Young people and families explain...
See below for comments about person-centred planning from families we've worked with.
We asked some young people and their families to help us to explain person-centred planning to other families. The comments below are all from families which have used Transforming Transitions to run a 'Map' or 'Path' session for them. We asked people to give honest comments about why the planning session was useful (or not), who was there, what happened, and what it was like. We have listed comments as we received them, not selecting some or hiding others.
Most of these comments can be downloaded as a pdf file if you want to print them.
Please remember that these planning sessions were each very different from one another - for example not all involved other family members or friends, not all involved education staff, some involved a small group, and some a large one. In some the session focused on discussion, and in others on planning specific actions. One of the features about person-centred planning is that it is built around the individual circumstances of the family and young person - even if your own circumstances are very different to those you see reflected in the comments person-centred planning would still be adapted to meet these.
Family 1
Through the chance to be involved with this process it has helped my son and us as parents to think of other ways to a better future for him. It gave us all something in black and white that we could all go through to see what was going to be accessible and worthwhile for our son.
Family 2
We found this approach provided much needed focus and by asking family and friends to become involved we were more able to open up and discuss the problem areas (which were largely pushed aside or avoided in the past).
It also creates a greater understanding from family and friends, who typically only know so much about a person's difficulties, and this encourages family and friends to ask more and find out more, which in turn creates a greater engagement from others who may have felt they had nothing to give.
Family 3
[Our daughter says she found the session useful because...]
It made it clearer about what I want to do in the future.
All of my friends were there and the teachers I like best were there too.
It was better than school meetings - even though it was held in school - I could say what I really wanted, it was much more relaxed and we had Ben and Jerry's ice-cream! After it my history teacher made up weekly assignments for me and my friends in the history group to do at my house every Tuesday. Its fallen away a bit now because of exams and that.
I think someone needs to remind everyone about what was agreed and make sure everyone still remembers to do what they said they were going to do.
[From us as parents...]
It was a useful session. Two hours was just about the right length, although to us the first part of it seemed to drag a little and we were worried we wouldn't get onto the action points - however that turned out not to be the case, which was great.
The Principle Teacher of Learning Support was there - he is also our daughter's guidance teacher - and he was very keen to use this process with other pupils.
We found it easy to organise in a room in the school after school hours - but that's because we have a good relationship with the school staff anyway and the teachers who came were prepared to stay behind for an extra two hours at the end of a school day. We don't know if that would happen in every school!
Family 4
Some folk are really scared to 'ask for help' from family and friends... don't want to burden folk... its down to us as parents etc. We found the planning session allowed other family (my sisters) to ask if they could do more to help us! We were surprised and it opened a door and that really helped.
Also the graphic map you are left with is a great record of where you are and where you want to go. We have three now going back six years. They are as important to us as the kids school photos. A mixture of memories, nostalgia and times past.
If you are not sure give it a try, it's a very peculiarly Scottish trait to bury everything and put on a brave face. Why not let that go for a couple of hours and tell everyone what you really feel. It helps... honest!
Family 5
My daughter and I had completely no direction and had reached crisis point. She was not attending school and I had lost my job. Unfortunately my experience of agencies I believed were there to help was very negative. I found the education and social services system biased, negative, aggressive and entirely unprofessional.
'Transforming Transitions' was entirely professional, unbiased and positive. In a comfortable home setting my small family was able to re-group and focus on a way to gather assets and move forward from what was a very dark time. I felt listened to and not misjudged. My daughter does not express herself fully in a group situation but is very attached to her 'mapping' – we still have it and she has enjoyed showing it to my friends.
'Transforming Transitions' helped us move forward towards a more positive lifestyle and reminded both of us of things we had got or done right and correctly.
PS: We are planning a dog this year to add to the fish and hamster!
Family 6
Person-centred planning is an informal, friendly way of asking the 'person' and family/supporters/carers what would make a better life.
Forget what society dictates and decide for yourself what do you want.
A chance for family/carers etc to see what the 'person' wishes for themselves, choices and dreams.
Family 7
It allowed us to think outside the box about what was best for our son.
Family 8
The process itself is exceptionally powerful. I had thought that it would be too overpowering and be stressful for him – instead he rose to the occasion enjoying all the positive comments and being the centre of attention. The comment that will always remain with me is the one he made on leaving: "mum, I feel so good about myself".
Wow – says it all.
Family 9
Our son has learning difficulties + he has problems socially and making friends. The person centred plan had him thinking of what he'd like for his future (some fantastic, some very basic). In attendance were some friends from school, a teacher, his aunt, his cousin + ourselves (Mum, Dad + wee bruv). It was very enlightening to us all and was enjoyable to watch + participate in. The 2 lovely ladies who co-ordinated his "Plan" created a super big graphic plan with colourful writing + drawings. we all had the opportunity to offer to help our lad achieve his goals + some of these have been set in motion already. :-)
Family 10
I kind of went along with this not knowing what was going to happen. I hate being in situations like that, but I was glad I did. The outcome was great. Having everybody's input – things I didn't even realise would be useful – everything just came together.
Family 11
[From the young person directly...]
The best part of the meeting was having my friends and family. Being there for
me. I love all the colours on the map and I going to put it on my bedroom wall.
[From the young person's parents]
We met on a Saturday afternoon at a venue picked by our daughter – the
sports centre – as she loves sport. She made up her list of people who
she wanted there and sent out invitations. The group was made up of family
and friends who had been involved in her life. There were two people from
Transforming Transitions – one to ask questions and draw discussion
from the group and one to draw the map!
We talked over our daughter's life from birth to present and marvelled at how far we had all come. We then talked over about her aims for the future and how we all thought she might get there.
As we talked the lady from Transforming Transitions picked up the key points and added them to the map, which started as a very large piece of blank paper on the wall. However the finished map was a now bright and colourful story of our daughter with some suggestions as to where she might be going and what we could do to achieve this.
I think we were a lively bunch and not the easiest for the facilitator to 'chair' as we all like our say, but as a family confirmed the amount of support we have had over the years.
We are now coming up to the big transition from education into the 'big wide world' and this meeting gave us some things to focus on.