Care and support

Person Centred Planning

Person Centred Planning (PCP) started because some people were not happy with the support they were getting or wanted new ways to make changes.

Now the government, in Valuing People, have said that Person Centred Planning must happen for people here in Hertfordshire.

What is Person Centred Planning?

• Keeps the person at the centre and really listens to them
• Listens to people who love, care and know ‘the person’ well – family, friends, members of the community, advocates, staff
• Finds out what is important to the person now and in the future
• Agrees who will work together to get goals and make things happen
• Is about listening, learning and real action – and it takes time!
• Does not mean people will always get what they want but works out ways to try
• Brings the governments guidelines on Valuing People to life.

Who is Person Centred Planning for?

• It is for people who need support, their carers, family and friends and to help these people make changes
• It is for People who support people, support staff, managers and social workers who have to tell people about Person Centred Planning
• It is about working together and finding new ways of doing things.

What is happening in Hertfordshire
There is a group of people – ‘The Implementation Group’ who will help tell people about Person Centred Planning and help get things going for people in Hertfordshire.

Lots of different people are on this group. People who need support, advocacy groups, staff, managers and relatives/carers.

We have a development worker who meets people and finds out what is happening and what support people need with Person Centred Planning. We have just appointed two full-time planners to work with people. Also, some other people have completed some essential lifestyle planning training (which is just one of the Person Centred Planning tools we use) and will be working with some people within Hertfordshire.