Person Centred Support - but what does this really mean?

• May 09, 2023

At First City, we often talk about providing person centred support, but what does this really mean? For someone new to the industry, whether that be as a customer or as an employee this may sound like jargon. In this short blog we aim to discuss what person centred support means and how we, as a leading healthcare organisation, ensure its implementation.

What is person centred support?

It can be very daunting when a person first becomes a customer requiring support, not knowing what to expect, the thought of strangers entering their home, and the potential loss of some independence. This is why it is vital that we tailor each person's support plan to meet their needs and goals.

Person centred means putting the customer at the heart of their support plan, including the individual in all aspects of their support and ensuring their choices are listened to and included. We can't meet someone's outcomes without first knowing what the person is hoping to achieve from their support. For some, this could be to regain full independence, while others may hope to be able to prepare their own meal or gain the confidence to go out shopping.

How do we ensure our support is person centred?

Some customers may not have capacity, this is why we work collaboratively with our customer, their support network (relatives, next of kin, power of attorney etc.) and other professionals, to ensure the customers best interest is always at the forefront of their support. We encourage and celebrate what customers can do for themselves and ensure support plans compliment this.

A support plan is an ongoing review, changes can be made when needed, for some this may involve decreasing the support as the customer can continue to do more for themselves, while others may need their support increasing.

We know we don't get everything right all the time, which is why we welcome constructive feedback, so we can learn and improve. We endeavor to correct mistakes in a timely manner and to implement and adapt this learning in future practice.

At First City we believe in care and support that is built entirely around each individual's needs. Our approach is about understanding people's unique circumstances, what they enjoy and what they want to achieve. We believe that the people we support should always have choices, should always be in control of what matters to them, and should feel they are getting the most out of life that they can.