Three Philosophies of Person‐Centred Care, From the Perspectives of Care Workers and Managers Supporting Older People.

ABSTRACT The prominence of person‐centred care has been widely recognised in recent decades. In England, care governance frameworks prioritise the views and wishes of individual people receiving support. Despite workforce development initiatives linked to this agenda, there remains no consensus on the meaning of person‐centred care in the English care sector. An actor‐centred study explored understandings of person‐centred care from the perspective of care workers and managers working with older people in residential and community care. Analysis of interviews with 20 participants led to development of a typology based on the beliefs, values and practices of the interviewees. The three typological groups interpreted person‐centred care within their own distinctive philosophies: Nurturing Mental Health, Nurturing Agency and Nurturing Intimacy. The findings offer fresh insight into the ways an abstract concept is understood within the context of day‐to‐day practice with older people. Existing workforce development guidance encourages professionals to understand person‐centred care by enacting a series of wide‐ranging, desirable outcomes, which is potentially confusing for those working on the front line. This study shows, instead of trying to be all things to all people, staff emphasise a few specific outcomes and values in enacting person‐centred care, reflecting nuances in their overall understanding of older people's well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]