Social care services should give people more control, says NICE

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidance calling for local councils to give social care recipients more control over their own lives.

Advice from the regulator has called for staff to avoid making assumptions about a person's capacity to be in control of their own care, and to use communication aids – such as picture books, interpreters or independent advocates –  to help people express their views.

Additionally, authorities have been asked to involve people in decision-making outside of their direct care, such as giving them opportunities to sit on interview panels when recruiting and training staff, or accepting more advice from people currently using services.

The guidance – which applies to all areas where adults receive social care, including individual homes as well as residential care and community settings – also suggested that assistance should be provided to help people recruit suitable personal assistants to aid with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning or shopping.

Alice Maynard, chair of the group that developed the new guidelines, said: "Those of us who use social care services need them to be able to live an ordinary life. If services are not delivered well, our lives become difficult at best and worthless at worst."

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