The Principles of wellbeing.

Even before the Care Act came in Social Care and associated business started developing services and calling them "wellbeing". The problem with this is now we seem to have a plethora of services all marketed as well-being but without knowing or understanding what it’s actually about.

The principle of wellbeing is detailed in the Care Act it’s not something that’s actually tangible it’s more of an idea or thought process we are asked to follow;

Wikipedia says a principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, but in this case i think not! Politically Government have stayed away from such things in the past principles by saying they don’t really mean anything i.e. section 1 of the Equality Act the principle of considering socio economic factors was removed as the government said it had no teeth no to it. So why did on the other hand the Government introduce under the Care Act with the “Well Being Principle”?

However generally this principle does seem in spirit to align with the independent Living ethos as promoted in the The idea is that if we can promote wellbeing in the first place we can stop a lot of issues from happening later. So for example using the argument for discharges from hospital, if you have a package of care there when you get out, to look after you and help you get on your feet, then there less likely you would need to spend more time in hospital and thus say have less falls after; thus  helping to reduce hospital bed times. In theory it’s good for that example. And short term intervention will help in some cases.

However a lot of disabilities aren’t going to get better, people have to live with them, and in a lot of cases there will be deterioration. I can’t at the moment see how this principle will help disabled people generally to stay out of hospital or using less services.

So let’s follow the thinking behind the principle which according to the act is a general duty i.e. the authority must promote the wellbeing of an individual; When you consider this you have to expand your thinking to include wellbeing to mean a list of things; personal dignity, physical, mental health, safeguarding day to day control, Socio economic factors, relationships, suitability of accommodation and contribution to society.

The way it’s supposed to work is rather than developing services, when put against or next to a 'need' as defined by the Care Act, it should act as a check and balance approach.  So if my need is to help get washed this will improve my wellbeing in that it will help me maintain my personal dignity and say relationships. Thus we don’t really need wellbeing services what we do require is our needs to be met. If the needs are met then they should automatically align with a need.

So all these groups and organisations who seem to go out and carry out “wellbeing assessments”, need to be very careful in ensuring that the assessments they are carrying out do not cross over to the remit of an Adults Social Care Assessment which is a very legal and different thing. I think it’s imperative that people who receive “wellbeing assessments” are told exactly what they are and that they are still entitled to a full needs assessment, if they require one. It should not be considered a substitute or used as a cost saving measure.

As mentioned above when it comes to principles i.e. socio economic factors was removed from the Equality Act by this government, yet here it is again! In the future no doubt someone will consider the measures of austerity as having a negative effect on the socio economic factors principle of wellbeing.

It seems unfortunately that under the hurry to jump on the band wagon and be hip with the latest terminology we have created something a service which in effect isn’t needed. Or at the best not understood. We need to ensure that if we concentrate on meeting “need” as defined under the Act, wellbeing will naturally take care of itself.