Service users, family and staff across North Lanarkshire are being encouraged to have a ‘What matters to you?’ conversation.
Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire (HSCNL) is participating in the international What Matters To You? Day, with awareness raising activities being held across mental health and learning disability services. The aim is create more meaningful conversations between those who provide and receive health and social care all year round.
Staff are joining colleagues from across 11 countries – as widespread as New Zealand and Canada – in a bid to improve health and social care by really understanding the important things in people’s lives.
Karen McCaffrey, associate nurse director for mental health and learning disabilities, HSCNL, said: “What Matters to You Day is very important in helping us to have conversations with service users and their loved ones.
“Our staff have embraced it as it really is a wonderful opportunity for service users to talk with staff – and with their loved ones – to really understand the huge benefits of person-centred care.
“We know from experience – and growing international evidence – that focusing on what really matters to people can play a large part in the quality and effectiveness of their care.
“This type of approach can help staff and patients in a range of ways. It helps to establish a relationship, but it also helps staff to understand the person and the things that are most important to them. As a result, staff are in a much better position to work with the person to find the best way forward for them.
“When you have this type of conversation about the things that really matter to people it helps our staff do their job more effectively and it helps the person to live the sort of life that is meaningful and fulfilling for them.
“Asking ‘What matters to you?’ is becoming one of the fundamental questions we ask our service users. Shared decision-making is a two-way relationship of helping people to reflect on, and express, their preferences based on their personal circumstances, expectations, beliefs and values.”
