Personalisation is now the basis for social care policy and is crucial to the government’s aim of focussing public services on what people want.

In 2007, Housing 21 embarked on a project exploring the impact of personalisation on older people’s housing. A report on the final stage of that project - Building Choices Part 2: Getting Personal – was published in June, 2009.

Discussions with older people as part of the study underlined that extra care and sheltered housing are valued by many older people who live there as they recognise the ‘added value’ of living in a community setting, improving wellbeing and combating social isolation.

Older people value choice but not always in the way that professionals imagine. Many saw choice as having a different range of activities rather than different care or support providers or managing services for themselves.

A widespread move from block commissioning where care is commissioned for a community of people to micro commissioning where individuals are expected to commission services themselves could undermine extra care housing.

The study recommends that now is a good time for housing providers to get involved and play a central rather than peripheral role in personalisation. Specialist providers have an important role in listening to older people, responding to their wishes, facilitating choice, and providing services they want and need.

Among the key actions identified for housing providers were the following:

• To be active in ‘taking their agenda’ to service commissioners and stressing the role of housing services in meeting broader personalisation goals.
• To ensure that the voices of older people are heard.
• To review the activities they offer to ensure a range of choices, again involving residents in this process.
• To ensure their operational policies and procedures are robust in preparation for personalisation.

Above all, the study reminds providers that all older people are different and a ‘one size fits all approach’ should not be assumed. They need to offer a range of options for service provision and guidance for those who do choose to take more control over their support.

A copy of Building Choices Part 2: Getting Personal can be found on the Housing 21 website at www.housing21.co.uk.