Helen Barton explains how support staff who adopt a person-centred approach to care in the community can help people with complex needs to achieve their goals

This article describes the adoption of a person-centred approach to support people with learning disabilities, complex needs and challenging behaviours who live in the community. It includes a series of case studies that show how service users’ goals can be identified and achieved, and how service users can be empowered to make meaningful choices and gain control over their lives, to the benefit of all concerned.