The role of leaders and decision makers in supporting self management

The Health and Social Care Alliance (Scotland) Self Management team has been delivering Self Management Reflective Practice (SMRP) sessions for health and social care front line staff  for six years. The course was designed with people living with chronic conditions and their families, and have proven to increase understanding of self management principles and how to best adopt these in practice. This in turn has had positive outcomes for the people participants support.

The sessions, delivered in workshop format, build on real experiences of people living with chronic conditions and their families - what matters to them and what they would like from professionals to support their self management.

During these interactive sessions participants share the enablers to embedding a self management approach and the challenges they face and solutions they have identified to overcome these. Through the use of case studies and experiences shared, participants are supported to reflect on how they utilise their existing skills, knowledge and resources, to explore what they could do differently and what they feel are the key components required to embed a self management approach within the areas they work.

Each session ends with a call to action where participants commit to make one positive change in their practice or workplace which will enhance their ability to better support people to live the best life they can.  

Learning has highlighted the importance a positive workplace culture and strong leadership plays in supporting self management.

This has led to a Self Management Reflective Practice (SMRP) session specifically designed for leaders and decision makers which gives them the opportunity to reflect on their own practice and role. With facilitators sharing the learning from the past six years, participants gain insights into the influence attitudes, resources, structures and processes can have on service delivery and self management. Through facilitated discussions they are supported to consider what they are  currently doing to support self management within their own workplaces and teams, and what they could be doing differently to ensure supportive working environments.

As with the SMRP sessions for front line staff, this is delivered in workshop format with opportunities for smaller group discussions throughout the 90 minutes. It is interactive with the emphasis on sharing learning and an opportunity for reflection.

Key messages include:

Everyone working across health and social care has a role to play in supporting self management,

Strong supportive leadership and positive work cultures are fundamental in supporting self management,

Supported self management enables people to live the best life they can.