Real Mission Care works on the basis of paying attention not only to the individual’s wellbeing but also the way this is linked to the wider socio-economic and environmental context. For example the physical environment and deteriorations in that environment can pose health risks for the individual. By working in ways that are sustainable and that contribute to the green economy we not only empower the individual to accumulate health gains by sustaining independent living, we also provide benefit to the wider environment in which they live. For instance, strolling and cycling promote wellbeing while simultaneously decreasing carbon emissions that cause climate change. Another example is gardening clubs associated which elderly individuals can participate in whilst continuing to live at home; this not only helps them to remain physically active, it also promotes social interaction and helps provide nutritious, fresh, cost-effective and low-carbon source neighbourhood produce for their kitchens.
We outline below a few of the initiatives we are using to improve health as well as guarantee sustainable economic balance by encouraging communities to adopt and implement more locally based health and social care solutions.
- Real Mission Care aims to contribute towards reducing wellbeing inequalities and establishing sustainable care pathways. We seek coordinated social, financial and environmental solutions to accomplish a clear and measurable long term results. At the same time we will ensure we have in place the necessary resources to guarantee the short term viability of the project as well as its long term sustainability.
- Supporting and empowering individuals to improve their own wellbeing and prosperity so they can live healthy longer lives will always be the focus of our work. Administrative efficiency should never take priority over, or in any way compromise, the needs of those individuals; our services should remain user friendly and accessible for all. For instance, replacing individuals with technology in an ‘Advice Service’ setting may seem to connect with individuals at a far lower cost but for many individuals the ‘Advice Service’ may have been one of their few opportunities for social connection.
- Real Mission Care guarantees that each encounter with the individual will be constructive by treating them with dignity and respect and by making that individual’s needs and wishes the focal point of the service; this approach will also ensure the personal satisfaction levels of those who utilize our services are maintained and improved and we measure this through regular feedback. We support all of our service users – including those who are frail and isolated – to live full and independent lives in accordance with their own priorities. We aim to make our services sustainable and community based and to maintain a focused outlook which can tackle the underlying drivers of socio-economic and environmental change and we are constantly seeking new ways of doing this. We believe a wider community and environmental focus although it may appear more resource intensive to begin with will help avoid more intractable and costly problems further down the line.
- We help and encourage family members and others involved in the day to day care and support of our clients to also take care of themselves; to reduce the extent to which their role as carers might impact negatively on their own health and wellbeing and financial stability. One important way of doing this is to foster sustainable community links and networks in ways in which both carer and service user can be fully involved. Such approaches must be outcomes based and inclusive taking the views of service users and other stakeholders fully into account.
- We are committed to a multi-agency approach in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our service users with a focus on maintaining their human rights.
- We create and maintain the conditions for employees to access regular (and instantly accessible) support and supervision so that they can carry out their work of providing care and treatment viably and effectively.