ORG21 What Not to Do: When the Care Plan Says It but Practice Does Not
A well-written care plan has limited value if the agreed sensory support is not consistently used in everyday practice.
Five things to consider
Check staff know the plan
Information must be accessible to the workers expected to use it.
Observe real practice
Compare what happens with what the record says should happen.
Ask the person
The person can often identify whether agreed adjustments are actually used.
Look for variation
Different shifts, workers or settings may apply support inconsistently.
Close the loop
Where practice does not match the plan, identify why and take action.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Choose one sensory adjustment and check it in real practice.
✓ Ask staff to explain the agreed approach in their own words.
✓ Ask the person whether it happens consistently.
✓ Address barriers such as training, access to information, equipment or unclear responsibility.
What this can look like in practice
A care plan states that staff should identify themselves when approaching, but the person reports this happens only with some workers. The issue is not another sentence in the plan; it is the gap between documentation and practice.
Question for your organisation
How would you know if a sensory adjustment existed on paper but was not happening consistently?
Important boundary
This resource supports reflective quality improvement. Regulatory findings depend on the facts of each service and current CQC assessment processes.
Want to take this further?
Closing the plan-to-practice gap is essential if documented sensory support is to have real value. 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.