Public have their say on personaliation

People wanting to find out more about ‘personalisation’ have taken part in what has been described as an “interesting” event aimed at engaging members of the public on issues and concerns regarding the subject.

Forty people attended the event, where a presentation called ‘Putting People First’ was delivered by Colin Foster, Director of Older People and Physical Disabilities and Jane Ashton: Head of Access and Enablement for Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.

The presentation set out RMBC’s vision for the borough’s Adult Care Services, the personalisation of adult care services, the progress that the council has made so far and targets for 2011. The attendees were then invited to ask questions.

Following the presentation an interactive survey took place using electronic ‘Ask the Audience’ equipment kindly loaded to Voices 4 Wellbeing by the NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Primary Care Trust.

The main findings were that: 

• Much more information is needed around personalisation - who it is for and how it can be accessed
• Personalisation needs to be easily accessible
• Support should be made available for vulnerable people, particularly around money management and identifying needs
• More engagement and consultation work should be carried out to help ensure that personalisation meets the needs of individuals living in the Rochdale Borough 

The event was hosted by Voices 4 Wellbeing and was planned in partnership with Rochdale and District Disability Action Group (RADDAG), Rochdale Boroughwide User Forum, Mind, Advocacy in Mind, Partnership for Older People’s Project (POPPs), Alzheimer’s Society, Rochdale Carer’s Association, NHS Heywood, Middleton & Rochdale Primary Care Trust and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council.