Implementing collaborative care and support planning in Islington

Abstract

There is a scenario frequently used by visual comedians that opens with an older, infirm lady standing at a busy crossroads looking a little glum as she watches the traffic whizz past. Our hero (Benny Hill, Norman Wisdom), assuming that she is trying unsuccessfully to negotiate her way to the other side, takes her by the arm and merrily frogmarches her there. Setting her gently down and beaming at her, he stands back expecting grateful thanks. Instead, he is met with a barrage of abuse and repeated thwacks from her handbag and walking stick. The woman of course had had other intentions: she wanted to go across the other road or in the opposite direction, or she was standing waiting for her friend. Whatever the reason for her irritation, the point is — the last place she wanted to be was where she ended up. This story highlights the problems of well-meaning people (in our case care professionals) failing to take into account the real needs and goals of the people whom they are trying to help. It’s extraordinary in this day and age that …