One-Page Profiles

What are One-Page Profiles?

Learning what is important to and for someone can be recorded on one page to begin with. We call this a . Usually, what is important for the person is framed as 'best support' or 'what we need to know or do to support the person'. A one-page profile typically has three sections: an appreciation about the person; what is important to that person from their perspective; and how to support them well.

A one-page profile can also be the beginning of a more detailed person-centred description. Once you have a one-page profile, each person-centred thinking tool used both leads to actions and further information which can be added, so that the document turns from being a one-page profile to being at least a couple of pages long (a person-centred description).

After each person-centred thinking tool is used, ask:

• What does this tell us is important to the person?
• What does it tell us about how to support the person well?
• What clues does it give us about the person's gifts and contributions?

Then add this information to the original one-page profile which then starts to become a longer person-centred description. For example, using the relationship circle will lead to action by asking: 'What would it take to increase the number of people in the person's life?' Then: 'What do we need to do to start this?' The relationship circle will also provide information both on who is important to the person, and what staff need to do to support the person around their relationships.

 

The purpose of a one-page profile

The purpose of a one-page profile and a person-centred description is to provide a summary of person-centred information that people in the person's life can use to either get to know them quickly, or ensure that they are providing consistent support in the way that the person wants. They are not the latest way to produce 'good paper', but by considering what is important to and for a person, and what good support looks like, they are a way to create actions that make a difference.

The one-page profile provides the information to use to base conversations about what is working and not working in the person's life. Even where someone is not supported by services, this information can still be important to record and share in this way.

The most common errors in one-page profiles and person-centred descriptions are:

• Assuming that if it is important to others in the person's life (for example, staff or families), it must be important to the person. Among the worst examples was a plan that said that implementing a restrictive behaviour programme (that the person clearly hated) was important to the person.
• Describing what is important to the person in brief, telegraphic phrases that give an idea of what is important, but are easily subject to misinterpretation by the reader. A common example is to have the single word 'privacy' listed, without saying more about what privacy means to the person. Since, in the absence of other information, people operate out of their own experiences and perceptions, privacy will be interpreted as meaning what it means to the reader and this is likely to be different from what it means to the individual.
• The basics should be assumed, unless there is a history of their being absent. A list of things that sound like a recitation of Maslow's hierarchy - for example, food, shelter, clothing - should be avoided unless they have been absent in the person's life. Someone who has been hurt by an individual with whom they live may want to say that they must not live with people who hurt others. People who have never lived with such a person will take it as a given.

 

Videos

Helen Sanderson discusses a practical application of one-page profiles through every step of life from caring to a newborn to helping plan your retirement.

 

How can the tool be used?

The one-page profile provides the information to use to base conversations about what is working and not working in the person's life. Even where someone is not supported by services, this information can still be important to record and share in this way. This made a significant difference for Dan.

 

This is what people appreciate about Sandra:

• her honesty and her loyalty
• when Sandra gives her word, she keeps it
• Sandra is unfailingly kind
• she treats everyone equally and does not discriminate
• Sandra is determined and does not give up
• she is willing to share, especially if it will benefit others
• Sandra has a real passion for wanting to help others
• she has a warm sense of humour and is able to laugh at herself
• Sandra has a real curiosity about the world and is always looking to learn something new
• Sandra has great courage.

From talking and learning about Sandra's good days and bad days and what her routines are, her support worker was able to determine what is important to her and how best to support her. This became Sandra's one-page profile.

 

 

Papers and Articles

One-Page Profile to Person-Centred or Support Plan.

The process of building from a one page-profile to a person centred plan has been developed from the best practices of a whole number of people involved in the work of facilitating, delivering and training person-centred approaches. This paper focuses on developing a one-page profile into a person centred plan. A paper by Max Neill, Helen Sanderson and Gill Bailey.

To view this paper see the downloads box on the left.

Person-Centred Thinking and Acute Hospital Care - Maureen's story.
This story shows how a residential services team in Wiltshire used the person-centred thinking tools, and developed a one-page profile for Maureen to help support health colleagues in saving a disabled lady's life.

To view this paper see the downloads box on the left

Person-centred thinking and long term health conditions - Pat's Story.

Pat has suffered with Raynaud's in her feet since her early thirties, and also has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes type 2. This story describes how Pat manages her long term health conditions using various person-centred thinking tools and used them to develop her one-page profile. Pat is now experiencing personalised, responsive and holistic care that not only treats her illnesses, but also suits her and how she wants to live her life.

