Care That Recognises the Person, Their Choices, Their Strengths and What Matters Most to Them
At AKM Care, we believe that good care starts with one simple principle: every person is an individual.
People receiving care and support should not be defined solely by a diagnosis, disability, age, mental health condition or level of support required.
Every person has their own history, personality, relationships, routines, cultural background, preferences, abilities, interests and aspirations.
That is why our approach is based on person-centred care.
Person-centred care means designing support around the individual rather than expecting the individual to fit around the service.
It involves listening to the person, understanding what is important to them, respecting their choices and providing the right level of support to help them live as safely, independently and meaningfully as possible.
At AKM Care, our aim is not simply to meet someone’s basic care needs. We aim to understand who the person is, what matters to them and how we can support them to enjoy a fulfilling quality of life.
What Does Person-Centred Care Mean?
Person-centred care places the individual at the centre of decisions about their life and support.
It means asking questions such as:
What is important to this person?
What does a good day look like for them?
How do they prefer to communicate?
What are their strengths?
What are they able to do independently?
Where do they need support?
What choices are important to them?
What makes them feel safe and comfortable?
What causes them worry or distress?
Who are the important people in their life?
What would they like to achieve?
How can we help them maintain or develop independence?
The answers will be different for every person.
That is why care cannot be truly person-centred if everyone is expected to follow exactly the same routine.
Getting to Know the Person
Before meaningful support can be provided, we need to understand the individual.
A care plan can tell us about someone’s assessed needs, but good care also requires staff to know the person behind the paperwork.
This may involve understanding:
Personal history
Family relationships
Important friendships
Preferred name
Communication style
Daily routines
Sleeping patterns
Food and drink preferences
Cultural background
Religious or spiritual beliefs
Hobbies and interests
Personal care preferences
Mobility
Health conditions
Medication
Emotional wellbeing
Sensory needs
Things the person enjoys
Things they dislike
Situations that may cause anxiety
What provides reassurance
Personal goals
Existing skills
Areas where greater independence may be possible
The more we understand the individual, the better we can provide consistent and meaningful support.
Person-Centred Assessment Before Admission
Person-centred support begins before a person moves into one of our homes.
Where possible, we complete a detailed assessment to understand the person’s needs and determine whether the service can provide appropriate and safe support.
The assessment may consider:
Physical Health
This could include mobility, medical conditions, nutrition, skin integrity, continence, falls risk and other health requirements.
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
We consider existing mental health needs, emotional wellbeing, known triggers, coping strategies and any professional support already involved.
Communication
We identify how the person communicates, what communication methods work best and whether accessible information or additional communication support is required.
Medication
Medication requirements, levels of support, administration arrangements, allergies and relevant healthcare information are considered.
Personal Care
We assess what assistance, encouragement or prompting may be required with personal hygiene, dressing, oral care and other daily activities.
Daily Living Skills
We consider what the person can do independently and where they may benefit from additional assistance.
Social and Community Needs
We discuss activities, relationships, community access and opportunities that are important to the person.
Risk and Safety
Potential risks are considered alongside the person’s rights, choices and independence.
Capacity and Decision-Making
Where relevant, we consider how the individual can best be supported to understand information and participate in decisions.
This information helps us create a safer and more personalised transition into the service.
Individual Care Planning
Following assessment and admission, support should be clearly documented in an individualised care plan.
Care plans may cover areas such as:
Personal care
Medication
Mental health
Physical health
Mobility
Nutrition and hydration
Communication
Behavioural support
Emotional wellbeing
Personal safety
Safeguarding
Community access
Activities
Relationships
Cultural and religious needs
Daily living skills
Independence
Personal goals
A good care plan should explain not only what support is needed, but also how the person would like that support to be provided.
For example, two individuals may both need support preparing meals, but the appropriate support could be completely different.
One person might require meals to be fully prepared.
Another might only require help using an oven safely.
Another person might enjoy helping staff prepare ingredients and gradually learning to cook independently.
Person-centred care recognises these differences.
