1.1 Wellbeing Principle

1. Introduction

This policy statement sets out Lancashire County Council’s broad responsibilities for promoting the of specific individuals, as well as the wider community in Lancashire when undertaking any of its functions relating to the Care Act 2014.

2. The Legal Framework

The Care Act 2014, Section 1, introduced the core principle that local authorities must promote wellbeing when carrying out any of their care and support functions in respect of a person. This is sometimes be referred to as “the wellbeing principle” because it is the guiding principle that puts wellbeing at the heart of care and support.

Although the wellbeing principle applies specifically when Lancashire County Council performs an activity or task, or makes a decision, in relation to a person, the principle should also be considered when Lancashire County Council is undertaking broader, strategic functions, such as planning, which are not specific to one individual. As such, “wellbeing” should be seen as the common theme around which care and support is built at local and national level.

The wellbeing principle applies equally to those who do not have eligible needs but who come into contact with health and social care agencies in some other way (for example, via an assessment that does not lead to ongoing care and support) as it does to those who go on to receive care and support, and have an ongoing relationship with Lancashire County Council. The principle should inform the delivery of universal services, such as shopping delivery services and community centres, which are provided to all people in the local population, as well as being considered when meeting eligible needs.

The wellbeing principle applies in all cases where Lancashire County Council is carrying out a care and support function, or making a decision, in relation to a person. It applies equally to adults with care and support needs and their carers.

In some specific circumstances, it also applies to children, their carers and to young carers when they are subject to transition assessments.

The requirement to promote wellbeing, does not require Lancashire County Council to undertake any particular action. The steps taken will depend entirely on the circumstances. The principle as a whole is not intended to specify the activities which should take place. Instead, their purpose is to set common expectations for how Lancashire County Council should approach and engage with people.

3. Policy Aim

The aim of this policy is that, when undertaking any care or support functions, Lancashire County Council will consider an individual’s wellbeing and acknowledge that the individual themselves is best placed to judge their own wellbeing.

4. Promoting wellbeing in Lancashire  

When undertaking its work, Lancashire County Council will consider how to promote wellbeing. This will involve actively seeking improvements in the aspects of wellbeing when carrying out a care and support function in relation to an adult or carer, at any stage of the process, from the provision of information and advice to reviewing a care and support plan.

Lancashire County Council can promote a person’s wellbeing in many ways. This will be dependent on the circumstances, including the person’s needs, goals and wishes, and how these impact on their wellbeing. The Care Act does not require a specific approach, it advocates that local authorities should consider each case on its own merits, consider what the person wants to achieve, and how the action which the local authority takes may affect the individual wellbeing.

In individual cases, it is likely that some aspects of wellbeing will be more relevant to the person than others. For example, for some people the ability to engage in work or education will be a more important outcome than for others, and in these cases “promoting their wellbeing” effectively may mean taking particular consideration of this aspect. Lancashire County Council will adopt a flexible approach that allows for a focus on which aspects of wellbeing matter most to the adult concerned.

During the assessment process, Lancashire County Council will explicitly consider the most relevant aspects of wellbeing to the adult concerned and assess how their needs impact on them. Taking this approach will allow for the assessment to identify how care and support, or other services or resources in the local community, could help the person to achieve their outcomes.

During care and support planning, when agreeing how needs are to be met, promoting the person’s wellbeing may mean making decisions about particular types or locations of care (for instance, to be closer to family).

4.1 Other Key Principles

In addition to the general principle of promoting wellbeing, there are a number of other key principles which Lancashire County Council must have regard to when carrying out the its adult social care activities or functions:

1. The assumption that the adult is best placed to judge their own wellbeing. Building on the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, Lancashire County Council will assume that the person themselves is best placed to know their own outcomes, goals and wellbeing, and will not make assumptions as to what matters most to the person.
2. Ensure the adult’s views, wishes, feelings and beliefs are central. Considering the person’s views and wishes is critical to a person-centred system. Lancashire County Council will not ignore or downplay the importance of a person’s own opinions in relation to their life and their care. Where particular views, feelings or beliefs (including religious beliefs) impact on the choices that a person may wish to make about their care, these will be taken into account. This is especially important where a person has expressed views in the past, but no longer has capacity to make decisions themselves.
3. The importance of preventing or delaying the development of needs for care and support and the importance of reducing needs that already exist. At every interaction with a person, Lancashire County Council will consider whether or how the person’s needs could be reduced or other needs could be delayed from arising. Effective interventions at the right time can stop needs from escalating, and help people maintain their independence for longer.
4. The need to ensure that decisions are made having regard to all the adult’s circumstances (and are not based only on their age or appearance, any condition they have, or any aspect of their behaviour which might lead others to make unjustified assumptions about their wellbeing). Lancashire County Council will not make judgments based on preconceptions about the person’s circumstances but will in every case work to understand their individual needs and goals.
5. The importance of the adult participating as fully as possible in decisions about them and being provided with the information and support necessary to enable them to participate. Care and support should be personal, and Lancashire County Council should not make decisions from which the adult is excluded.
6. The importance of achieving a balance between the adult’s wellbeing and that of any friends or relatives who are involved in caring for them. Adults should be considered in the context of their families and support networks, not in isolation. Lancashire County Council should take into account the impact of an adult’s need on those who support them and take steps to help others access information or support.
7. The need to protect people from abuse and neglect. In any activity which Lancashire County Council undertakes, it will consider how to ensure that the person is and remains protected from abuse or neglect. This is not confined only to safeguarding issues but should be a general principle applied in every case.
8. The need to ensure that any restriction on an adult’s rights or freedom of action is kept to the minimum necessary. Where Lancashire County Council has to take actions which restrict rights or freedoms, they will ensure that the course followed is the least restrictive necessary.

Considering these matters should lead to an approach that looks at a person’s life in the round, considering their needs in the context of their skills, ambitions, and priorities, as well as the other people in their life and how they can support the person in meeting the outcomes they want to achieve. The focus should be on supporting people to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

5. Definition of Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a broad concept, and it is described as relating to the following areas in particular:

• personal dignity (including treatment of the adult with respect).
• physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• protection from abuse and neglect.
• control by the adult over day to day life (including over the care and support provided and the way it is provided).
• participation in work, education, training or recreation.
• social and economic wellbeing.
• domestic, family and personal relationships.
• suitability of living accommodation.
• the adult’s contribution to society.

These aspects of wellbeing or outcomes are set out in the Care Act and are most relevant to people with care and support needs and carers. There is no hierarchy, and all should be considered of equal importance when considering ‘wellbeing’.

 5.1 Assessment  

See also Assessment of Needs policy.

Assessment is one of the key interactions between a local authority and an individual. The process must be person-centred throughout, involving the person and supporting them to have choice and control. It starts from when a local authority begins to collect information about the person and will be an integral part of the person’s journey through the care and support system as their needs change.

An assessment must seek to establish the total extent of needs before the local authority considers the person’s eligibility for care and support and what types of care and support can help to meet those needs.

A carer can also have an assessment. See Carer’s Assessments policy.

5.2 Needs  

A person’s needs are specific to them, these can include help and support required by the individual due to illness, disability, old age that enables them to live more independently. There are many ways in which needs can be met, behind the Care Act is the intention to encourage diversity rather than point to a service or solution that is neither best for nor what the person wants.