Person‐Centred Planning or Person‐Centred Action? Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability Services

TLDR

Person‑centred planning is a key focus of current UK policy for intellectual disability services, and this review contrasts it with other forms of individual planning. The study examines what changes in power relations, funding, and staff training and supervision are required to make services truly person‑centred. The authors review the limited evidence base and analyze the scale and challenges of implementing person‑centred planning as a national policy initiative. The review challenges the assumption that new individual planning alone will generate person‑centred services.

Abstract

Background This critical review considers the nature and importance of person‐centred planning in the context of current British policy and service development in intellectual disability. The difference between person‐centred planning and other kinds of individual planning is discussed. Materials and method The scale of the task of implementing person‐centred planning as a national policy initiative is considered. The limited evidence base for person‐centred planning is reviewed and the reasons for the failure of previous attempts at individual planning are analysed. The assumption that person‐centred services will be produced by a new kind of individual planning is questioned. Conclusions Consideration is given to what would be necessary to make services more person‐centred, including changes in power relations, funding arrangements and staff training and supervision.