Person Centred Care and Planning
Course Overview
Person-centred care is often described as a core value in health and social care, but in practice, it is one of the areas where services either truly stand out or quietly fall short.
At its best, person-centred care means understanding the individual beyond their care needs. It means recognising their history, preferences, routines, communication style, and what matters to them day to day. It is about supporting people to live in a way that reflects who they are, not simply completing tasks on a schedule.
At its worst, care becomes task-driven. Support is delivered around routines, staffing pressures or systems, rather than the individual. This is where people begin to lose independence, choice and dignity, often without it being immediately recognised.
Our Person-Centred Care and Planning course is designed to bridge that gap. It helps staff understand not just what person-centred care is, but how to apply it consistently in real-world settings where time pressures, documentation and competing demands are part of everyday practice.
The course explores how person-centred approaches link directly to care planning, communication, risk management and decision-making. It supports staff to move from “doing tasks for people” to “working with people”, ensuring care reflects individual needs, preferences and outcomes.
This training aligns with expectations from the Care Quality Commission, including delivering care that is responsive, respectful and tailored to the individual. It also reflects best practice guidance from Skills for Care and supports organisations in evidencing high-quality care during inspection. This course also aligns with the 2025 Care Certificate standards.
For services aiming to improve care quality, strengthen care planning, and support staff to deliver genuinely person-centred support, this course provides a practical and meaningful foundation.
Course Details
Duration: Half day or full day (depending on depth required)
Delivery: Face-to-face or Remote (Zoom/Teams)
Certificate: CPD-accredited Person-Centred Care and Planning certificate
Group size: Flexible
Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for:
- Care assistants and support workers
- Senior carers and team leaders
- Domiciliary care staff
- Residential and nursing home staff
- Personal assistants
- Staff working in supported living or community services
It is particularly valuable for teams who:
- Are new to person-centred care approaches
- Need to strengthen care planning and documentation
- Are preparing for inspection
- Want to move away from task-based care
- Are supporting individuals with complex or changing needs
Why This Training Is Important
Person-centred care is a regulatory expectation, not an optional approach. The Care Quality Commission expects providers to demonstrate that care is:
- Tailored to the individual
- Respectful of dignity and choice
- Based on involvement, consent and communication
- Reflective of personal preferences, history and outcomes
Despite this, many services unintentionally drift into task-focused care, where routines take priority over the person.
This course brings person-centred care back into focus, helping staff understand how to deliver it consistently, even in busy environments.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Define person-centred care in practical, real-world terms
- Understand the principles underpinning person-centred approaches
- Recognise the difference between task-based and person-centred care
- Involve individuals meaningfully in decisions about their care
- Support independence, choice and dignity
- Contribute to and develop person-centred care plans
- Communicate effectively and actively listen
- Identify and overcome barriers to person-centred care
- Reflect on their own practice and identify improvements
Course Content
- Understanding person-centred care in practice
- Core values and principles
- Individuality, identity and life history
- Communication and relationship building
- Involving individuals in decisions
- Supporting choice, control and independence
- Care planning and documentation
- Balancing risk with independence
- Dignity, respect and privacy
- Recognising barriers and challenges
- Reflective practice and continuous improvement
How the Course Is Delivered
This course is delivered face-to-face at your workplace or chosen venue, ensuring learning is directly relevant to your service. We can also deliver this remotely via Zoom/Teams.
This ensures training is practical, relevant and immediately applicable.
Certification & Validity
Learners receive a CPD-accredited Person-Centred Care and Planning certificate on completion.
In-House & Bespoke Training
All training is delivered in-house and tailored to your organisation. We can:
- Adapt content to your service type
- Align with your care planning systems
- Support teams with mixed experience
- Focus on areas highlighted during inspection or audit
This ensures training is directly relevant to your service rather than generic.
Course Location & Service Areas
We deliver in-house training at your workplace or chosen venue, tailored to your needs and schedule. This flexible approach removes the need to send staff off-site for essential learning. Our experienced trainers deliver courses across Manchester and Greater Manchester, supporting organisations throughout the North West. We also provide on-site training throughout England, covering major cities, towns, and regions nationwide, including North England, South England, London, and Surrey.
Wherever and however the training is delivered, all sessions are led by experienced Prima Cura Training instructors and meet the same high standards.
FAQs
What does person-centred care mean in practice?
Person-centred care means supporting individuals in a way that reflects their preferences, needs and values. In practice, this involves listening to the person, involving them in decisions, respecting their choices and adapting support to suit them rather than following a fixed routine.
Why is person-centred care important for CQC inspections?
The CQC expects care to be responsive and tailored to the individual. Person-centred care is a key part of this and is reflected across inspection frameworks and quality statements. Services that cannot demonstrate this approach may struggle to evidence quality and effectiveness.
How does this training improve care planning?
The CQC expects care to be responsive and tailored to the individual. Person-centred care is a key part of this and is reflected across inspection frameworks and quality statements. Services that cannot demonstrate this approach may struggle to evidence quality and effectiveness.
Is this course suitable for new staff?
Yes. It provides a strong foundation for those new to care while also helping experienced staff reflect on and improve their practice.
Can this training be tailored to our service?
Yes. Training can be adapted to reflect your policies, procedures, documentation and the needs of the people you support.
How does person-centred care link to the Mental Capacity Act?
Person-centred care supports decision-making, choice and involvement. Where individuals lack capacity, it links directly to best interest decisions under the Mental Capacity Act, ensuring care is still centred around the individual.
What are common barriers to person-centred care?
Common barriers include time pressures, staffing levels, poor communication, task-based routines and lack of understanding. This course helps staff recognise and address these challenges.
Related Courses
- Care Certificate Assessing
- Safeguarding Adults Training
- Mental Capacity Act and DoLS Training
- Communication Skills in Care
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Training
- Key Working with Individuals
Our Commitment to Quality and Compliance
At Prima Cura Training, all courses reflect current UK guidance and best practice.
All trainers are experienced professionals with relevant qualifications and ongoing CPD. Because many of the organisations we support work with vulnerable individuals, all trainers hold Enhanced DBS checks.
Training is regularly reviewed to reflect updates from the Care Quality Commission and Skills for Care.
You can read more on our Quality Assurance and Compliance page.
Book or Enquire
If you are looking to strengthen person-centred practice within your organisation, this course provides a practical and meaningful approach.
Reviewed by Stephanie Austin – Owner & Lead Trainer, Prima Cura Training | 25+ years in health and social care | 15+ years as a trainer Last reviewed: March 2026 | Next review: March 2027
This course guides person-centred care principles and practice. It does not replace organisational policies, supervision or regulatory responsibilities. Providers remain responsible for ensuring care delivery meets current UK legislation and CQC expectations.
