Person-centered planning and support

Person-Centred Planning and Support

In the context of learning disabilities, person-centred planning is a set of approaches designed to assist someone to plan their life and supports.
It’s built upon the principle of respect for the individual’s values, preferences, and expressed needs.
It aims to promote personal growth, the pursuit of goals, and living life to the fullest extent possible.
Central to the process is upholding the person’s dignity, ensuring their safety, and providing them the freedom to make choices.

Person-centred planning will typically involve an assessment of the individual’s strengths, preferences, and aspirations.
This assessment will help in developing a truly individualised plan that is tailored to support these identified areas.
Regular review and adaptation of the plan is important to ensure it continues to meet the individual’s needs, as these may change over time.

The plan should be comprehensive and cover all aspects of the person’s life, including their health, social needs, relationships, and daily activities.
It must include both short-term and long-term goals that capture the person’s expectations about what they want now and in the future.
action steps necessary for achieving these goals should be well defined and achievable.

The care provider’s role in person-centred planning is primarily to facilitate, enabling the individual to make informed choices about their lives.
They should provide the necessary support to the individual to understand and express their wishes and preferences.
An important part of the care provider’s role is building a trusting and empathetic relationship with individuals to ensure they feel comfortable expressing their wishes.

The individual’s right to self-determination must always be respected, this means they have the legal and ethical right to control their own life.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 mandates that any decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity must be made in their best interests.
The Data Protection Act 1998 defines how personal information should be used by organisations, businesses or the government. It’s pertinent to respect and protect the personal data of the individuals under care.

Different individuals will require varying levels of support in making decisions and taking actions towards their goals; providing this support can be a challenge.
Person-centred planning can create opportunities for individuals to live more independently and have increased control over their lives.
It can also foster stronger relationships between individuals, care providers, and in the community as a whole.