Using the Five Foundations for what matters most: Katie's story
Personalised care can transform what everyday life looks and feels like. Katie’s story shows how the Our Shared Agreement Five Foundations helped her move from limitation to freedom, shaping a life built around what truly matters to her.
Katie: “Even though I am a severely learning-disabled wheelchair user and need 24-hour support, I can weight bear for short periods of time.
"The Our Shared Agreement Five Foundations have allowed me to achieve a life that is more normal and is shaped around what I love. Without the Five Foundations, my life would be dramatically restricted.”
Foundation 1. Being prepared to do things differently
For Katie, personalised care began with a willingness to explore new ideas. Instead of assuming what she could or couldn’t do, her team looked creatively at what might help her be more active and independent.
Katie: “I use a recumbent tricycle to help me to get out and about.”
The tricycle gave her a safe, comfortable way to move through the world - not in theory, but in real, glorious everyday life.
Foundation 2: Understanding what matters to ourselves and each other
The next step was understanding what Katie loves. For her, the answer is simple and powerful: nature.
Katie: “I’m passionate about being out in nature and seeing birds, rabbits, and squirrels. My bike means I can get out into the countryside on the local cycle tracks to have nature all around me.”
This wasn’t just about mobility. It was about connection, joy, and the places that make Katie feel most alive.
Foundation 3: Working together for the wellbeing of everyone
Katie’s support only worked because people and organisations came together with a shared goal: helping her live the life she wants.
Katie was able to buy her recumbent tricycle through a Personal Health Budget (PHB), which gave her the flexibility to choose equipment that truly met her needs. Instead of being limited to standard options, the PHB allowed Katie and her support team to focus on what mattered most to her - getting outdoors, enjoying nature, and building independence.
Katie: “My support organisation worked with my Mum, the NHS, and Social Services to get appropriate equipment to help me get onto and off my trike safely and easily. Being able to get out on my trike meant my physical well-being was improved as well as my mental health.”
This collaborative effort made a huge difference—giving Katie the right equipment and confidence to enjoy regular outdoor adventures.
Foundation 4: Conversations with and not about people
A key part of personalised care is making sure people are at the heart of decisions about their lives. Katie wasn’t just consulted, she was fully involved.
Katie: “I have been involved in all of the meetings that led to choosing appropriate equipment and how it should be used.”
Her voice shaped every decision, ensuring the solutions truly fit her needs and preferences.
Foundation 5: Making the most of what we have available to us
With equipment in place and her support team trained, Katie has far more freedom and flexibility.
Katie: “Even though I need 24-hour support, all the equipment and staff training has meant that I can go out for rides, not only with my Mum, but also with the staff that support me. This means that I can go out on my trike much more often than if my Mum was the only one who could take me. Without the Five Foundations, my life would be dramatically restricted.”
This approach unlocked new opportunities for independence, confidence, and joy.
Conclusion: A life shaped by possibility
Katie’s story is a powerful example of personalised care in action. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on what matters to her, the people around Katie helped her create a life filled with nature, movement, and freedom.
Her journey shows what becomes possible when we build support with people, not for them or around them - and when we use the Five Foundations to guide the way we approach health and care solutions.
