In this assignment the strategy I will be talking about is a person-centred approach. This theory was
first tested and created for therapy but later on it became widely used in many areas such as in
health and social care. Today I am going to be talking about how a person-centred approach is used
in health and social care.
A person-centred approach is putting a service user at the heart of their care and support. It was
developed by psychologist Carl Rogers. This approach is vital to ensure that service users feel valued,
respected and supported in their day-to-day life and goals. The aim is for care and support to be
tailored around the individual. Having the knowledge and acceptance of an individual and as such,
the building of positive relationships.
Understanding individuals needs and preference
It’s important in health and social care that the staff members can understand individuals needs and
preferences to avoid discrimination and be able to give a good person-centred approach to the
individual care and support.
Initial face to face meeting with the individual
The initial face to face meeting with the individual is the first meeting you have in person with the
individual you are working with. Having a good and positive Initial face to face meeting with an
individual is the most important meeting because this where you start the building blocks to the
relationship forming. This means it's important that you show a good first impression so the
relationship can start to build into a positive relationship and not a negative relationship. The initial
face-to-face meeting happens in any service that you use. In health and social care, an example of an
initial face to face meeting is: when you have moved house and have changed to a dentist that is
closer to where you live. You have your first dental appointment which will be your first face to face
meeting with the dentist and the dentist’s first face to face meeting with you. This will make the
service user feel happy that they are getting the treatment and care they need also they will feel
positive about returning to the dentistry. A use of appropriate communication skills is using
communication skills that allows you to understand and be understood by others. This links in a with
the initial face to face meeting because if they don’t show the correct communications skills this
could form a negative relationship making the individual reluctant to return to the service being
provided. Having a positive initial face to face meeting with an individual can ensure a good person-
centred approach because it gives the individual the chance to communicate, expressed their wants
wishes and to know they have been listened to. This will ensure the dentists has the knowledge in
how to provide the treatment to the individual in way which makes them feel there valued, listened
to and choices respected.
Care plan
“A care plan is a document that outlines your assessed health and social care needs. It identifies the
way you wish to be supported.” A care plan is most commonly known for being used in an area
, when you are supporting an individual i.e. in a care home or within their own home. In health and
social care, an example of when you would use a care plan is if you are a supported living worker and
you visit a service users house. You create a care plan for the support worker so they know how to
provide support and care for the individual and this support can be provided consistently by other
involved support workers. This will ensure support is consistent and meets the person's needs,
wishes and choices. This will creating a fixed routine instead of a routine that constantly changes
which can have a negative impact on the individual's development, wishes and choices. A care plan
is important so the individual you’re working with has consistency in how their care is being
provided. This is because their care routine will be written down so any involved support worker
knows how to provide support in the way identified by the individual. This will make the service user
feel valued and listened to. Having a care plan can ensure a good person-centred approach because
this means support and care is being provided has placed the person at the centre of all decision
making which will focusing on the importance of the person having choice and control of the
services they receive.
Enabling and supporting the individual
Advocates
In a health and social care setting advocates help and support individuals to express their wants and
wishes ensuring that they are listened too. They can support people to maintain a right to choice
and independence. An advocate is someone that can argue a case and speaks on behalf of an
individual. In health and social care advocates can be used to support people with physical or
emotional barriers or who’s rights may be infringed by someone else. An advocate will go with an
individual to a meeting and make sure that their views are fully expressed. An example of when you
would use an advocate is in a dentistry. If someone with a cognitive disability comes in to the dentist
and is told they need surgery on one of their teeth they can bring in a family member, friend or
support worker to be their advocate to talk with the dentist about the surgery and what they want
to happen. Having an advocate can ensure a person-centred approach because they will listen to
their wants and wishes so they can be put at the centre of the service providers care and support.
Interpreters and Translators
In a health and social care setting Interpreters, translators and signers help enable and support
individuals both acting as a communication aid. Interpreters are people who help two people to
communicate when there is a communication barrier. Interpreters are commonly used for people
who are deaf, hard of hearing, don’t speak the same language and people who have a speaking
difficulty. In health and social care an example of when you would use an interpreter is if you are
working one-to-one with an individual and they have a verbal and cognitive difficulty meaning that
they may slurs and stutters their speech making it difficult to process what is being said or
communicated. By requesting an interpreter or translator to provide support during a visit can help
both of you communicate to one another effectively. Translators are people who translate any oral
conversations to any type of language that the individual understands. Translators are commonly
used for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or don’t speak the same language. In health and social
care an example of a when you would use a translator is if you are working one to one with an
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