For Professionals: Integrating HCC into your clinical pathway
Integrating Health Connect Coaching (HCC) within your clinical pathway allows Volunteer Health Connect Coaches to work alongside your team, supporting patients to develop the skills and confidence to manage their long-term health condition more effectively.
Having trained volunteer coaches as part of your service can help to:
- increase clinical capacity
- reduce waiting times
- enhance patient engagement and self-management
- encourage people to put into practice the professional advice already provided by your team
Your volunteer coaches will be patients or former patients who are successfully managing their own condition. You will identify potential volunteers, who will then be recruited, trained and supported by the HCC team before returning to work within your service. Once embedded, they will receive ongoing support and supervision from an appropriate member of your team.
The individuals receiving coaching (peers) will typically be current patients or those approaching discharge, who could benefit from additional support to move forward with their self-management.
Your knowledge of your patients’ conditions and progress will help you ensure making the best possible match between volunteer coaches and peers.
The integrated coaching model follows a tapered approach (weekly, fortnightly, then monthly sessions) — typically 1 to 12 sessions over 3 to 4 months. However, this can be adapted to meet the needs of your service and patient population.
To find out more or to arrange a discussion with our team, please contact us at Health Connect Coaching coordinators or call 07825 792847.