Personalisation is a key concept which is driving the future of health and social care in Coventry but potentially will impact upon other services provided or funded by Coventry City Council, and so needs to be firmly on the radar of all organisations working with the Council.

On Friday March 5th over 100 care professionals gathered at the University of Warwick for a stimulating day of presentations and debate at "Building Coventry's Vision for Personalisation" as the first of two March events held by Coventry City Council.

Brian Walsh, Director of Community Services, outlined how personalisation would be delivered in practice and what the outcomes will be, explaining:

"We will directly support, or influence others, to enable every adult to have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life based on their individual choices and aspirations."

Workshop sessions covered:

• Promoting the Independence Framework which outlined the customer's journey, via direct payments to managing care

• Market Management on how Commissioners and Providers can prepare for personalisation and the consequential organisational changes

• How to introduce choices and control for all while safeguarding individuals and anticipating safeguarding changes that personalisation will bring

• The service user perspective was delivered by Simon Stevens, Independent Disability Consultant and Trainer, who has been employing personal assistants since 1992 and participated in the Individualised Budget Pilot.

All speaker and workshop presentations are accessible by visiting www.socialcarelearningforum.org

Please register interest in attending future personalisation events to patsy.watson@coventry.gov.uk

Support Coventry's vision by becoming a Dignity Champion at www.dhcarenetworks.org.uk/dignityincare

Voluntary Action Coventry will be continuing the personalisation debate with a specialist seminar solely for voluntary sector providers on 21 April through our Voluntary Sector Market Development Programme. We would appreciate hearing about our members' experience of, and views on, personalisation to date and any related issues or developments. You can speak to or e-mail Steve, Rob, Penny or Harjeet at any point, in addition to taking part in the VAC event. You can reserve your place at the VAC event by e-mailing Harjeet at h.matharu@vacoventry.org.uk