Appreciating practitioners as individuals: using one-page profiles

KFP1 Secure Base emphasises the importance of practitioners feeling appreciated as individuals if they are to feel that they truly belong in an organisation. But leaders often find it challenging to learn more about their employees; some people prefer to keep their personal lives private, while others are all too happy to share details.

One-page profiles are often used by health and social care professionals to provide person-centred care, but they can also be a useful team-building exercise and a way of getting to know practitioners as individuals.

These brief profiles allow people to understand each other better and to appreciate their skills and talents. One-page profiles can also be used to gain insight into people’s preferences, likes and dislikes – from simple issues to more complex ones.

One-page profiles offer several potential benefits:

• Profiles can help us see people as rounded individuals, rather than just a member of staff who does a particular job. This can help us recognise and celebrate each other’s unique gifts and talents.

• Knowing people’s preferences means we are better able to support each other, so teams will work more effectively.

• Understanding potential barriers in communication can improve relationships between individuals and teams.

• Profiles enable better matching of colleagues to mentors to support the development of their skills and wellbeing.

• People can feel better understood; this, in turn, helps them feel they belong in that environment.

An example of what a one-page profile could look like is provided below, although they can be customised for your own purposes. Profile templates that are co-produced by team members are likely to be particularly effective. These could be completed by pairs of colleagues, in supervision, in team meetings, or in longer workshops.

More information on one-page profiles can be found here. Also see more information in Wellness Action Plans .

Example of a one-page profile