How to Evidence Person-Centred Support in Shared Living Environments

August 3, 2025

🧠 Blog 7 of 7 in our Person-Centred Recording series for social care providers

This blog explores how to record and evidence person-centred support in shared living settings — where routines and resources may be communal, but each person’s voice must remain central.

🏡 Shared living environments pose unique challenges for evidencing person-centred care. Whether it’s supported living, group homes, or residential care, communal settings can unintentionally lead to generic routines, shared choices, and blurred individualisation. But this is exactly where evidencing person-centred practice becomes most important.

🧍♂️ Why Person-Centred Recording Matters More in Shared Spaces

In shared environments, providers must go the extra mile to show that:

Each person’s preferences are known and respected
Support is tailored to individual routines and goals
Participation in group activities is optional, not assumed
Shared decisions (e.g. meals, décor, music) are truly co-produced

CQC and commissioners are increasingly focused on how services avoid ‘institutional feel’ and support individual identity in shared settings.

📝 What to Show in the Care Plan

Care plans should reflect how shared living is navigated on an individual basis. Consider including:

Preferred routines: mealtimes, wake/sleep patterns, bathroom use
Shared vs private space: how privacy is maintained and respected
Group activities: preferences, opt-outs, alternatives offered
Household tasks: how involvement is matched to interest and ability

📅 Daily Notes: Person-Centred in a Group Context

When multiple people live together, staff sometimes default to ‘group’ language:

❌ “The group watched a film”
✅ “D chose not to join the film night — staff offered puzzle activity in quiet room”

This distinction shows respect for individual autonomy and gives clear evidence of tailored support.

📣 Recording Voice, Choice, and Consent

Support in shared environments should still reflect:

🗣 Individual opinions on meals, décor, and routines
✅ How choices are offered — not just outcomes but how they’re supported
🪞 Moments of individuality — even within communal routines

Daily notes might capture conversations, mood changes, or how someone reacted to a shared plan. These human touches give life to the records.

📁 In Tenders and Inspections: Evidence of Balance

Commissioners and inspectors will want to see that shared living does not dilute personalisation. Strengthen your case by evidencing:

Personalised routines respected within communal timetables
Tenants supported to make their own decisions about activities and environments
Clear co-production mechanisms for shared living arrangements
Privacy, independence, and dignity actively promoted in shared spaces

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