CSP welcomes Scotland’s new person-centred strategy for rehabilitation

Rehabilitation and Recovery: A Once for Scotland Person-Centred Approach to Rehabilitation in a Post-COVID Era outlines a strategic approach that is based on six principles of good rehabilitation. These principles aim to support individuals to live well with long-term conditions and ensure that they can access rehabilitation that is personalised and outcome-focused.

Commenting on the strategy’s launch, Kenryck Lloyd-Jones, CSP public affairs and policy manager for Scotland, said:

This is an important step forward for rehabilitation in Scotland, but it must of course be set against the challenges of workforce and resources

‘The strategic paper retains the six principles of good rehabilitation, and recommendations to achieve change, including the establishment of a rehabilitation lead at both health board and health and social care partnerships (HSCP) level.’

In his introduction to the new ‘Once for Scotland’ strategy, Humza Yousaf, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care said: ‘Health and social care services across Scotland have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and rehabilitation is no different. Individuals are now emerging with increasingly complex physical and mental health needs that require rehabilitation.

Considering these challenges we need to take a whole systems approach to delivering rehabilitation across Scotland. To do this, we will support services to remain accessible, and encourage new and innovative service delivery.

‘This Once for Scotland approach is based on six principles of good rehabilitation. It addresses these challenges and supports the delivery and development of rehabilitation. The approach focuses on the individual and puts them at the centre of their rehabilitation, supporting their needs and timely access to the rehabilitation they may need.’

The six principles of good rehabilitation

The strategy’s six principles of good rehabilitation aim to provide a standard for rehabilitation services in Scotland and are intended to be used by services as a benchmarking tool.

The principles set out what is required to deliver holistic, flexible and person-centred rehabilitation to all patients. And each principle can be applied across all types of rehabilitation, as well as all health conditions and all circumstances in which an individual may require rehabilitation.

They are:

1. Easy to access for every individual
2. Provided at the right time
3. Realistic and meaningful to the individual
4. Integrated
5. Innovative and ambitious
6. Delivered by a flexible and skilled workforce

The Scottish government developed the principles in partnership with NHS boards, health and social care partnerships, leisure, third and independent sectors, and the National Advisory Board for Rehabilitation.

And rehabilitation services across Scotland are now being encouraged to use the principles to identify opportunities to test and scale up improvements at a local level.