Collaborative Pathways in Care and Treatment Reviews
Image by Zbyněk Skrčený
“Being part of the review meant my child’s voice was truly heard for the first time. Before the review, we felt like decisions were being made without fully understanding our needs. It’s made all the difference.”
Care and Treatment Reviews aim to prevent unnecessary or lengthy stays in hospital settings for people with learning disabilities and/or autism while ensuring they receive timely, person-centred, and effective support. However, in practice, co- production is often overlooked in many reviews.
At Positive Support Group (PSG), we are committed to ensuring that our Care and Treatment Reviews are genuinely co-produced, with individuals, their families, and supporters actively involved in decisions about their support. The reviews we facilitate place their voices at the centre of the process, valuing lived experiences, sharing decision-making power, and respecting all contributions.
What are Care and Treatment Reviews?
Care and Treatment Reviews ensure that people with learning disabilities and/or autism receive the right support in the right setting. They bring together key stakeholders – such as the individual, their family or advocates, and professionals – to review and improve support plans. Designed to be person-centred and proactive, these reviews help shape support in line with the person’s long-term goals and aspirations.
Fostering Genuine Co-production in PSG’s Care and Treatment Reviews
Empowering the Individual
At the heart of every PSG Care and Treatment Review is the individual with a support need. Unlike many Care and Treatment Reviews where decisions are made without meaningful input, we ensure that individuals’ experiences, preferences, and hopes truly guide discussions and decisions. By encouraging individuals to share their stories and priorities, PSG’s Care and Treatment Reviews foster a sense of ownership and agency over their support.
Involving Families and Supporters
Families and supporters often bring invaluable insights into an individual’s needs and strengths. Including them in the PSG Care and Treatment Review process ensures that support plans are not only clinically sound but also informed by lived experience. This collaborative approach builds trust and ensures support aligns with real-life needs. Importantly, specific consent must be granted by the individual for their family members to participate.
Challenging the Status Quo
Many Care and Treatment Reviews risk reinforcing existing systems rather than challenging them. At PSG, our Care and Treatment Reviews create a space to critically examine support arrangements and explore truly person-centred alternatives. By involving diverse voices – including the individual receiving support, independent experts, and service providers – the process becomes a collaborative effort to find innovative, tailored solutions. Examples include developing personalised communication aids for non-verbal individuals and creating flexible support plans that adapt to changing needs.
Strengthening Communication
Open, honest, and respectful communication is a cornerstone of PSG’s Care and Treatment Reviews. Unlike some Care and Treatment Reviews where power imbalances persist, our process actively promotes dialogue and ensures that everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
Making Co-production Meaningful
While Care and Treatment Reviews provide a robust framework for co-production, their success depends on meaningful engagement. This includes preparing participants for the review, tailoring communication methods, and ensuring follow- through to maintain accountability. Key steps include:
Preparation: Ensuring the individual, their family, and network understand the process and feel confident to participate.
Accessibility: Using clear language, providing interpreters or visual aids, and adapting to individual communication needs.
Follow-through: Ensuring actions agreed upon during the Care and Treatment Review are implemented and regularly reviewed.
Co-production in Action
We have witnessed incredible stories of transformation through PSG’s co-produced Care and Treatment Reviews. As one parent shared:
“Being part of the review meant my child’s voice was truly heard for the first time. Before the review, we felt like decisions were being made without fully understanding our needs. It’s made all the difference.”
Looking Ahead
If you’d like to learn more about PSG’s approach to Care and Treatment Reviews or share your experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact the Senior Admin for Transforming Care at