Point de vue des personnes accompagnées par les ESSMS

Context 

This document forms the scientific basis for the multi-year work programme of the French National Authority for Health (HAS) entitled ‘Supporting social and medico-social establishments and services in gathering the views of the people they support’.

Gathering the views (experience and satisfaction) of the people supported is the first step towards ensuring their well-being. Expressing one's opinion and preferences is a fundamental right and is part of a comprehensive approach to promoting social justice that aims to recognise people's autonomy, abilities, experiences and knowledge. They are in the best position to express how they perceive the support they receive, what suits them and what they want.

Objectives 

This document aims to provide essential keys for effectively gathering and taking into account the views of the people receiving support by:

• Proposing an approach that is meaningful for everyone and avoiding stigmatisation and discrimination against the various people involved. This approach encourages us to:
  • Ask questions and reflect rather than setting a predetermined framework;
  • Articulating different perspectives for the benefit of the quality of life of the people being supported, but also of their professional and personal circles.
• Demonstrating the many advantages of gathering and taking into account the views of the people being supported, for themselves, their loved ones, professionals, governance bodies, and pricing and control authorities. Thus highlighting certain precautions to be taken into account;
• Presenting accessible and realistic methods, as well as diverse, concrete and illustrated resources so that everyone can learn about and take ownership of the elements in order to be actively involved throughout the process.

Target audience

It is aimed at:

• Professionals and governing bodies who support people in ESSMS (social and medical-social establishments and services);
• The people receiving support, so that they can fully participate in the process of gathering their views;
• Any other person or institution involved in this type of process.

Coming soon

• Transposition of scientific knowledge into various formats to facilitate access: FALC, plain language, for children, etc.
• Practical and organisational publications (people with neurocognitive disorders, in highly precarious situations, infants and young children, etc.)