Think Local Act Personal, an alliance of over 30 national social care partners, has launched a set of tools to help improve the provision of information and advice available in social care.
The first is an ‘Advice and information needs in adult social care' interactive map. This demonstrates people's typical journeys through the care system and identifies the "pinch points" where councils and other organisations need to improve the information and advice on offer to care users and their families.
The second tool is a social care jargon buster; a plain English guide to the 52 most commonly used, but little understood, social care words and phrases.
And finally, the initiative sets out a set of principles for how councils can provide high quality information and advice. The principles set out the main issues that councils need to consider when developing a comprehensive local care and support information and advice strategy.
Think Local Act Personal co-chairs Marjory Broughton and Clenton Farquharson said: "Unfortunately, many people who use care and support services and their carers are overwhelmed and confused by the information available.
"It can be complicated, full of jargon and may not be reliable. Good information and advice provided at the right time helps people to take control of their lives - it is at the very heart of personalised care."
