National Service Users Executive - Supporting your Vision

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16 Oct 08

Person Centred - What does this mean?

There is a particular and growing emphasis in national policy on a more individualised, ‘person-centred’ approach to meeting needs. The extent to which service users are satisfied that services fit their needs rather than the reverse should be the most important benchmark of quality.

Person centred approaches are concerned with meeting the needs of individuals and ensuring better outcomes for them personally. They send out a message that services should be designed to fit the individual’s needs, rather than trying to push the person into accepting an established service that  may not really suit them. Identifying people’s own needs and deciding how these will be met, is a crucial first step, and those who need the support of specialist services are the best people to ask and include in this process. Crucially this approach moves beyond a very narrow “professional” view of what is needed, and considers a range of supports and opportunities that need to be created for people to live and participate in the community to the fullest extent possible. It is about maximising people’s potential, rather than limiting their horizons. Creative thinking will be at a premium, and all those affected by decisions on supports that will be provided should have an opportunity to have their views considered.

Person-centred services need to be nurtured and nourished. Examples of good practice should be “advertised” so that people can find out what is working well for others. When we know what works best, we will be able to plan for the future development of similar services. Quality services that demonstrate real improvements should become standard, rather than luxury items available only for those who can afford them. We need to stop thinking about innovative projects as “pilots” and start to recognise them as demonstrations of what needs to be mainstreamed. The views, opinions and experiences of the people who actually use these services are the most important factors in the evaluation equation. Only when people who use the services are included in the planning and delivery of those services that they find most helpful will we be able to say that a person-centred service is being delivered. Their voices need to be heard and their views properly and fully respected.

The type of service that will develop should have respect for the individual and their dignity and right to autonomous choice at their heart. They should be open to the active involvement of families, friends and others who care for and about the person concerned. Attitudes may need to be examined; open minds are as important as open doors.

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