6.1 Explain why it is important to establish a person-centred plan tailored to an individual’s specific preferences and needs

This guide will help you answer 6.1 Explain why it is important to establish a person-centred plan tailored to an individual’s specific preferences and needs.

A person-centred plan is a written or recorded plan that focuses on an individual’s own choices, goals and needs. It is about them leading the process, with support from others where required. This type of plan is unique to the person using it. No two plans should be the same. The plan reflects their personality, lifestyle, health needs and daily routines.

The purpose of a person-centred plan is to make sure the person has a say in how their care and support is provided. It is not just a list of medical needs. It includes interests, relationships, independence goals and preferences about how daily life is managed.

This approach respects the person as the expert in their own life. Staff, family members and other professionals give input, but the plan is centred on the individual’s voice and wishes.

Respecting Individual Preferences

Each person has their own opinions and habits. Preferences can include food choices, sleeping routines, communication styles or cultural practices. Recognising and including these in the plan helps make the support feel personal. A care or support arrangement that ignores these details can leave the person feeling unheard or uncomfortable.

For example:

• Someone may wish to attend a particular religious service each week.
• A person might like tea prepared in a certain way.
• They may prefer to be supported by carers of the same gender.

By recording these preferences, staff can follow them consistently. This leads to higher satisfaction and improved trust.

Meeting Specific Needs

Some people have needs linked to their health, disability, age or learning ability. These can be physical, mental, sensory or emotional. Meeting these needs requires clear information in the plan. Without it, staff may not provide the right support at the right time.

Examples of needs that should be covered:

• Medication requirements and times
• Mobility support and equipment instructions
• Support for communication, such as using sign language or picture cards
• Adjustments for sensory impairments, such as hearing aids or low vision aids

A person-centred plan communicates these needs clearly so that any worker can follow it.

Promoting Independence

A person-centred plan should encourage the person to do as much as they can for themselves. Independence improves confidence and can enhance quality of life. The plan supports this by setting small, achievable goals.

Examples:

• Letting the person choose their clothes each day
• Encouraging them to prepare a snack if possible
• Allowing enough time for them to move from one room to another without rushing

When independence is promoted, the person feels more in control and capable.

Building Positive Relationships

A person-centred plan can include important information about relationships. This may list family members, friends, advocates or community contacts. It can describe who they trust and who they may wish to avoid. Respecting these relationships shows care and understanding.

For example:

• Involving family in making care decisions, if the person wants this
• Making sure the same worker supports the person for most visits to build familiarity
• Avoiding assigning workers the person has expressed discomfort with

Positive relationships support emotional wellbeing and create a sense of safety.

Supporting Health and Wellbeing

Health is not just about physical illness. Mental health, emotional stability, social connections and meaningful activities are part of wellbeing. A person-centred plan looks at the whole person, not just their medical needs.

Health and wellbeing can be supported by:

• Tailoring activities to interests, such as art, walking or singing
• Providing quiet spaces if the person is sensitive to noise
• Planning health appointments at times that suit the person’s routine
• Encouraging healthy meal choices based on personal taste

By taking all areas of life into account, the plan helps the person enjoy a better overall quality of life.

Encouraging Choice and Control

Having choices is a basic human right. A person-centred plan gives opportunities for the person to make decisions each day. These choices can be small but meaningful. It could be picking what time to wake up, deciding what to have for lunch or choosing who supports them with personal care.

When someone makes choices about their life, they feel respected and valued. This can boost self-esteem and reduce feelings of frustration or loss of independence.

Preventing Assumptions

Without a person-centred plan, workers may make assumptions about what the person wants. Assumptions can lead to routines or activities that do not fit the person’s wishes. A written plan removes doubt by clearly recording the person’s views and instructions.

For example:

• Not all older adults go to bed early; the plan should state preferred bedtime
• Some people with disabilities may want adventurous activities instead of quiet ones
• Cultural practices vary between individuals and should be written, not guessed

Recording the details makes care more accurate and respectful.

Adapting Over Time

People’s needs and preferences can change. Health conditions may improve or worsen. New interests or social connections may form. The person-centred plan should be updated to reflect these changes. This allows the support to remain relevant and effective.

Regular reviews of the plan can help:

• Keep medical information current
• Adjust activities to match new physical abilities
• Add new personal goals
• Remove outdated details

An up-to-date plan gives confidence to both the person and care staff.

Supporting Legal and Ethical Duties

In the UK, care workers have legal and professional responsibilities to respect people’s rights and dignity. A person-centred plan supports these duties by showing clear evidence of the person’s consent and involvement in their own care.

Relevant laws and guidance include:

• Care Act 2014
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Health and Social Care Act regulations

By following a person-centred plan, workers can show they provide care that meets these legal and ethical standards.

Reducing Risk of Harm

A person-centred plan can include safety information. This might be about allergies, mobility issues, mental health risks or emergency contacts. Knowing these details helps workers act quickly if problems arise.

Examples:

• Recording that the person has a nut allergy and must avoid certain foods
• Listing steps to safely transfer the person from bed to wheelchair
• Stating triggers that may cause distress so they can be avoided

This careful planning protects both the person and the staff providing support.

Improving Communication

Good communication between staff, the person, family and other professionals is easier when a clear plan exists. The plan can be shared with those who need the information. This avoids misunderstandings and ensures everyone works in the same way.

Communication through the plan might include:

• Preferred language or communication aids
• Contact details for family and doctors
• Agreed ways of giving feedback or raising concerns

When everyone follows the same plan, support becomes more consistent.

Encouraging Inclusion and Participation

Many people want to take part in their community, hobbies and group activities. A person-centred plan can state which groups or events interest the person and how to support them in attending. This helps reduce isolation and improves mental health.

Examples:

• Arranging transport for a weekly club
• Supporting the person to attend a local market
• Helping them stay in touch with friends through phone calls or video chats

Participation in valued activities improves happiness and may help maintain skills.

Promoting Dignity and Respect

Dignity means treating someone with honour and valuing their worth as a human being. Respect means listening to and acting on their preferences. A person-centred plan places dignity and respect at the centre of care. This can influence how personal care is provided, what clothing is chosen, or how private conversations are handled.

Examples include:

• Knocking before entering a room
• Respecting clothing choices even if they are different from the worker’s taste
• Speaking to the person directly, not about them to others in their presence

These actions are easier to maintain when written in a plan and followed by all staff.

Meeting Cultural and Religious Needs

Culture and religion are very important to many people. A person-centred plan allows these to be recorded and practised within the care setting. It could include diet rules, prayer times, rituals, or celebrations.

Examples:

• Providing halal or kosher food
• Supporting attendance at religious gatherings
• Helping the person take part in cultural festivals

Recognising and supporting these needs shows respect and improves wellbeing.

Final Thoughts

A person-centred plan is more than a document. It is a way of working that respects a person’s individuality, rights and voice. When the plan is made with the person’s direct input, it reflects who they are and what matters to them. This builds trust, improves care and increases satisfaction.

Maintaining and updating the plan keeps support relevant and respectful. It also meets professional standards and legal responsibilities. In health and social care, putting the person at the heart of decisions leads to better outcomes and a higher quality of life.