Person-centred care explained: what it means in practice

Person-centred care means care built around the individual’s own needs, preferences, history and goals, with the person and those close to them involved in every decision, rather than around a service’s routines. In England, Regulation 9 of the fundamental standards makes it a legal requirement for registered care providers, and CQC looks for it in care homes and home care.

At a glance

• Regulation 9 requires care that is appropriate, meets needs and reflects the person’s preferences.
• Providers must assess needs and preferences together with the person, and help them take part in decisions about their care.
• The care plan belongs to the person. It should record likes, dislikes, routines and life history, and be reviewed.
• If a person lacks capacity for a decision, their own wishes and values still shape what is done, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• On a visit, look for choice in daily routines, staff who know residents as individuals, and plans that are specific rather than generic.

What is person-centred care?

Person-centred care starts from the question “what matters to you?” rather than “what is wrong with you?”. It treats the person as the expert on their own life and asks staff to fit the support around that life, instead of fitting the person into the service’s timetable.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) describes care planning as a conversation between the person and the practitioner, where the plan belongs to the person and is shared with others only with their consent if they have capacity. It points to a focus on goals as well as difficulties, the whole of the person’s life and support network, and care that is safe while still respecting a person’s right to take risks they understand.

NICE guidance on adult social care experience puts the purpose simply: to help people achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their life. It describes joined-up support as planned and organised around the needs and preferences of the individual, their carer and family.

What does the law require in England?

Regulation 9 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 says a person’s care and treatment must be appropriate, meet their needs and reflect their preferences. It is one of the fundamental standards that CQC enforces, and breaching it can lead to action against a provider.

Other fundamental standards support it. Regulation 10 requires dignity and respect, including privacy, autonomy and independence, and due regard to protected characteristics. Regulation 14 expects food and drink to reflect needs arising from preference, religion or culture. Our guide to dignity in personal care covers the everyday detail.

What does person-centred care look like day to day?

The principle is easy to say and harder to deliver. Good person-centred practice is usually found in small, specific details:

• A life story or “this is me” style record that tells new staff about work, family, faith, music and what comforts or upsets the person.
• Choice that is real: food alternatives, flexible meal and bedtimes, and the option to eat or relax in different parts of the home.
• Activities based on what the person has enjoyed and can still enjoy, not only a group programme.
• Staff who consistently work with the same residents, so they notice small changes and know preferences without checking notes.
• Family and friends welcomed and involved, with the person’s wishes about who is told what.

For people living with dementia, NICE recommends using a structured tool to learn each person’s likes, dislikes, routines and personal history, and training all staff in person-centred and outcome-focused care, including understanding each person’s life story, identity and culture. Adapted communication, such as visual aids, should be used to help people share their views.

NICE also advises a single named health or social care professional to coordinate care, a care and support plan that is agreed with the person and relevant others, states when it will be reviewed, and is given to the person and their family or carers, and early discussions about planning ahead, such as lasting power of attorney and advance statements. Our care needs checklist can help you prepare for those conversations.

How does it work when someone lacks capacity?

Lacking capacity for one decision does not remove a person’s voice. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires that adults are presumed to have capacity, that every practical step is taken to help them decide, that an unwise decision alone does not show incapacity, and that anything done for someone who lacks capacity is in their best interests and the least restrictive option.

SCIE advises holding care planning conversations when the person is most likely to have capacity, considering whether capacity may return, and consulting family and others interested in their welfare when the person cannot express choices. It also notes a Court of Protection case where the person’s own view of their quality of life had to be weighed, and where preserving a life without meaning or happiness was not enough.

If there is no one appropriate to speak up for the person, they may be entitled to an advocate. See what advocacy in social care is and our guide to mental capacity assessments.

How can you tell if a care home is genuinely person-centred?

Brochures use the phrase freely, so look for evidence. The table below contrasts the two approaches.

When you visit, ask to see an anonymised care plan, ask how staff learn residents’ preferences, and watch how staff speak to residents when they think nobody is looking. Our list of questions to ask when visiting a care home has more prompts, and how to read a CQC inspection report shows how inspectors judge whether care is responsive and caring.

In Scotland, the Health and Social Care Standards, published by the Scottish Government in 2017, set out what people can expect from services. Wales and Northern Ireland have their own frameworks and regulators.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between person-centred and patient-centred care?

The ideas overlap. Person-centred care is the broader term and is used in social care, where the person lives in or receives support at home for the long term. It looks at the whole life, not only a condition or treatment episode.

Is person-centred care a legal requirement for care homes?

Yes, in England. Regulation 9 requires that each person’s care is appropriate, meets their needs and reflects their preferences. Providers who fail to meet it can face enforcement action from CQC.

What should a person-centred care plan include?

It should reflect the person’s needs, preferences, routines, history and goals, be agreed with them and relevant others, say when it will be reviewed, and be given to the person and their family or carers. Plans should be updated after any major change.

Can person-centred care work for people with advanced dementia?

Yes. It relies on knowing the person’s history, routines and what comforts them, and on adapted communication. Where they cannot express choices, staff consult family and others who know them, and act in their best interests.

Who can I speak to if a home is not respecting my relative’s wishes?

Start with the care manager and ask for a care review. If that fails, use the provider’s complaints procedure, then the council or the Ombudsman. See our guide on how to complain about a care home.

Where to get help next

If you are planning a move, our guides on how to choose a care home and the 6 Cs of care explain the values behind good practice. If you have concerns, read how to complain about a care home. To compare services near you, use our care finder.

Sources

• legislation.gov.uk: Regulation 9, Person-centred care
• legislation.gov.uk: Regulation 10, Dignity and respect
• SCIE: Person-centred care
• NICE: Dementia, assessment, management and support (NG97), recommendations
• NICE: People’s experience in adult social care services (NG86), context
• Scottish Government: Health and Social Care Standards

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.