Regular Reviews and Changing Needs
People’s needs are not always static.
Health conditions can change.
Confidence can improve.
New skills can develop.
Relationships and personal circumstances may change.
A person may begin requiring more support in one area while becoming more independent in another.
For this reason, care plans should be reviewed regularly and updated when circumstances change.
Reviews provide an opportunity to consider:
What is working well
What is not working well
Changes in health
Changes in medication
Changes in behaviour
New risks
Progress towards goals
New interests
Changes in communication
Increasing or decreasing support needs
Feedback from the individual
Feedback from families
Professional recommendations
Care should develop alongside the person.
Choice and Control in Everyday Life
Many of the decisions that contribute to someone’s quality of life are everyday choices.
Where appropriate, individuals should have opportunities to decide:
What they want to wear
What they want to eat
What time they would like to get up
How they spend their free time
Which activities they participate in
Who they spend time with
How their bedroom is arranged
What television programmes they watch
Whether they want social time or private time
Where they would like to go in the community
These may appear to be small decisions, but together they help give a person ownership and control over their life.
Living in residential care should not mean losing the ability to make everyday choices.
Supporting Independence
Person-centred care does not mean providing more assistance than a person actually needs.
Doing everything for someone can sometimes unintentionally reduce their skills and confidence.
Our approach is therefore to encourage individuals to participate in everyday tasks according to their abilities.
This might include:
Choosing clothes
Preparing drinks
Cooking
Shopping
Cleaning
Laundry
Personal care
Organising their belongings
Managing appointments
Budgeting
Travelling
Participating in community activities
Some individuals may need full assistance.
Others may require prompting, encouragement or supervision.
Others may be able to complete activities independently.
The level of support should reflect the individual.
Dignity and Respect
Every person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
This should be reflected in everyday interactions.
Examples may include:
Knocking before entering someone’s bedroom
Respecting privacy during personal care
Speaking directly to the individual rather than talking about them as though they are not present
Using the person’s preferred name
Respecting cultural and religious preferences
Maintaining confidentiality
Explaining what is happening before providing support
Listening when someone expresses a preference or concern
Respecting personal belongings
Avoiding unnecessarily infantilising language or behaviour
People receiving care are adults with their own identities and experiences.
Their dignity should remain central to the way support is provided.
Communication That Works for the Individual
People communicate in many different ways.
Good person-centred support means adapting communication rather than expecting everyone to communicate in exactly the same way.
Depending on the individual, this may include:
Spoken communication
Written information
Easy-read documents
Pictures
Symbols
Visual schedules
Gestures
Communication technology
Facial expressions
Objects of reference
Some individuals may also need more time to process information.
Staff should communicate clearly, avoid unnecessary jargon and check that information has been understood.
Effective communication allows people to express:
Needs
Choices
Concerns
Pain
Emotions
Preferences
Goals
Without appropriate communication, meaningful person-centred care becomes much more difficult.
Supporting Decision-Making
Having a disability, autism, dementia, learning disability or mental health condition does not automatically mean that someone cannot make decisions.
People should be supported to participate in decisions wherever possible.
This may involve:
Providing information in a simpler format
Breaking a decision into smaller parts
Using visual information
Giving the person additional time
Discussing options in a familiar environment
Involving appropriate representatives where necessary
Where there are concerns about capacity for a particular decision, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act should be followed.
Capacity should be considered in relation to the specific decision being made.
The aim should always be to involve the person as much as reasonably possible.
Positive Risk-Taking and Independence
Life involves some level of risk for everyone.
Good care is not about removing every possible risk.
If all risk is removed, individuals may also lose opportunities to develop skills, make choices and experience independence.
Instead, risks should be properly understood and managed.
For example, an individual who wants to prepare food may initially need supervision when using kitchen equipment.
Over time, if appropriate, that level of support might reduce as their confidence and ability develop.
This balances safety with independence.
Meaningful Activities
Activities should have meaning to the person participating in them.
A person-centred activity programme should consider individual interests rather than assuming everyone enjoys the same things.
