What approaches are used in PCP?

Person Centred Planning (PCP) encompasses a range of approaches:

• essential lifestyle planning
• PATHS – planning alternative tomorrows with hope
• MAPS – making action plans
• personal futures planning
• individual service planning
• and transition planning.

All of these approaches vary slightly in their techniques, but share some common features:

• Planning builds the person's circle of support and involves all the people who are important in that person's life.
• The plan focuses on helping the individual to be included within a community.
• The individual’s gifts and talents are celebrated.
• The plan reflects what the individual aspires to, rather than what the system can currently accommodate.
• The plan is owned by the person, and can be transferred from one setting to another.
• The plan is flexible and can be changed and developed.
• A trained and experienced PCP facilitator is required.

The rationale behind PCP is to move away from systems that forced people with disabilities to have their lives planned by others. Previously people will disabilities had very little choice about how their lives would play out. They just had to fit in with existing models of provision. 

The idea of PCP is that it gives control and choice to the individual. They can then choose to live the life they want, enjoying the same aspects of choice that non-disabled people enjoy. For example choosing where and how they live, what they do in their leisure time and who they mix with.

PCP and transition to adulthood for young people with autism

With a PCP approach, young people with severe autism will be able to establish routines and maintain them as they move into adulthood.

They may also be able to continue working with some of the same staff. And, if they find it difficult to live with other people, they should be able to live alone.