Case Study

Jeremy, now 27, walked when he was seven, but he remains unsteady on his feet and gets around by crawling or creeping.  He will sometimes smile when you call his name but appears to understand little else of what is said. Though he has no speech he often vocalises, and people who know him well feel that on occasion he can communicate his needs through facial expressions and the noises he makes. He will reach for things he wants but does not point or lead others by the hand to indicate his wishes. Jeremy generally loves his food. Though he can feed himself with a spoon he prefers to use his hands.  He will eat most things but has a preference for savouries and a dislike for vegetables. He drinks from a beaker with a lid and will drink most types of drink. Sometimes Jeremy goes off his food and appears generally miserable for a few days, but he always picks up again.

1. You want to start using person-centred planning tools with Jeremy but don't know how to start. Someone has told you that using the tools on yourself can help. How would you do this?

It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.