Human Rights & Employment
2. Human Rights PWID
2.5. Human Rights in action – Person-centred planning
"It is so easy to change our language without changing our structure or our culture" John O'Brien
What person-centred planning is?
Person-centred planning is a set of approaches designed to assist an individual with intellectual disability to develop a plan on community participation and quality of life. It was initially developed as an answer to traditional models of planning, which have been focussed on the person's deficits and negative behaviours, labelling the person and creating a disempowering mindset from the start. Human rights are at the very core of person-centred planning, which aims to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making and to have control over the support they need in order to live a good life and make a valued contribution. Person-centred planning discovers and acts on what is important to a person. It is a process of continuous listening and learning, focussing on what is important to someone now and in the future, and acting on this in alliance with their family and friends. This shifts from the model of care, where an individual receives support determined by professionals, to one that has the individual firmly at the centre.
Person-centred planning is anchored in the person's natural community and personal relationship network. In this view, it offers a platform for the person and his/her trusted allies to identify and express his/her vision and commitments without limiting that expression to what can or will be provided by the service system.
The principles of person-centred practice
The principles of person-centred practice are about listening, sharing power, responsive action and connecting with citizenship. In writing about these principles Thompson et. al. (2008) suggest they are designed with an implicit hierarchy and that each principle underpins and interconnects with the others. As an example, they suggest it is not possible to share professional power effectively without listening to what is important to a person first. Each of these four principles is described below:
Listening
Listening in person-centred practice involves listening both to what is important to someone and what is important for them.
Sharing power
Person-centred approaches challenge power balances between people with learning disabilities and professionals.
Responsive action
Listening is insufficient on its own if there is no sense of a clear intention of acting on what is heard. Responsive action involves being clear about what we are responsible for in our professional roles with people and what is outside our sphere of influence or none of our business. In the exchange model there is a core assumption that the person is the expert of their own life problems, and professional expertise lies in helping to create a shared understanding of the person in the situation, to go shaking, problem-solving and co-designing solutions.
Person-Centred Planning Tools (MAPS and PATH)
Person-Centred Tools support person-centred thinking and skills. They can be used in a variety of situations and help to plan, organise, understand and connect with others. Two commonly used set of tools in the development of a person-centred plan are MAPS (Map Action Planning System) and PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope). Both of these methods use a graphic process in a meeting where the person in the centre has invited people that they have chosen. It is important that the person and their support circle are well supported and prepared for the meeting.
MAPS was developed by John O’Brien, Marsha Forest, Jack Pearpoint, Judith Snow and David Hasbury in the mid 1980’s. It asks a series of questions that individuals can use to develop a plan of action. MAPS is comprised of steps drawing a positive picture of a person through a group of invited people.
MAP Graphic Example
PATH was developed by John O’Brien, Marsha Forest and Jack Pearpoint in the beginning of the 1990s. It is like, MAPS, a graphical model for planning that helps people find direction and build strength.
PATH Graphic example
Activity ideas
· Watch the following video and reflect on the nature of support you want for your child.