What is Personalised Support in Health and Social Care?

Personalised support in health and social care refers to a way of working that puts the individual at the centre of planning and decision-making about their care and support. It means that services are shaped around the person’s own needs, preferences, strengths, and circumstances, rather than offering a standard or one-size-fits-all approach. The main aim is to help people live the life they choose, manage their health, and enjoy independence as far as possible.

This approach values the uniqueness of each person and seeks to involve them actively in all aspects of their care. It recognises that people have different priorities and life experiences which can influence how they want their care to be provided. Personalised support can apply to a wide range of services, from medical treatment and home care to social activities and emotional support.

Core Principles of Personalised Support

Personalised support is guided by several core ideas that shape how it is delivered:

• Respecting individual preferences and choices
• Focusing on strengths and abilities rather than just needs
• Involving people directly in decisions about their care
• Supporting independence and self-care where possible
• Coordinating different services so they work together for the person’s benefit
• Acknowledging cultural, religious, and personal values

By following these principles, care providers can offer services that feel relevant and meaningful to each individual.

Involving the Individual in Care Planning

Personalised support always starts with listening to the person who will be receiving care. This may involve structured conversations, assessments, and ongoing communication. Care planning is a shared process, with the person’s views at its core. Professionals might help identify what is most important to the person, which could include staying in their own home, feeling safe, maintaining social connections, or managing a chronic health condition with minimal discomfort.

In the UK, tools such as personalised care plans, service user-led reviews, and shared decision-making frameworks are used. These approaches give the person a clear voice and full role in shaping their own support.

Working with Families and Carers

In many cases, family members and informal carers are closely involved in providing day-to-day support. Personalised support recognises their role and includes them when appropriate, while still keeping the individual’s wishes as the priority. Carers can provide insights into the person’s routines, likes and dislikes, and how they respond to different situations. This shared knowledge can improve the quality of care.

Services may offer practical help to carers, such as training, respite care, or advice on handling certain health needs. Supporting carers contributes to better outcomes for the person receiving care and avoids unnecessary strain on family members.

Coordinating Services Around the Person

People often receive support from multiple sources: NHS services, local authority social care teams, voluntary organisations, and sometimes private care providers. Personalised support aims to coordinate these services so that they work together smoothly. This helps to avoid gaps or overlaps, reduces confusion, and makes it easier for the person to manage their care.

Coordination might involve creating a single care plan that all providers can access, regular multi-agency meetings, and clear communication channels for sharing updates. The focus is always on making things easier and more consistent for the person at the centre.

Respecting Cultural and Personal Values

Culture, religion, and personal beliefs can have a strong influence on what kind of support feels appropriate. For example, food choices, dress, communication styles, and attitudes to medical treatment can vary widely between individuals. Personalised support respects these differences and adapts the care provided accordingly.

Care workers may receive training in cultural awareness and sensitivity, and organisations may have policies to guide staff in meeting diverse needs. Respecting personal values builds trust and helps the person feel comfortable and supported.

Encouraging Independence and Self-care

Personalised support often aims to help individuals maintain or regain independence. This can include learning new skills, using assistive technology, or adapting their home. Encouraging self-care is part of this, meaning people are supported to take as much control as they can over their health and daily activities.

For example, someone with a long-term condition might be taught how to monitor their own symptoms and adjust their medication with guidance from a healthcare professional. Another person might be supported to use public transport rather than relying on lifts. These approaches help people feel capable and confident.

Examples of Personalised Support

There are many ways that personalised support can be put into practice:

• Adapting meal plans to suit an individual’s dietary preferences or medical needs
• Offering flexible appointment times for people with work or family commitments
• Providing home care staff who speak the same language as the person
• Using personal budgets to allow people to choose their own care provider
• Offering social activities linked to the person’s own interests
• Supporting individuals to set and work towards their own goals, such as returning to education or gaining employment

These examples show that personalised support is not just about meeting medical or physical needs, but also about improving quality of life.

Role of Personal Budgets and Direct Payments

In the UK, personal budgets and direct payments are tools that support personalised care in social services. A personal budget is an amount of money allocated by the local authority to meet an individual’s care needs. The person can choose to have this managed by the council, by a provider, or receive it directly as a direct payment to arrange their own support.

This gives people more control over the type of care they receive. They can select services that fit their lifestyle, values, and preferences, rather than being limited to options provided by the local authority. This flexibility is in line with the principles of personalised support.

Benefits of Personalised Support

When done well, personalised support can lead to better health outcomes and improved wellbeing. Benefits may include:

• Increased satisfaction with services
• Greater independence
• Better mental health and confidence
• More consistent and coordinated care
• Stronger relationships between service users and care providers

These benefits extend to families and carers, as they see that the person is receiving support that genuinely meets their needs.

Challenges in Delivering Personalised Support

Providing personalised support can be complex. Care providers need enough time, resources, and flexibility to adapt services. Staff may need extra training to work effectively in a personalised way. There can be challenges in communication between different agencies, and not all organisations have systems in place to share information securely.

Balancing personal preferences with safety, legal requirements, and budget limits is sometimes difficult. For example, a person might prefer not to take a certain medication, but stopping it could risk their health. In such cases, respectful discussion and negotiation are key. Personalised support means finding solutions that respect the person’s views while meeting legal and professional responsibilities.

The Role of Technology

Technology is increasingly used to support personalised care. Examples include:

• Electronic care plans that can be updated and viewed by multiple providers
• Telehealth consultations for people who find travel difficult
• Apps for managing medication schedules
• Sensors and alarms in the home for safety

Digital tools can improve communication and give people more control over aspects of their care, while reducing unnecessary appointments or hospital visits.

Staff Skills and Training

Staff delivering personalised support need strong communication skills and the ability to listen carefully. They should be able to work collaboratively with individuals, families, and other professionals. Empathy, patience, and problem-solving ability are important, as is respect for diversity.

Training often covers personalisation principles, cultural awareness, safeguarding, and rights under laws such as the Care Act 2014. Ongoing professional development ensures staff can keep improving the quality of personalised care they offer.

Legal and Policy

Personalised support is backed by UK laws and policies. The Care Act 2014 places people’s wellbeing at the heart of local authority duties in adult social care. It sets out rights to personal budgets and choice in care planning. NHS England has strategies promoting personalised care, including shared decision-making, personal health budgets, and social prescribing.

These policies reflect a shift towards person-centred services that respect individuality and promote autonomy.

Measuring Success

Organisations often measure success in personalised support through feedback from service users, outcome tracking, and audits. Information such as how independent someone has become, how satisfied they are with services, or changes in their health can be used to improve care.

Indicators might include reduced hospital admissions, improved daily living skills, and stronger social connections. These help providers see whether personalised support is making a real difference.

Final Thoughts

Personalised support in health and social care is a way of working that centres every decision on the person receiving care. It goes beyond treating illnesses or meeting basic needs by focusing on what matters most to the individual. Respecting preferences, coordinating services, including families, and supporting independence are all part of this approach.

While there can be challenges in delivering personalised support, its benefits for wellbeing, confidence, and autonomy are clear. By listening, involving, and respecting each person’s unique situation, UK health and social care services can provide care that feels meaningful and supportive in everyday life.