Unit name: Implement person-centred approaches in care settings
Learning outcome: 5. Be able to support the individual’s right to make choices
Assessment criteria: 5.1 Support an individual to make informed choices
To promote the person-centred value of choice, you should ensure that all individuals are empowered to make their own choices about their lives including the care they receive.
Informed choices can only be made if the individual has all the facts available to weigh up the pros and cons of each option. Therefore, you will need to be able to provide them with unbiased information that they can use to make a decision. You should also ensure that you communicate this information in a way that they understand and in an objective manner so that any of your own personal bias does not influence their decision.
It is important that the individual has the mental capacity to understand their choices and retain the information for long enough to weigh up the various options as well as being able to communicate their decision. If you have concerns that they are unable to perform any of these tasks then you should speak to your manager as they may require a mental capacity assessment.