process driven to focus on personal outcomes  What is a social work intervention?  Whole systems change which will take time and commitment to achieve

VOCAL – key lessons after 4 years of implementation…  The outcomes approach has involved a major shift in practice – shifting the focus from tasks/resources to focus on what we are trying to change  Supporting this change in practice is crucial – training, team meetings and supervision  Revisiting and reinforcing communication skills is key to the shift as it is an approach based on capturing and reviewing outcomes through conversations with the carer  It is a whole systems change – managers, front line practitioners, data recording and analysis – so the systems have to support the change

VOCAL – key lessons after 4 years of implementation…  It is crucial to separate out the conversation from the recording tool – the recording tool should be used to record the salient points but is not the framework for the conversation  Engaging staff in ongoing debate and discussion is key as this creates a feedback loop for ongoing learning  It takes time, perseverance and commitment – we are still learning and improving – current focus is on data analysis  It works - for the carer, for the organisation and for joint planning

Personal outcomes and partnership working  Focus on personal outcomes has allowed us as a carer organisation to open up the conversation with carers and with other practitioners  Provides a shared language which can create a shared understanding  Creates a shared sets of outcomes to which the carer, and practitioners, working in partnership can contribute

The personal outcomes framework  Feeling valued and respected during their involvement in the planning and shaping of services and support whether through a carers assessment or through engagement in planning structures.  Being able to have a say in service planning and development whether through a carers' assessment or through engagement in planning structures.  That their expertise is recognised in service planning and development whether through a carers assessment or through engagement in planning structures.  Having positive relationships with practitioners and planners in service planning and development whether through a carers' assessment or through engagement in planning structures.

The personal outcomes framework  Being better informed about issues linked to their caring role.  Improved confidence in their ability to shape services and support.  Improved confidence in managing their caring role.  Improved physical and mental wellbeing  Improved confidence in their ability to deal with the changing relationships resulting from the caring role  Improved social wellbeing  Improved economic wellbeing  Improved personal safety in relation to their caring role