Facilitate person centred assessment planning, implementation and review

Handout 2: How can individuals be supported?

Learning outcome 1, Assessment criteria 1.3

The active participation of individuals in planning and meeting their own care and support needs is good practice in health and social care. Active participation in care planning is also recognised as best practice in the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) and the Carer (Recognition) Act (1995). Whilst individuals with care and support needs may often want to be involved in care planning and delivery processes, a variety of factors (lack of confidence, disability, physical frailty, etc) can impair or undermine their ability to do so. Part of your role as a health and social care worker is to find ways of supporting people to participate in, and lead, the assessment and planning of their care and support, where possible.

Care planning involves a five-phase process (see figure 1)

The care planning process must be individual-centred, ideally with the individual controlling and leading it. A variety of strategies can be used to do this, including:

  • Asking individuals what they consider to be their needs and what kinds of care and support they want.
  • Meeting individuals face to face to discuss and plan care rather than sending impersonal emails or making phone calls only.
  • Reassuring the individual that any information provided and their care plan will be kept confidential, whilst making sure that they understand who the information will need to be shared with and why.
  • Keeping language and communication clear and accessible – avoiding jargon and technical terminology.

Figure 1: The care planning process

  • Being as empathic as possible and genuine in the way you engage with the individual.
  • Ensuring that everyone involved in the care planning process, including the individual and their family members, are fully informed about progress and receive copies of all documents relevant to the construction of the care plan.

Supporting an individual to be actively involved in the assessment and planning of their care results in better, more appropriate care, promotes ownership of care plans and care packages and gives the individual the clear message they are valued and respected as a person.