What is a Person Centred Care Plan?

When it comes to delivering high-quality care, there is one approach that stands out as best practice across the healthcare and social care sectors: person centred care. But what does it really mean, and how is it implemented in practice? A key component of person centred care is the person centred care plan - a tailored document that ensures every individual receives care and support specifically designed around their own needs, preferences, and goals.

At Lunardi Court Care Home, we believe in putting people at the heart of everything we do. Let's explore the concept of a person centred care plan, why it's an important aspect of care provision, and how it supports people to live meaningful, autonomous lives - regardless of age, ability, or health condition.

Understanding Person Centred Care

Person centred care is an approach that places the person receiving care at the centre of all decisions and actions related to their care and support. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all model - such as the traditional medical model - a person centred approach values the individuals unique preferences, history, and aspirations.

This approach is not limited to older adults in care homes. It's used widely to support people with long term conditions, mental health issues, learning disabilities , and other health conditions, ensuring they are fully involved in decisions about their own care.

A person centred care plan is the tangible result of this approach. It documents the goals, preferences, support needs, and desired outcomes of the person receiving care, and it guides care staff in delivering coordinated care that truly reflects the person's identity and values.

What is a Person Centred Care Plan?

A person centred care plan is a living document developed in partnership with the person receiving care, their families, carers, and relevant healthcare practitioners or social care professionals. It sets out how best to provide support, what treatment options are preferred, and how to maintain the person's well being, independence, and dignity.

Unlike standard care plans, which may focus primarily on clinical needs, a person centred care plan captures the whole person - their life story, likes and dislikes, routines, cultural or spiritual needs, hobbies, relationships, and aspirations. This ensures care is not just safe and effective, but also compassionate and personalised.

Key elements of a person centred care plan include:

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The Care Planning Process

The care planning process in a person centred context involves open conversations, active listening, and collaboration. It is based on support planning, where the individual is seen as the expert in their own life. This approach promotes informed decisions, self care, and shared responsibility.

Steps in the process typically include:

1. Initial Assessment

A holistic assessment of the person's physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs is carried out. This may involve local authorities, social care and health teams, and the person's own health observations.

2. Identifying Goals and Priorities

Rather than just managing symptoms or risks, person centred planning aims to support people to live the life they choose. This means identifying what is important to the person - whether it's maintaining independence, continuing a hobby, or seeing family regularly.

3. Developing the Care Plan

The personalised care plan is developed collaboratively, with meaningful involvement from the person, their carers, and relevant professionals. The plan sets out how care staff and providers will work together to meet agreed goals.

4. Implementation and Review

Plans are implemented by care staff who are trained in core skills education and transferable behaviours that support a person centred approach. Regular reviews ensure the plan remains up to date and relevant as circumstances change.

Benefits of Person Centred Care Planning

There are numerous benefits to centred care planning, both for the person and for the wider care provision system.

Empowerment and Control

Person centred care gives individuals greater control over their own care plan, encouraging independence and autonomy.

Improved Outcomes

When care is personalised specifically to the individual, it leads to better emotional and physical well being, improved mental health, and greater satisfaction with services.

Better Relationships

Person centred care planning fosters stronger relationships between care staff, families, and the person receiving care. It supports trust, compassion, and mutual understanding.

Focus on What Matters

Instead of focusing only on treatment or risk avoidance, person centred plans focus on what makes life meaningful for the person - leading to more fulfilling lives.

Compliance with Best Practice

Adopting a person centred approach aligns with national guidelines and best practice in health and social care, and is supported by regulatory bodies and government frameworks, including publications from The Stationery Office.

Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions

For individuals with mental health conditions, person centred care planning is especially vital. It enables people to have a voice in their treatment choices, set personal recovery goals, and receives reasonable adjustments based on their specific needs.

Mental health services are increasingly moving away from the medical model, which sees symptoms as the focus, towards a social model that values lived experience and personal context. A person centred approach supports recovery, self-worth, and resilience.

Training and Support for Care Staff

To deliver effective personalised care, staff must be trained in the principles and practices of person centred care. This involves:

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Lunardi Court Care Home provides all staff with ongoing core skills education and support, ensuring that person centred care values are embedded into everyday interactions and care routines.

Recognising the Role of Carer and Families

An essential part of person centred care planning is recognising the valuable insight and input of carers, families, and loved ones. These individuals often have a deep understanding of the person's preferences, routines, and communication styles. Involving them in the care planning process ensures the plan reflects real life, not just clinical observations. This collaborative approach also supports carers in feeling included and respected, improving communication and strengthening the circle of care around the person.

From the Medical Model to the Social Model

Traditional care systems often follow a medical model, where the emphasis is on diagnosing and treating symptoms. In contrast, the social model looks beyond illness and considers how societal barriers, environment, and attitudes affect a person's life. Person centred planning embraces the social model by focusing on abilities rather than limitations. This shift from a deficit-based approach to a strengths-based one is especially important for people living with disabilities or complex health conditions, as it promotes inclusion and supporting people to lead fulfilling lives.

The Importance of Personalised Stationary and Documentation

The quality of the documentation used in person centred care planning can make a significant difference in how well the plan is understood and followed. Using well-designed templates and stationery that prompt for personal stories, preferences, and routines helps ensure care plans go beyond clinical notes. These documents should be easy to update, clear to read, and accessible to all involved in the person's care and support. This approach not only supports consistency in care provision, but also reinforces the idea that the person is at the centre of all planning and delivery.

Person Centred Planning and Local Authorities

Local authorities play a key role in enabling person centred care across care homes, supported living, and community settings. Through assessments, funding decisions, and service coordination, local teams can help ensure that people receive the personalised care they need. It's important for providers and commissioners alike to prioritise centred planning when working together, so individuals experience continuity, choice, and control in their care journey. This kind of partnership working underpins best practice in both health and social care.

Person Centred Care Planning in Action

At Lunardi Court, person centred care planning is not a one-off task - it is an ongoing relationship. From the moment someone joins our home, we work closely with them, their families, and wider services to understand their life story, preferences, and needs.

Whether someone is managing long term conditions, recovering from illness, or living with dementia or other health conditions, our team ensures their care is tailored, responsive and filled with compassion. From meal choices and personal routines to community activities and spiritual needs, everything is planned with the person at the centre.

We also make sure that families and carers are kept involved, informed, and supported - because good care is a team effort.

Why Person Centred Care Planning Matters

In a world where care can too easily become impersonal, person centred care planning restores dignity, respect, and humanity to the care and support process. It ensures that every individual is seen, heard, and valued - not just as a service user, but as a whole person with history, relationships, and dreams.

At Lunardi Court Care Home, we're proud to uphold the principles of person centred care, creating an environment where people feel empowered, supported, and at home. By developing and maintaining thoughtful, individualised care plans, we are truly putting people at the heart of everything we do.

Why Personalised Care Plans Make All The Difference

So, what is person centred care planning? It is far more than just paperwork - it's a statement of who someone is, what matters to them, and how we can best support them to live life on their own terms. It's a tool for inclusion, empowerment, and meaningful involvement. Above all, is it the cornerstone of personalised care that truly makes a difference.

If you'd like to learn more about how Lunardi Court Care Home implements person centred care planning, or if you're considering care for yourself or a loved one, please don't hesitate to get in touch. We'd be delighted to discuss how we can support you to make informed decisions about your own care, with compassion and dignity every step of the way.