Person-Centred Pracitice is a process of constant review, learning and listening. Person-Centred Practice focuses on the immediate and the future, taking into account the needs, thoughts, concerns and opinions of the individual, and consulting their family and friends and others within their ‘personal network’. This person centred approach helps individuals identify their aspirations, and mobilises those concerned family, friends, services providers and school - to help the individual concerned to pursue their own personal ambitions. Services should, in theory, become more flexible and tailored to the needs of the person, rather than a group of people with differing requirements.

There are five key features of Person-Centred Practice.

1. The person is at the centre
2. The person and their family and / or carers are consulted and actively involved throughout the planning process.
3. The plan reflects what is important to the person, their capacities, and what support they require.
4. The plan results in actions that are about life, not just services, and reflect what is possible, not just what is available.
5. The plan results in ongoing listening, learning, and further action.

Person-centred thinking and planning is founded on the premise that genuine listening contains an implied promise to take action. Unless what is learnt about how the person wishes to live, and where they wish to go in their lives is recorded and acted upon, any planning will have been a waste of time, and more importantly a betrayal of the person and the trust they have placed in those who have planned with them. From a school, education and learning perspective, there are clear links to Transition Planning, where Person-Centred Practice principles and processes should be a clear driver for planning for your child / young person’s future.