Individual service plans: The policy — Practice gap

Abstract

The introduction of formal systems for individualized service planning heralded an era in which the personal goals of people with developmental disabilities would be paramount. Based on a dynamic team oriented process, individualized service plans promised positive consumer outcomes through carefully designed, constantly adjusted plans, sensitively attuned to individual needs. The present study aimed to evaluate one aspect of the current practice of individualized service plans, i.e. the extent to which what is recorded in plans is consistent with policy on the contents and procedures of such plans. The sample was comprised of service plans drawn from state operated group homes for people with developmental disabilities in NSW. It was found that there was widespread use of individualized service planning. In the vast majority of cases service planning meetings were held to design these plans. However, our analysis revealed serious deficiencies in the planning process. Clients, relatives and advocates were often not present when goals were set. Long term goals were often omitted. When included, they were rarely related to short term objectives. Typically, goals and objectives were not written in specific measurable terms, criteria were not stated, and the conditions under which the behaviour should occur were omitted. The data indicated that there were major inadequacies in the documentation of the individualized service plans in this sample and it is argued that these deficiencies could prevent service plans from achieving their objective of regulating services and orienting them to the needs and goals of consumers. The implications of these findings are discussed and areas for future research proposed.