Public health strategic planning demands an understanding of the current health needs of your population, predicting their future needs, deciding the most effective allocation of resources and monitoring their effectiveness. Options UK specialises in conducting local health needs assessments; one of the critical World Class Commissioning competencies. We draw together data on population demographics, conduct lifestyle surveys on behaviours, determine factors influencing health inequalities, identify condition prevalence trends and recommend improvements in care pathways.
In 2007, Options UK published a How To Guide for Sexual Health Needs Assessments – commissioned
by the NHS National Support Teams for Sexual Health and Teenage Pregnancy. Since then, our work has expanded beyond that to conduct needs assessments focused on:
- Maternal and child health
- Young people
- Children with complex needs
- Marginalised and excluded groups (such as the homeless, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups, and black and minority ethinic communities)
Options UK can:
- Conduct a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) to demonstrate a full working understanding of the current and future local population’s health and well-being needs, especially relating to relative inequalities in health outcomes and experience
- Provide comprehensive mapping of local service configuration
- Map and identify areas of greatest need and relatively poorest health and well-being access and outcomes
- Conduct public and patient engagement to understand local needs and future service preferences.
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