How to Tailor Support to People’s Strengths, Not Just Their Needs
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Blog 2 of 7: This article is part of our 7-part series on tailoring support in person-centred care. Scroll down to explore links to the full series.
When we talk about person-centred approaches, we often default to assessing needs. But what if we started with strengths instead?
Tailoring support around someone’s strengths means seeing the individual as capable, resilient and full of potential — not just as someone who needs help. That shift in language and thinking is what commissioners and inspectors are looking for in learning disability tenders and domiciliary care bids.
In your tenders, try to:
- Use language that reflects what people can do, not just what they can’t
- Include examples where individuals have built confidence or regained independence
- Describe support plans that reflect personal strengths and priorities
- Highlight how risk management still allows for choice and growth
This approach isn’t just person-centred — it’s future-focused. It shows commissioners that you believe in the people you support. Framing answers this way can strengthen your home care tenders and build trust with evaluation panels.
Many providers also use our proofreading and review services to ensure their evidence reflects strengths clearly and avoids generic, compliance-only language that risks losing marks.
📚 Explore the full 7-part series on tailoring support in person-centred care:
- 🗣️ 1 – Tailoring Support: What It Means and Why It Matters
- 💪 2 – How to Tailor Support to People’s Strengths (Not Just Their Needs)
- 📄 3 – One Page Profiles: More Than Just a Tool
- 🌞 4 – “What Would a Good Day Look Like?” — The Most Important Question
- 🎯 5 – Embedding Choice and Control in Everyday Support
- ✂️ 6 – Why Person-Centred Support Plans Should Never Be Cut-and-Paste
- ❓ 7 – Are You Really Tailoring Support — or Just Offering Options?