Develop a detailed report that critically evaluates the benefits to the individual, professionals, and organization of effective care planning. You are required to use headings, titles, and captions where appropriate. You are encouraged to use images, sample care plans and other materials to support your work. The recommended word length is 1,500 words.

P3 Discuss how different needs can be met through a care plan

• Based on the assessment of the person and part of wider case management to meet the needs.
• It is written down -describes planned agreed actions aimed at addressing the needs and goals identified through an initial and comprehensive assessment. Aims to match needs with service provision.
• Discuss the different components of a care plan –needs, goals (short and long-term), interventions, who is responsible, timeframe, evaluation.
• Needs are prioritized in the plan – include what is most important.
• Use of SMART Formula in identifying needs.
• NB – An effective plan will look at the holistic needs of the person – what is this? Why is it important? – dealing with complex cases. Not just about meeting the physical needs of a person etc
• Written in partnership with the person –makes it more realistic.
• May involves a multi-disciplinary team – means more needs can be met.

4 Investigate the review process and the need for a flexible approach to care planning

• Person-centered nature of the care planning
• Why is a flexible approach needed? – the complexity of cases; changing nature of conditions – progress/deterioration; availability of resources/professionals, etc.
• It provides an opportunity to reflect on what’s working, what’s not working, what needs to change. – link to reflective practice and
• Plans are kept up-to-date and relevant to the individual’s needs and aspirations.
• Frequency of reviews – Planned, unplanned, and requested reviews.

M2 Evaluate how care plans achieve agreed service user outcomes using professional, local and national standards of practice

Consider how care plans sit within the wider context of professional, local, and national standards of practice. For example, HIQA Standards of Care and different Codes of Professional Conduct (nurses/ social care workers/ social workers, etc). To evaluate this issue, think about this in relation to:

• Strengths or Weaknesses
• Advantages or disadvantages
• Alternative actions
• Relevance or significance

Make your own judgment in this context.

D1 Critically evaluate the benefits to the individual, professionals, and organizations of effective care planning.

Make a judgment taking into account different factors and using available knowledge/experience/evidence where the judgment is supported.

• What would happen if there was no care plan in place? Focus on both sides of the argument. What happens when care plans go wrong – poor quality/ poor practice, etc.
• Consider all three – individual, professional, organizational.
• Understanding the role of different professionals involved/skills required.
• The care plan can be actioned as a dynamic tool –flexible to the person’s needs.
• Cycle – requires regular updating. Does this happen? If not, why not?
• Critically evaluate at every opportunity in the assignment.