Clients Help Shape a More Inclusive, Personalised MyPlan at Southdown

At Southdown, we believe that the people we support should be at the heart of decisions that affect them. That’s why we recently held a client involvement session to redesign the MyPlan, a key tool used in our learning disability support services.

The MyPlan is an annual meeting focused on the eight domains of quality of life. It’s a space for our clients to reflect on what’s working well in their lives, what they’d like to change, and what they’d like to try next.

To help make the new version of MyPlan more inclusive and person-centred, we invited three clients from our learning disability support services, with a range of communication needs. One of the clients was fully verbal, one nonverbal and one uses Makaton to communicate. By using a variety of communication tools, we ensured that every voice was heard.

The session gave us valuable insights:

• Does the current MyPlan make sense to clients?
• Do they feel heard and included in the process?
• How can we make it more useful and engaging?

All our clients have the potential to have a say and be involved in the shaping of their lives, it’s just about us finding a way to do this effectively.
~Lindsey, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Practitioner

Involving people in decisions about their own care not only enhances their quality of life, but also promotes autonomy and trust, especially important for those who may feel that care is often something done to them, rather than with them.

MyPlan is an example of our person-centred approach, aligning with all of Southdown’s core values: being a force for good, brilliant with people, united, trustworthy and responsive. It also embodies the principles of the Southdown Beacon, our psychologically informed framework that guides how we create safe, inclusive spaces; build meaningful relationships; and recognise each person’s strengths and most of all potential. By listening to our clients and valuing their lived experience, we’re not just shaping better support plans, we’re also building a culture where everyone can feel safe, heard, and empowered to flourish.

Here are some photographs from the session: