Person-centred care
Also known as: Person-centred support, Personalised care
Person-centred care is an approach that places the individual at the centre of their own care — respecting their preferences, choices, dignity and rights, and designing support around what matters to them rather than around the routines of the service.
Person-centred care means making sure people are at the centre of their care and support, with their needs, preferences and choices taking priority. It treats each person as an individual with rights, and designs care around what matters to them — the opposite of a one-size-fits-all service where people fit around the provider’s routines.
Core principles
- Dignity and respect — people are treated with compassion, kindness and respect for their identity.
- Choice and control — people make informed decisions about their own care.
- Independence — support promotes and maintains people’s independence and rights.
- Involvement — people, and where appropriate their families, are involved in planning and reviewing care.
- Individuality — care is tailored to the whole person, their history, culture and preferences.
How it links to CQC and Making It Real
Person-centred care runs through the CQC key questions, especially caring and responsive, and is described from the person’s point of view through “I statements” such as “I feel truly seen and heard, with my needs and preferences taking priority.” The Making It Real framework provides a practical way for organisations to check their practice against what good person-centred, strengths-based support looks like.
Frequently asked questions
What is person-centred care?
Person-centred care is an approach that puts the individual at the centre of their care — respecting their preferences, choices, dignity and rights, and building support around what matters to them.
What are the principles of person-centred care?
Core principles include dignity and respect, choice and control, promoting independence, involving people in decisions about their care, and treating each person as an individual.
Related articles
Navigating the Latest CQC Regulations: Key Updates for UK Care Providers
Discover the latest updates to CQC regulations and what UK care providers need to know to ensure compliance and deliver quality care.
Quality AssuranceSupported Living Quality Assurance: Audit Framework and Best Practices
How to implement effective quality assurance in supported living services. Covers person-centred auditing, outcome measurement, and CQC compliance.
Sources
- CQC — quality statements
- Think Local Act Personal — Making It Real
Evidence this standard with MyCareAudit
Digital audits, action tracking and inspection-ready reports that help you demonstrate person-centred care and every other CQC and Ofsted expectation.