Supporting a person-centred approach to decision-making
This year’s International Day of People with Disability focused on “leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”
As a guardian, you have a role to support this focus by ensuring that the person you represent is at the centre of decision-making.
The term ‘will and preference’, while not defined in the Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW), is widely used in this context to describe the person’s values, priorities, and vision for their lives.
A person’s will can be thought of as their longer-term goals and values, and their preferences can be thought of as their day to day choices, likes and wants.
Advocacy is inherent in a guardian’s role. Advocating for the person’s will and preferences to be respected through your decision-making, when it’s safe to do so, is an important way you can uphold the person’s rights.
It’s important to acknowledge that a person’s will and preferences can change over time.
The following questions can help you stay informed of the person’s wishes as you make decisions for them:
- What have they said about what they want, either recently or in the past?
- How does their culture, spirituality or language impact the choices they make?
- What are their goals?
- What do they like to do?
- How do they like to socialise?
- How will you have conversations with the person about their views and involve them in decisions, even if their illness or condition gets worse?
- What decision would they have made if they had capacity? Would they be willing to make compromises?
- If you can’t make a decision in line with what the person wants, can you justify this?
- Are your views in opposition to the views of the person? If so, have you put the person’s views before your own?
Acting NSW Public Guardian Anna Gauci says, in a person-centred approach to decision-making, the person is always at the centre of the decisions.
“Supporters should build on their strengths. The principles of the Guardianship Act aim to promote the independence and choices of the represented person at the same time as ensuring their care and protection. Really knowing and understanding the person, including what and who is important to them, is critical to a guardian’s decision-making role” says Ms Gauci.