Foundations of Good Support: Aspirations

People who receive care or support usually need help to articulate ways in which their quality of life could improve. They also find it difficult to identify the steps needed to make progress and to recruit others who will assist them in their efforts to create change.

What is person-centred planning?

Person-centred planning and person-centred reviewing are ways for people to be supported by others, who they like and trust, to reflect on their current situation and plan how theirs could be a better life, a life more fitting to their unique identity, their needs and their wishes.

Person-centred Plans and Reviews are live and active, and ensure the person is central and able to exert as much control as they can. They are flexible and inclusive, and they’re designed to lead to a mix of goals that focus on everyday living as well as dreams and ambitions.

How can we work towards aspirations?

In this guide we describe how to use person-centred thinking tools to grow a clearer sense of the person – their value to others, the things that really matter to them and how well life works for them (and doesn’t) now.

This essential step is followed by a range of optional tools that can be used with the person, their families and others who are important in their lives, to plan a route towards a more fulfilling life.

If used in isolation, person-centred planning and reviewing are likely to have little impact on the lives of people they are intended to help. That’s why ‘Aspirations’ is one of the Foundations of Good Support.

Progress towards aspirations is only possible when there is structure within which to work towards possible outcomes, good understanding of effective communication, support for engagement in everyday activity, positive approaches to any behaviour that challenges, and good support for a rich range of relationships.

More resources coming soon

Updates on new resources are available in the Practice Development e-newsletter.