Care Mapping for new Teams

The care map can also help us to integrate a care service in to someone’s existing care and support networks. In Equal Care, the care of an individual in their own home is always done as part of a team. Whenever possible this team is made up of some of the key actors in someone’s care map. Looking at and talking about someone’s care map can help team starters identify the people and places that we can collaborate with to provide a more meaningful experience of care. Click on actors of the interactive care map below to explore a teams integration.

An example care map that illustrates an Equal Care Team integrated into the Team Owner's wider network of care and support.

Doing professional care, in conventional services, often ends up placing friends, family members, and neighbors at the periphery of the service, rather than making sure they remain central to it. In such services, care tasks will get done and someone's daily living needs maintained, however, in overlooking a person’s wider support system, this care can happen in a way that erodes their sense of belonging and identity.

At Equal Care Coop, “Supportive Conversations”—the foundation of our care planning process—can begin with care mapping. Before addressing an individual’s specific care needs and preferences, supported members can be invited to map their broader care and support networks. These maps reflect the people and places that they support, as well as those who support them. This initial mapping provides valuable insights into the strengths, gifts, and challenges inherent in the systems that surround them. As part of someone’s care plan, a care map serves as a living document that captures their well-being, connections, and sense of belonging.

As part of the care plan, the care map functions as a living document that captures the individual’s well-being, connections, and sense of belonging. It enables us to continuously reflect on how care is being provided and adjust our approach to ensure it remains centered on the individual’s relationships and community. This ongoing dialogue between care workers, supported members, and their networks strengthens the care team and fosters a more resilient support system.