Outcome Based Practice Essay

Outcome based practice is a process that has a beneficial impact on the individual’s life. It can be an action taken or a service delivered. Outcome based approaches place the needs of the individual at the center of the service they receive.
Outcome based practice is of growing importance in health and social care services. It ensures its service is personal centered to the individuals needs and enables staff to deliver the best care.
Outcome based care is described as putting the service user at the center of the care service and not prescribing a general service for everyone. It is about delivering high quality meaningful outcomes to every individual ensuring they live meaningful, fulfilling lives to their fullest potential. Outcome based

practice is the way in which we can empower staff to look at and encourage service users to take an active part in the delivery of their care. Empowering them to challenge their own abilities, learn, make informed choices and set achievable and measurable goals and acquire positive outcomes.
Outcomes are defined as the impact, or end-results, of services on a person’s life; therefore outcomes-focused services are those that aim to achieve the priorities that service users themselves identify as important.

As outcome-based practice is becoming more recognised it is critical to listen to the individual you are providing a care for and individualise this service to meet their needs. This mean you will need to develop person centered approaches to meet their needs this is all reflected in individuals care plans and this will deliver meaningful outcomes to each individual using your care service.
Results-based accountability - is defined as a management tool that can enable partnership working among care providers as a method of distributing services, and as an innovative regulatory process.
Outcome Management is the set of activities for the planning, managing, and realizing of the desired outcomes from initiatives.
The logic model for integrated care describes what good looks like, providing a visual representation of how a fully compliant service will run and the outcomes and benefits it should deliver for those who live within the service , and the providers of the service the long-term impacts and benefits of

this.
The recent changes and requirements to health care services based on person-centred planning is only one example of a new approach to positive outcomes for individuals using health care services and this is all reflected in CQC’s (Care Quality Commission) care guidelines.
Positive outcomes are based upon listening to the service user, recognizing and addressing their individual needs, their differing requirements in relation to aspects such as, social needs, cultural needs, emotional needs and spiritual/ intellectual well-being.
Needs-led approach was replaced by outcome based practice. They found that using needs-led approach it was highly subjective. Also that it concentrated on the immediate situation rather than the long term goal. It was a lot harder to evidence when things had been achieved as the needs on the individual changed over time and there was no marked point where they said work had been achieved. Outcome based approach makes it easier to identify and pin point when work has been achieved. With outcome based practice there is a goal in mind for the clients to work towards and they can monitor their own progress and feel in control of their care needs. Also reflect on failures and success. The role of the support worker is to support the client in achievement of their outcomes only
I use an outcome based approach within my job role, when supporting clients to achieve their goals. We do this in many ways. One way is when a client has their annual review. We discuss their goals for the future and put in place action plan for client to follow and staff to support. We use the person centered planning tools to shape the meeting ,collecting all staffs views and suggestions before the review and then looking at the data in the review , more recently I have chaired a person centered review , the resident in question is not verbal , and to ensure she had her views at the forefront of the meeting she attended with a ‘talking mat’ he ladt put her needs wants and wishes in symbol form on the mat for ever agenda item – she left the meeting by choice after 1 hour , but the input she had enabled the service user to participate in the planning and delivery of their care and support and furture plans.
Outcome based practice enables service users to have more control over their daily routine which enable them to have a sense of belonging knowing that their choices are respected and valued.
Funding arrangements need to be reconstructed in order to give service users’ greater flexibility, choice and control in designing their own support. This will also ensure that service users get value for money. This is better achieved in community support where the individual has their own support package with hour’s tailed to their need. Where in residential there are more restrictions as there may be one staff to support 4 or more clients.
Outcome based practice will only work well if service providers adapt and operate a more flexible approach to enable service users to have as much control as possible over the care and support they receive.
There’s a lot of legislation that refers to outcome based practice which have led to changes in health and social care. The Health and Social Care Act, Regulation of services by CQC, ( also the new regulations in April 2015 Fundamental Standards. Also The Green Paper 2009 and the White Paper 2010 re a national assessment of health and social care incorporating joined up working with all professionals and information, advice being more readily available which would illustrate what the outcomes were from an assessment, and what the advice was to ensure that the outcomes could be achieved and also what the plans were for the future.
The Equality Act 2010 re making it illegal for anyone to discriminate which makes it easier for everyone to gain employment and access services. Also The Codes of Practice for professionals in health and social care which you use and how these enforce any areas of inequalities and concerns so that they can be dealt with asap this would show that legislation is effective re outcomes based practice, that the outcomes are achievable and high standards are maintained.
The most challenging aspects of implementing a more outcome-based approach in the care service is that individuals using the care service have mental health, learning disabilities, schizophrenia, bi-polar etc. Due to their cognitive impairments it can be difficult to verbally express their preferred/required care needs and we have to lease with family and other health care professionals to put in place a high quality care package that we all feel meets the individual in our care needs.
The importance of effective relationships is key to delivery of care, In order to address conflicts or dilemmas, we usually use one to one discussions or group discussions, we need to meet and use the mca as guidance not just what each party feels is the best way forward.
During our handover at the start of our shiftS, we usually discuss problems or situations, either about clients or other staff members. Like for example, changes of routine to a particular client , what famliys have had input today and what messages or changes need relaying , We have an effective “whistle blowing” policy in place also so this open door policy is fluent throughout each and every day , ensuring the effective working relationships is not only for staff , but and familiys who wish to question practice or and professionals that may want to report any issues that have seen
To achieve an outcome we will need to support the team , seek advice from social workers and community professionals to be able to review the plans or goals in place , health and safety or the environment are protected and the mental health of residents is also supported where needed- when thinking about the outcomes focused approached , if staff didn’t feel confident to report , or the professionals involved didn’t visit or review any documentations the outcomes would become harder to achieve , this is why we have yearly reviews refocus days so we an establish how far plans have come and what direction the may be taking now .
Positive changes
As a manager I have an important role to ensure that resources in my service are used effectively to promote good health and healthy choices. It is important for every individual to maintain good health, I use resources in my service to ensure individuals have a healthy lifestyle by sticking to individuals personal dietary requirements for instance we have an individual who is diabetic type 2 we have this information in their care plan and follow a diet menu to ensure individual health needs are meet by not having too much sugary food but being provided with an adequate diet as most of our individuals in our care are unable to control this themselves we have to do this for them. Also staffs have had training in diabetes management. If the clients diabetes seems to plummet then we would contact their GP and ask , we also have a full mdt on site and have had to go through Dols and best interests to prevent the family members from bringing large amounts of sweets and chocolate .
Some clients struggle with their weight and one client who has previously has a recommendation to lose weight due to a weak heart at , We support him to plan his meals weekly and produce a visual menu for him to reference to, staff model this behavior with him and help him cook the meals using slimming world recipes and using the 5 a day method as well as ustilising the eat well plate.
All clients have been given a well eat plate leaflet which shows what you should have on your plate and how much. This is to encourage a healthy diet and portion size.
Due to the clients struggling with weight I attended a nutrition hydration and health heart course to educate myself. So I have the knowledge and have set up training days for the team, and used this to recommend to the other services within Hesley I have been facilitating this training and cascading information to the team.
Who will in turn support clients to understand a healthy balanced diet and support to achieve this , and this its self is a positive outcome .