Key information about an individual’s condition
To be able to make a consistent and fair decision, you should have information about the individual’s condition that may include, but is not limited to:
- the type of condition
- the potential length of the condition, if it’s likely to improve or deteriorate
- common treatment pathways for the condition
- common symptoms related to the condition and ranges of severity
- areas of functional ability or parts of the body that may or may not be affected by the condition
Information on conditions
Information about conditions is available online to assist you:
- NHS choices website (Health A to Z - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- NHS inform website (NHS inform - Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform_
Operational guidance on specific conditions and disabilities is also available at:
(link to guidance)
Take a person-centred approach to needs
You should apply this information and take a person-centred approach to the individual’s needs.
Every individual’s experience of their condition and symptoms may be different.
Example: an individual reports that they have long-standing back pain, for which they receive treatment and support.
In daily living component activity 1 (preparing food) they state that they require the use of a stool (an aid).
The case manager uses the decision-making guidance to decide that the requirement for a stool when cooking is consistent with back pain. This informs their decision when choosing the correct descriptor.
Consider treatments and therapies
You should understand the treatment and therapies, or lack of treatment and therapies, an individual may have.
The relationship between treatment and therapies and likely severity of symptoms may be considered. An individual receiving no treatment or therapies may experience severe symptoms.
Treatment and therapies and levels of each may help you in building a clear picture of an individual’s lived experience of their condition or disability.
Example: an individual reports that due to severe back pain they are unable to walk
They have had no diagnostic tests and have only seen their GP.
The individual’s needs may appear inconsistent with the level of input in terms of tests and treatment.
There could be a range of reasons for this, and the case manager would not be able to make a fair and informed decision without more information.
The case manager notes the apparent inconsistency and arranges a case discussion with a practitioner.