To view this paper see the downloads box on the left.

How Well Do I Know and Use Person-Centred Thinking Tools?

A table that outlines what the tool is, what it can be used for, and what could I do to use this tool more and learn about it?

To view this table see the downloads box on the left.

One-Page Profiles in Schools: a guide by Helen Sanderson, Tabitha Smith and Liz Wilson.

This guide is to help you to develop one-page profiles in school. We start with the why, what, how and who of one page profiles. We then give information about the headings and ways to get started.
To read this new resource see the downloads box on the left.

One-Page Profiles with Children and Young People by Lorraine Erwin and Helen Sanderson.

This article demonstrates the benefits of using one-page profiles through a number of stories showing how this tool can support person-centred approaches with individual children, curriculum development, school development plans and staff management.

To read this article see the downloads box on the left.

 

More Examples and Stories

Examples of One-Page Profiles from Children.

Cameron's One-Page Plan.

Adam's One-Page Plan.

Shannon's One-Page Plan.

Jennie's One-Page Profile.

 

Read about how we are thinking about One-Page Plans in School - Laura's One-Page Profile for School.

A dream is for all children to have their own person centred plans, in all mainstream and special schools. Closer to reality, teachers would not be able to read, use and add to very detailed plans on all children in their class.

 

Examples of One-Page Profiles from Older People.

One page about Margaret.

One Page about Ken.

One Page about Beryl.

One Page about Barry.

One Page about Ann.

One Page about Doris.

One Page about Florrie.

One Page about Mary.

One Page about May.

One Page about Mrs Batir.

One Page about Tom.

One Page about Vi.

One Page about Arthur.

One Page about Kenny.

Examples of One-Page Profiles from People with Developmental/Learning Disabilities.

Ben's Profile.

Winston's One-Page Profile.

Andrew's Textile one-page profile.
Andrew designed and created his textile one-page profile with the hope to inspire others to be more creative with their profiles.

Examples of One-Page Profiles from People with Mental Health Issues.

Dave Adam's One-Page Profile.

Examples of One-Page Profiles from Adults.

Barbara's One-Page Profile.

Rebecca's One-Page Profile.

Tony's One-Page Profile.

Sue's One-Page Profile.

Dan's One-Page Profile.

Helen's One-Page Profile.

Sharon's One-Page Profile.

Ruth's One-Page Profile.

Mr Joshi's - From a one-page profile to working/not working.

One-Page Profiles for Breast Cancer Survivors

These profiles have been developed with breast cancer survivors:

Amanda G

Eleanor

Amanda P

 

One-Page Profile - Templates.

Four squares template.

Newspaper column 1.

Newspaper column and sidebar.

Read all about it.

Horizontal Panels.

Three panels landscape.

Two columns.

Vertical name.

Easy One Page Profiles - Templates.

Different templates for producing one-page profiles where you can enter the text into a designed form:

Templates you can type into:
Word Template 1
Word Template 2

Templates you can print and write on:
PDF 1
PDF 2
PDF 3

 

Top Tips

Voyage tips on developing One-Page Profiles

Voyage guidence for One-Page Profiles

 

Courses

Celebrating Families offers a range of courses for people working alongside disabled children, young people and their families that are fun and creative.

The courses and events involve everyone in a creative and practical way and are ideally suited to people with little experience of attending courses.

• One-Page Profile Day
• Profiles in Partnership
• Celebrating Families Event

Click this link to view a flyer for more information.

 

Materials

A practical Guide to Delivering Personalisation, Person-Centred Practice in Health and Social Care.

This book will show how to deliver personalisation through simple, effective and evidence-based person-centred practice that changes people's lives and helps them achieve the outcomes they want. It covers why person-centred practice is relevant to the personalisation agenda and what person-centred thinking and person-centred reviews are, introducing the tools that can help you carry them out. It also explores the relationship between person-centred plans and support plans, and how person-centred practice can be used in the journey of support through adulthood - from prevention or the management of long-term health conditions to reablement, recovery, support in old age and at the end of life. There is also a chapter on taking a person-centred approach to risk.

 

Celebrating Families

 

Celebrating Families is a practical guide for parents. It's all about appreciating each individual in your family and discovering how they prefer to negotiate a path through life; ensuring that what is important to all members of your family (including you, the parent) are met as fully as possible. It contains lots of stories about how families have used person-centred thinking and planning

 

All materials are available from the HSA Press website or by calling 0161 442 8271.

 

Blogs

The One-page profiles are regularly discussed in our blog section.