Care Plan Template (Supported Living)

What should a supported living care plan template include?

A care plan sets out what matters to a person, what they do for themselves and what help they want from you. This care plan template is written for supported living, where people get support in their own home. It talks to the person in short, plain sentences, starting with "This is your care and support plan. It is about you and your life."

The law says you assess needs and preferences with the person and design support around them, so the plan is filled in with the person, in their words.

The sections of the plan

1. About you, including who helps with the plan and whether anyone has legal power to decide for the person

2. What matters to you: good days, bad days, hopes, goals, faith and culture

3. How you communicate, including how the person says yes, says no and shows pain

4. Your health, appointments and medicines help

5. Your home and daily life, from getting up to money, bills, work and going to bed

6. People who matter to you

7. Your choices

8. Staying safe

9. When you feel upset

10. Your support times, with how many staff for each slot

11. If you are not happy

12. Checking your plan

13. Agreeing your plan, signed by the person or with their mark

Choices, risks and restrictions

The choices section tells the person they can say no, and that staff will help when a choice is hard. If someone cannot make a choice, it explains in plain words that the law tells staff what to do: think about what is best for them, talk to them and the people who know them, and look for a way that limits them less.

Staying safe opens with "We want you to do things you enjoy." Each risk is listed with what staff do about it and whether the person agreed. A separate box asks whether anything is locked or kept from the person, why, who agreed and when it will be checked again.

Before you use it

Offer the plan in easy read, large print or another format the person needs. Link it to any behaviour support plan and risk assessment, keep it accurate, and set how often you check it with the person. The two staff guidance boxes can come out before you hand it over.

Write the plan from the answers on the Assessment of Needs Form. If the person has a behaviour support plan, the Positive Behaviour Support Policy applies, and anything locked or kept from them falls under your Restrictive Practice Policy & Procedure.