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Fife Health and Social Care Partnership’s Director, Michael Kellet talks about ‘What Matters to You?’ day, and how it can help to improve health and social care.
The ethos and meaning of ‘What Matters to You?’ day sits right at the heart of what health and social care is all about. One simple question can make such a difference to the experience and support a person receives.
Across Fife, health, social care and partners in the Third and Independent sector are getting behind this international campaign to bring home how powerful this question can be as we aim to fully involve people in the decisions that impact on them.
Now, it’s not to say many of our colleagues don’t do this already. Many do, every day of the week, but we need to be conscious that as we juggle our daily pressures, it is a reminder that we must never lose site of the person. Small things can make a huge difference.
What Matters to You day is an opportunity to shine a light on the great work frontline staff do every day, 365 days a week and don’t think anything of it.
In Fife, there are many examples where asking What Matters To You has changed people’s lives: a carer who went from just ‘surviving’ to stating ‘a light had gone on in a very dark tunnel’. A young adult who felt he had been really listened to for the first time, an 86 year old man with dementia who’s learning to swim and re-connecting with his local community to lift him out of isolation and improve his wellbeing.
If the Partnership were a stick of rock we’d want the words ‘What Matters To You?’ to run right through it. This is our goal as we move forward and should be the start of every conversation.
Connecting with people and connecting with local communities is already underway as we look to change the way we work as partners and transform and improve services. This builds on the two years of engagement with public, partners and representatives to create our three year Strategic Plan.
On the 6th June itself we have hundreds of colleagues registered to take part from ward nurses, home carers, night shift workers and receptionists. I’m delighted we’ve seen such a great take up. Look out for stories on www.fifehealthandsocialcare.org Fife Council and NHS Fife Facebook pages and my Twitter page Michael Kellet @FifeHSCP
~ Michael Kellet, Director of Fife Health and Social Care Partnership