What are Person-Centred Approaches in Health and Social Care?

Person-centred care is an approach that places the individual at the heart of all decisions and actions relating to their support. It recognises that people are experts in their own lives, values their experiences, and respects their needs, preferences, and rights. In the UK, person-centred care is considered good practice across health and social care and is often embedded in legislation, standards, and policies.

The approach involves seeing each person as unique, focusing not just on their health condition or diagnosis, but on their overall well-being. Care should be planned and delivered in partnership, with the person’s values, wishes, and lifestyle taken fully into account.

Individuality

Individuality means recognising and respecting that every person has their own personality, preferences, beliefs, and history. No two people’s needs are identical, even if they share the same medical condition or care setting.

When care is person-centred, the support given reflects personal goals and cultural background. For example, food choices may be influenced by religious beliefs, and social activities may vary depending on the person’s interests.

Staff can support individuality by:

• Asking open questions about preferences and routines
• Not assuming that what works for one person will work for another
• Respecting cultural and religious traditions
• Recording preferences in care plans to guide daily practice

Recognising individuality helps people feel valued as unique members of society, and it can improve their satisfaction with care.

Rights

Every person receiving care has rights that must be respected. These rights are protected by laws such as the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 in the UK.

Rights include freedom from discrimination, the right to privacy, the right to make choices, and the right to be treated with respect. Care providers must uphold these rights regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Supporting rights in practice might involve:

• Providing accessibility for people with physical or sensory impairments
• Using interpreters for those whose first language is not English
• Inviting service users to participate in decision-making meetings

When rights are upheld, people are more likely to trust their carers and feel safe in expressing their needs.

Choice

Choice is a central principle in person-centred care. It means giving individuals the freedom to decide how their care and support are provided.

Choices can relate to small daily decisions, such as what to wear, or larger matters like treatment options or living arrangements. People should be given information in a way they can understand so they can make informed decisions.

In health and social care settings, supporting choice could involve:

• Offering different meal options rather than setting a single menu
• Explaining possible side effects of a medication before starting treatment
• Allowing service users to decide the timing of activities

Maintaining choice encourages independence and helps the individual feel in control of their own life.

Privacy

Privacy means giving individuals space and control over their personal information. It includes physical privacy, such as having time alone, and informational privacy, such as protecting personal data.

Staff can protect privacy by:

• Knocking before entering someone’s room
• Discussing personal matters in private, away from others
• Keeping medical records secure and sharing them only with authorised people

The UK’s Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provide clear guidelines on how to handle personal data. Respecting privacy builds trust and avoids unnecessary distress.

Independence

Independence is the ability of a person to make decisions and manage daily tasks for themselves. Supporting independence does not mean leaving people without help; it means providing the right level of support so they can do as much as they are able.

For example, a person recovering from a stroke may need handrails to move safely around their home. This helps them remain mobile rather than relying completely on others.

Benefits of encouraging independence include:

• Better self-esteem
• Maintenance of skills and abilities
• Reduced risk of depression caused by loss of autonomy

Promoting independence means recognising abilities alongside needs and providing tools or adaptations to help individuals achieve their goals.

Dignity

Dignity means treating every person with respect and acknowledging their value as a human being. In health and social care, dignity can be supported by listening without judgement, using respectful language, and preserving a person’s modesty during care tasks.

Examples include covering a patient during a medical examination, speaking in a polite tone, and avoiding talking about the person as though they were not present.

Maintaining dignity strengthens the relationship between staff and service users and can improve emotional well-being. A person who feels a loss of dignity may withdraw from social interaction or refuse care.

Respect

Respect is an attitude that values other people’s feelings, beliefs, and point of view. It involves recognising the worth of each person, regardless of differences.

Showing respect in health and social care means listening actively, taking concerns seriously, and treating each person fairly. This includes respecting cultural symbols, languages, or practices.

Practical actions might be:

• Learning the correct pronunciation of a person’s name
• Accepting lifestyle choices that differ from one’s own
• Avoiding stereotypes and assumptions

Respect supports equality and fairness, which are central to good care.

Partnership

Partnership means working together with the person receiving care, their family, and other professionals to plan and deliver support. It is a shared process in which all parties communicate openly and contribute their knowledge and experience.

Partnership can involve joint goal setting, regular review meetings, and collaborative problem-solving. For example, in caring for someone with dementia, family members might share insights about triggers or calming techniques, while health professionals provide medical knowledge.

Benefits of working in partnership include:

• Better understanding of the person’s needs
• Improved outcomes from care plans
• Greater satisfaction for all involved

Partnership strengthens trust and increases the likelihood of care being successful and well received.

Bringing the Principles Together

The principles of individuality, rights, choice, privacy, independence, dignity, respect, and partnership are closely connected. Each one supports the others, creating an approach that values the person and encourages them to lead their care as much as possible.

This way of working is not limited to medical treatment. It applies to social services, mental health care, residential care, and community support. It requires staff training, good communication skills, and a commitment to see the person beyond their health condition.

Challenges in Applying Person-Centred Care

While the principles are clear, applying them can involve some practical challenges. These can include:

• Time pressures in busy settings
• Limited resources for providing wider choices
• Communication barriers, such as language differences or hearing loss
• Balancing safety with independence, especially for vulnerable individuals

Health and social care teams need to be creative and flexible. For example, offering pictorial communication cards can help someone with limited language skills express their preferences.

Care organisations often develop policies to reinforce person-centred values and monitor practice through observation and feedback.

Benefits for Service Users and Staff

The benefits of following person-centred approaches are seen for both the individual and those providing care.

For individuals:

• Greater satisfaction with care received
• Increased feelings of control and involvement
• Improved emotional and physical well-being

For staff:

• Better relationships with service users and families
• Greater professional satisfaction
• Clearer understanding of expectations and responsibilities

Person-centred care is as much about the way people interact as it is about the services provided.

Final Thoughts

Person-centred care in the UK is about seeing the person in full – their history, preferences, rights, and identity – rather than focusing solely on their health condition or support needs. The principles of individuality, rights, choice, privacy, independence, dignity, respect, and partnership form the foundation of this approach.

By applying these principles, health and social care staff can improve the experience and quality of support for those they work with. It requires active listening, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to valuing each person as an equal partner in their care.