How to Use Visuals in Individual Support Plans

Working in education, health, and social care settings, we are often involved in creating and using individual support plans, to ensure that we meet the needs of those in our care.

An individual support plan can go by many names: behaviour plan, individual education plan, positive handling plan, support and intervention plan, or individual care plan, to name but a few. Whatever we choose to call them, these documents are a personalised record about an individual, containing vital information to help us provide the best possible support and care.

We explore what makes an effective individual support plan, and more specifically, how visuals can enhance these pivotal working documents.

What does an effective individual support plan look like?

For an individual support plan to be useful and purposeful, it needs to be simple, succinct and accessible to all. This means accessible not just to us and other professionals, but also to the child, young person, or adult we are working with. The more the individual feels like they have ownership of their plan, the more useful it becomes for everyone.

There will inevitably be information that needs to remain confidential, but we can make efforts to ensure that pertinent information is shared in an accessible way, with as much co-collaboration with the individual as possible.

Sometimes, individual support plans can become too lengthy and complex, making them hard to digest; others are not updated regularly, so contain out-of-date information that is no longer relevant. To be truly useful, it is vital that these plans are reviewed at regular intervals, adapted accordingly, and shared with all relevant stakeholders.

A well-structured, considered individual support plan is key to forging strong relationships and developing trust between individuals and staff. This is particularly important when many professionals are involved in the individual’s care.

Download our Individual Support Plan template.

What could be included in an individual support plan?

An effective individual support plan is a ‘snapshot’ of the child, young person or adult we are supporting. It might include visual and written information around: