What is person-centred care?

Contents

Principles to live by – in care and beyond

In any profession, there are key phrases, acronyms and jargon that people who work within it need to become familiar with. Working in care is no different.

In the care sector, there is a term that is used often. That term is ‘person-centred care’.

It is referred to time and again as a fundamental part of care giving; but what exactly does it mean? What does it involve? How does one give person-centred care?

As ever, tend is here to help cut through the jargon to help you get to the details. Let’s explore person-centred care in-depth. Knowing what it is might help not just care workers, but all of us, in every day life as well as the working world.

So, what is person-centred care?

Person-centred care is the term used to describe the delivery of support that’s built around the individual. It focusses on their needs, values, history, wellbeing goals, and lived experiences.

More than that, person-centred care is an approach. A behaviour. It ensures that patients are:

• Treated like people, not tasks
• Given a choice and control over their care
• Listened to, and heard
• Respected, valued, and understood
• Involved in making decisions
• Helped to retain as much independence as possible

These principles form everything that feeds into person-centred care, which sits at the very heart of our care system in the UK. Person-centred care is probably the most important aspect of any care career, next to being thoroughly trained and qualified.

Why is person-centred care so important?

It is vital that humanity is never lost when it comes to the care of a patient. People who require medical care must never be viewed only as work that needs doing. They are people, with histories, families, friends, and lives. That’s why person-centred care is written into:

• The NHS Constitution
• The expectations of the Care Quality Commissions CQC
• The Care Act of 2014
• The Skills For Care workforce frameworks

In fact, person-centred care is a core ‘gold standard’ of modern health and social care practice in the UK today. That means, it’s important that it’s adhered to, and important that it is practiced by all care workers at all times. The reason why, is that it ensures that people are treated in the very best way possible, no matter who they are, or what their condition is.

It’s also important to remember that if, in the event you fall ill or have an accident and require care, that you will also be treated with these values in mind.

The four pillars of person-centred care

These are the four most commonly recognised aspects of person-centred care:

• Dignity, respect, and compassion – Always seeing the patient as a human being with feelings, preferences, and individuality.
• Shared decision-making – Working with people, not at them or to them. Remembering they have a say and a choice in their care and what happens to them.
• Personalisation and choice – Adapting the care plan to the person’s values, lifestyle, beliefs, and wishes.
• Independence, empowerment, and autonomy – Helping the patient to live as they choose, on their own terms, for as long as possible.

This is why person-centred care is more than a method. It’s a mindset. A culture and framework for best practice in the care space.

How can care workers practice person-centred care?

To consider person-centred care in it’s simplest terms, think of it as treating the patient the way you’d like to be treated if you were in their shoes.

The key to mastering this is as follows:

• Understanding the diagnosis – Care workers must make sure they gain knowledge of the patient’s history, routines, preferences, cultural/spiritual background, and what matters to them the most. This creates a shift – from care being task-based, to relationship-based.
• Communicating with empathy – Care workers can practice person-centred care through active listening, speaking with a calm voice, validating the patient’s emotions, involving family members as much as is appropriate; and most of all, offering time, reassurance, and kindness.
• Support independence – Empower the patient to do as much as they can for themselves. Do things with them, not for them. Encourage them to do and choose for themselves. Let them go as far as they can with dressing, eating mobility – but assure them you’re there if they need you.
• Care planning – together – Talk to the patient about their preferences and goals. Ask what good care looks like to them. Explain any risks they face, and options they have. And keep them updated at every step of the care plan. This will help them to feel strong, and aid their healing.
• Take their needs into account – If the patient has particular cultural, emotional, or sensory needs, then you can adjust your communication style, support dietary requirements, respect prayer times, or anything else they might need to feel comfortable.
• Tailor care to observations – Person-centred care means paying attention. Keep an eye out for changes in the patient’s mood, environmental or emotional triggers, health fluctuations, or changes in their preferences. It’s about being proactive, rather than reactive.

These steps will maximise the patient’s comfort, and ensure you’re doing all you can to keep the care you’re giving as person-centred as possible.

Why person-centred care matters

Nothing matters more in this world than kindness. When working in care, it matters even more. Person-centred care is important because it can vastly effect patient outcomes, keep families calm, and ensure that you are acting in accordance with regulations.

In addition to patient comfort, person-centred care creates:

• Better outcomes
• Higher satisfaction for both people and families
• Stronger relationships between staff and the people they support
• Regulatory compliance
• Workforce retention and morale

For care workers, their careers hinge on person-centred care practices.

How apprenticeships build person-centred care skills

When it comes to training and gaining qualifications, apprenticeships are perfectly aligned with person-centred care. This is because:

• Apprenticeships train mindsets and behaviours as well as knowledge and skills
• Apprentices get to apply their new skills instantly in real-world care scenarios
• The level at which apprentices study is closely aligned to experience and ambition
• Sector-specific training providers like tend know exactly how to prepare learners

Some apprenticeships even help learners to zone in on a particular pathway, such as the tend Level 3 Lead Adult Care Worker Mental Health apprenticeship. While all of our apprenticeships have person-centred care embedded in the learning, specific paths attune learners to particular types of patients with specific support needs.

With apprenticeships now being the number one pathway into the care profession, exploring programme options is certainly a sensible move for any care professional wanting to maximise their person-centred care skills.

Final Thoughts

What person-centred care is, becomes clear the closer you look at it. It’s the very fabric of care, and what it means to care for others. It considers every aspect of wellbeing – not just a person’s physical health, but their overall comfort and quality of life.

Person-centred care is woven into every aspect of a care career, and is a key principle upheld by the NHS, the CQC, and Skills for Care. Not only is it vital for patients to feel supported in every sense of the word, but it’s imperative that the values of person-centred care are upheld at all times for regulatory and compliance purposes.

In addition, practicing person-centred care adds to the fulfilment of a long and successful care career. Knowing that you brought comfort and solace to patients and their families, making a real difference in their lives, is something to take pride in – whether you’re a care worker or not.

Want to ensure you practice excellence when it comes to person-centred care? Reach out to our team today. Call 01753 596 004 or hit the button below.