Conducting Person-Centred Reviews

For autistic people receiving support in care settings-whether in supported living, residential care, or attending day services-the regular care plan review is a cornerstone of ensuring their needs are met. All too often, however, these reviews can feel like a bureaucratic task or a simple tick-box exercise.

So how can we transform a standard review from a simple form-filling exercise into a truly meaningful conversation that empowers the person and improves their quality of life? The key lies in adopting a genuinely person-centred approach, where the process is as important as the outcome.

The Foundation: What is a Person-Centred Review?

A person-centred review is a meeting that puts the autistic person at the very heart of the conversation about their life and their support. It is a dedicated time for the person and their support network to come together, not just to assess needs, but to celebrate successes, understand challenges, and collaboratively plan for the future. The goal is to ensure the support plan is a living document that truly reflects the person's strengths, preferences, and aspirations.

Before the Review: Setting the Stage for Success

Thorough preparation is vital to making a review meeting a comfortable and productive experience. A lack of predictability and sudden changes can cause significant anxiety for autistic people, so setting the stage correctly is crucial.

• Prepare the Person

  The person at the centre of the review should be prepared well in advance. This means giving them clear information about when it will happen, where, who will be there, and what will be discussed. This information should be provided in their preferred communication format, which could be a visual timetable, an easy-read document, or a social story. Advance preparation reduces the anxiety associated with uncertainty and change. It gives the person time to process the information and think about what they want to say, empowering them to participate more fully.

• Gathering Information: The Person-Centred Review Document

  A key part of preparation is gathering thoughts and information beforehand, often using a structured document or "pack". This helps the person reflect on their life and ensures the meeting covers what is most important to them. This document should be completed collaboratively with the person, using their preferred communication methods. Completing this review document beforehand allows the person to process their thoughts without the pressure of a live meeting. It ensures their voice is accurately captured and provides a clear agenda, making the review itself more focused, efficient, and truly centred on the person. Key sections would typically include:

  • What's Working Well?

    A focus on positives, asking questions like: What achievements are you proud of? What are your strengths and skills? What special interests bring you joy and comfort?

  • What is Proving Difficult?

    An honest look at challenges, asking: What situations cause you to feel anxious or distressed? What are your known triggers? Are there any sensory issues with noise, lights, or smells that are causing problems?

  • My Health and Well-being

    This covers both physical and mental health. Questions could include: Are there any changes to your health or any medications you take? How have you been feeling emotionally? How have your sleeping and eating patterns been?

  • Important People and Relationships

    This section focuses on the person's social world. Questions might be: Who are the most important people in your life? Who do you trust and feel comfortable with?

  • My Hopes and Goals for the Future

    This is a forward-looking section to capture aspirations. It could ask: What new skills would you like to learn? What would you like to achieve this year in your work, education, or hobbies?

• Choose the Right Environment

  The review should take place in a location where the person feels safe and comfortable. The environment should be considered holistically, paying attention to sensory factors. This means choosing a quiet room with minimal distractions, soft lighting, and comfortable seating. A busy, noisy, or brightly lit room can lead to sensory overload, making it incredibly difficult for a person to concentrate, communicate, and feel calm. A sensory-friendly environment helps the person to feel relaxed and able to engage in the conversation.

• Involve the Right People

  The autistic person should have control over who attends their review. This will typically include their key support staff and trusted family members. It may also be beneficial to include an advocate, who can help ensure the person's voice is heard and their rights are defended. Involving trusted people creates a strong and respectful support network. An advocate is particularly important if the person has difficulty communicating for themselves or making their views known.

During the Review: A Guided Conversation

The role of the person facilitating the review is to guide a respectful and productive conversation, not to lead an interrogation. This requires empathy, patience, and strong communication skills.

• Facilitating with Empathy

  The facilitator must use clear, direct, and unambiguous language, avoiding jargon, metaphors, or sarcasm that can be confusing. It is essential to allow plenty of time for the person to process information and formulate their responses, as rushing can cause stress. Active listening-giving your full attention and checking for understanding-shows that you are engaged and that you value what the person is saying.

• Start with Strengths and Positives

  Begin the meeting by talking about what is working well. Celebrate the person's achievements, no matter how small, and acknowledge things they are proud of. This builds confidence and creates a positive atmosphere for the discussion. It helps to counter a deficit-focused view by reminding everyone of the person's capabilities and successes.

• Discuss What's Working and Not Working

  Have an honest, non-judgmental discussion about the current support plan. What parts are helpful? What parts are causing difficulty or are no longer needed? This allows for an honest assessment of the support's effectiveness and helps to identify specific areas that need adjustment without assigning blame.

• Focus on Future Goals and Aspirations

  The conversation should then move towards the person's ambitions for the coming year. This is about their personal goals, not just service-related targets. This ensures the plan is forward-looking and helps the person work towards fulfilling their potential, providing a sense of purpose and direction that is meaningful to them.

• Agree a Clear Action Plan

  The review must conclude with a clear, agreed-upon action plan. This plan should specify what actions will be taken, who is responsible for each one, and the timescales. A vague plan creates uncertainty and anxiety, while a specific action plan provides the structure and predictability that autistic people often need to feel secure.

After the Review: Making the Plan a Reality

A review is only useful if its outcomes are put into practice. After the meeting, the updated support plan and action plan should be written up in a format that is accessible to the autistic person. This document should then be shared with everyone involved in their care, including family and all relevant staff.

Sharing the plan with the entire team ensures consistency of care. When everyone-from family to support workers-is working from the same page, it reduces confusion and helps the autistic person feel safe, knowing what to expect from the people and the support around them.

More Than a Meeting: A Commitment to Well-being

A well-conducted person-centred review is one of the most powerful tools in social care. It moves beyond a procedural requirement to become a genuine commitment to a person's well-being.

By making sure the whole process is well prepared, respectful, and collaborative, it will reinforce the person's dignity and empower them to take an active role in shaping a life that is truly their own.