ORG19 CQC Key Question: RESPONSIVE | Adjusting to Individual Sensory Needs
Responsive services adapt to individual sensory needs rather than expecting people to fit a standard way of communicating or receiving support.
Five things to consider
Make communication accessible
Provide information in a form the person can use.
Adjust the environment
Consider relevant lighting, noise, contrast, layout and familiarity.
Respond to changing needs
Update support when function or circumstances change.
Keep support individual
Avoid assuming that one adjustment works for everybody with the same diagnosis.
Use feedback
Listen to what the person says is and is not working.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Record accessible communication preferences clearly.
✓ Check adjustments are available when and where they are needed.
✓ Use changes or feedback as triggers for review.
✓ Make sure new staff can identify the person’s agreed approach.
What this can look like in practice
A person can manage appointments when information is provided electronically with their preferred accessibility settings but repeatedly misses details in standard print. Responsive practice changes the communication route rather than blaming non-engagement.
Question for your organisation
How quickly can your service adapt when a person tells you that the current sensory approach is not working?
Important boundary
This resource applies sensory practice to CQC’s Responsive key question and is not a substitute for current CQC assessment guidance.
Want to take this further?
Responsive sensory practice turns individual need into timely, usable adjustments. If this resource has highlighted gaps in your organisation’s sensory practice, Sensory Visionaries can help, from reviewing what you currently have in place to providing a structured approach through the Sensory Compliance System.