Using Multi-Disciplinary Input to Strengthen Person-Centred Planning in ABI Services
Acquired brain injury (ABI) services often involve complex needs that require input from multiple professionals, including clinicians, therapists, support staff and managers. Person-centred planning must bring these perspectives together to ensure that support is safe, effective and aligned with individual goals. Commissioners and inspectors increasingly expect providers to demonstrate how multi-disciplinary input informs planning and improves outcomes. For broader context, this article should be read alongside Person-Centred Planning & Strengths-Based Support and ABI Service Models & Pathways.
Without structured multi-disciplinary involvement, planning can become fragmented or overly reliant on a single perspective. Effective providers ensure that different professional insights are coordinated, clearly documented and consistently applied in practice.
Why multi-disciplinary working is critical in ABI services
ABI affects multiple areas of functioning, including cognition, behaviour, communication and physical health. No single professional perspective can fully address these complexities.
Multi-disciplinary working ensures that planning reflects the full range of needs and supports a holistic approach to care and support.
Commissioner and inspector expectations
Commissioner expectation: Coordinated and integrated care. Commissioners expect providers to demonstrate effective collaboration between professionals, ensuring that services are joined-up and responsive.
Regulator expectation (CQC): Holistic, person-centred care. Inspectors expect providers to evidence that care is informed by relevant expertise and tailored to the individual.
Structuring multi-disciplinary input
Multi-disciplinary input must be organised and purposeful. This includes clear processes for gathering, sharing and applying information.
Operational example 1: Structured MDT planning meetings
An ABI provider introduced regular multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings where clinicians, therapists and support staff reviewed person-centred plans together. Each professional contributed insights based on their expertise.
Outcomes from meetings were clearly documented and incorporated into plans, ensuring that all perspectives were reflected in delivery.
Integrating clinical and therapeutic input
Clinical and therapeutic input is particularly important in ABI services, where rehabilitation and recovery are ongoing.
Operational example 2: Therapy-informed support planning
A service integrated recommendations from occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and psychologists directly into person-centred plans. These recommendations informed daily routines and support approaches.
Staff received guidance on how to implement these approaches, improving consistency and effectiveness.
Ensuring communication across teams
Effective communication is essential for ensuring that multi-disciplinary input is understood and applied consistently.
Operational example 3: Shared communication systems
An ABI provider implemented shared communication systems, including digital records and structured handovers, to ensure that all staff had access to up-to-date information.
This reduced gaps in communication and supported coordinated delivery.
Balancing different perspectives
Multi-disciplinary working can involve differing opinions. Providers must ensure that decisions are balanced, documented and aligned with person-centred principles.
This includes:
- Clear decision-making processes
- Documentation of rationale
- Regular review of decisions
Balancing perspectives supports effective and transparent planning.
Governance and oversight
Providers must monitor the effectiveness of multi-disciplinary working through governance systems. This ensures that collaboration is consistent and impactful.
This can include:
- Audit of MDT processes
- Review of outcomes and progress
- Feedback from staff and individuals
Governance supports continuous improvement.
Evidencing multi-disciplinary practice
To meet expectations, providers must demonstrate how multi-disciplinary input informs planning and delivery. This includes:
- Records of MDT meetings and contributions
- Evidence of integrated planning
- Outcomes linked to multi-disciplinary input
Strong evidence supports inspection outcomes and commissioning confidence.
Multi-disciplinary working as a quality indicator
In ABI services, effective multi-disciplinary working is a key indicator of quality. Providers that integrate professional perspectives into person-centred planning deliver more holistic, responsive and effective support, aligned with both commissioner and regulatory expectations.