Depending on the person, meaningful activities might include:
Cooking
Gardening
Music
Art
Walking
Exercise
Shopping
Films
Games
Technology
Reading
Religious activities
Visiting family
Going to cafés
Community events
Day trips
Learning new skills
For some people, a busy activity schedule may be enjoyable.
For others, quiet time or pursuing an individual interest may be more meaningful.
Both should be respected.
Maintaining Relationships
Relationships are an important part of wellbeing.
Where appropriate, we support individuals to maintain positive contact with:
Family members
Friends
Partners
Advocates
Community groups
Faith communities
Other people important to them
This may involve supporting:
Visits
Telephone calls
Video calls
Birthdays and celebrations
Community outings
Family events
Moving into residential care should not automatically mean losing existing relationships.
Cultural and Religious Needs
Person-centred care should recognise the person’s cultural identity, background and beliefs.
This may affect areas such as:
Food
Clothing
Religious observance
Prayer
Festivals
Personal care
Communication
Family involvement
Where reasonably possible, these preferences should be understood and respected.
Working with Families
Families can provide valuable knowledge about an individual, particularly when they have been closely involved in their support.
They may help us understand:
Personal history
Communication
Routines
Preferences
Previous experiences
Important relationships
Health history
Behavioural patterns
What provides reassurance
Where appropriate and consistent with the person’s wishes and rights, we aim to maintain positive communication with families and representatives.
Working with Health and Social Care Professionals
Person-centred care often requires partnership working.
Depending on the person’s needs, this may involve:
Social workers
GPs
Nurses
Community Mental Health Teams
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Occupational therapists
Physiotherapists
Speech and language therapists
Dietitians
Learning disability teams
Pharmacists
Hospital teams
Commissioners
Sharing relevant information and working collaboratively can help ensure that support remains coordinated and responsive.
The Importance of the Key Worker Relationship
Where appropriate, having a key worker can provide continuity and help build a stronger understanding of the individual.
A key worker may support the person with areas such as:
Personal goals
Care-plan discussions
Activities
Community access
Individual concerns
Maintaining relationships
Reviewing progress
Expressing preferences
Regular key-worker sessions can provide an opportunity for the person to discuss what is important to them.
What Person-Centred Care Can Achieve
Effective person-centred support may help individuals achieve:
Greater Independence
People can maintain existing abilities and develop new skills.
Increased Confidence
Being encouraged to participate and make choices can help build confidence.
Better Communication
Individual communication approaches can help people express their wishes more effectively.
Improved Emotional Wellbeing
Feeling listened to and understood can improve someone’s sense of security and wellbeing.
Greater Choice and Control
People remain involved in decisions about their everyday lives.
Stronger Relationships
Support can help individuals maintain meaningful connections with family, friends and their wider community.
Meaningful Daily Life
Activities, routines and goals can be designed around what genuinely matters to the individual.
Safer and More Appropriate Support
Understanding the person allows potential risks and support needs to be identified more effectively.
Our Person-Centred Commitment
At AKM Care, person-centred care is based on:
Listening
Understanding what the person is telling us through their words, communication and behaviour.
Choice
Helping individuals participate in everyday and important decisions.
Dignity
Treating every person with respect.
Independence
Supporting people to do as much for themselves as safely possible.
Partnership
Working alongside families, professionals and others involved in the person’s care.
Individuality
Recognising that no two people are the same.
Care Built Around the Person
Our aim is to provide support that adapts as the individual’s needs, abilities and aspirations develop.
We want the people we support to feel:
Heard.
Respected.
Safe.
Valued.
Independent.
Included.
Because person-centred care is not simply about providing services.
It is about supporting a person to live their own life, in their own way, with the right support around them.
Looking for a Person-Centred Care Placement?
We welcome referrals and enquiries from:
Local Authorities
NHS teams
Social workers
Hospital discharge teams
Community Mental Health Teams
Case managers
Healthcare professionals
Existing care providers
Families and representatives
Our team can discuss individual needs, review referral information and arrange an assessment to determine whether we can provide an appropriate placement.
