ORG07 NOTICE – Recognise Change
Sensory needs are not static. Staff need a way to recognise when somebody’s usual ability, behaviour or successful strategy has changed.
Five things to consider
Know the person’s baseline
Understanding what is usual makes meaningful change easier to recognise.
Look for patterns
One observation may mean little; repeated difficulties in particular situations can reveal a pattern.
Consider behaviour as information
Changes in participation, confidence or response may signal a barrier that needs exploration.
Share observations
A useful observation can be lost if it stays with one worker.
Trigger reassessment when needed
A meaningful change should lead to review rather than simply being added to notes.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Describe what changed and when.
✓ Compare observations across staff, settings or times of day.
✓ Ask the person what they have noticed.
✓ Decide whether current support still works or further assessment is needed.
What this can look like in practice
A person manages lunch confidently but repeatedly struggles at dinner. Staff notice the pattern and explore whether lower evening lighting is affecting function rather than recording each event as an isolated incident.
Question for your organisation
How does a small change noticed by one worker become useful information for the wider team?
Important boundary
Not every change is sensory. Staff should consider other possible causes and follow appropriate health or safeguarding processes where relevant.
Want to take this further?
Recognising change helps prevent outdated support plans from becoming routine. 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.