The StACC model is built on learning from earlier Supported Self-Management (“SSM”) interventions and programmes designed for people with Long Term Health Conditions, such as Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Programme Model, the Department of Health’s Expert Patient Programme, and the Health Foundation’s Co-Creating Health Programme (Health Foundation, 2007-2012).

In general, Supported Self-Management Programmes can take a variety of forms and can be condition-specific or focused on addressing specific problems such as managing fatigue, pain, etc. This was the case, for example, with the Stanford model, the Expert Patient Programme, and in groups involved in the Co-creating Health Self-Management Programme. Many self-management programmes aim to build knowledge, skills and confidence by teaching patients about their health condition or symptom and supporting them to self-manage more effectively.

The StACC model evolved most directly out of the Health Foundation’s Co-creating Health Self-Management Programme (“SMP”) and a number of NHS pilot services that KYOH was involved with and that followed from 2013. The model is now being used across England by many of the new Health and Wellbeing Coaches introduced into Primary Care in 2020 as part of NHSE’s Personalised Care agenda.

The model focuses solely on what is important to the individual and supports them to achieve it, irrespective of any specific health condition or symptoms. This approach supports patients to take ownership and control and, in the process, supports them to develop their own knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing. 

From the patient’s perspective, the StAC Conversation is an experiential intervention that taps into the patient’s own resources, enabling them to become aware of their own ability to positively affect, or even drive, their own health, wellbeing, and general life outcomes. It is most effectively delivered as an individual one-to-one intervention as it is highly personalised and wholly focused on what is important to the individual at that time: Coaching is focused on where the patient is ‘right now’ and how they would like to move forward.