Over the past six decades in the United Kingdom, family centred care (FCC) has become firmly established as a cornerstone of children’s nursing practice. However, concern exists regarding FCC due to misunderstandings about what FCC is and how it can be implemented.

FCC is perceived as a philosophy of caring for children in partnership with their families, ensuring that care is planned around the unique and individual needs of the whole family. A family centred approach recognizes the family as central in a child’s life and should also be central in the child’s plan of care. Within children’s nursing therefore, not only the child is viewed as a recipient of care, but also other family members.

While FCC embraces diversity in family structures, cultural backgrounds, choices, strengths and needs, acknowledgement exists that no single approach is right for all families.

Families and the health care team need to collaborate and work as partners in planning the child’s care. Policies and organizational structures also need to be in place to successfully implement a true family centred approach. Families should be involved in decision making about who will provide the required care and negotiate whether they want to participate in care and if so at what level. Figure 28.1

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