What is Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP)?

Why start with the person?

Two people living on the same street can need very different arrangements. A general checklist cannot tell you how a person communicates, which routines matter to them, or which parts of their day depend on someone else. Those details need a conversation.

For example, a support team might know the address of a meeting place but have no shared understanding of how the person will get there. A family might keep contact numbers on one phone without agreeing who can use them if the phone is unavailable. Writing down these questions makes the next planning conversation more specific.

What are the four P-CEP steps?

The University of Sydney describes four connected steps. In brief, they are:

1. Understand everyday strengths and support needs.
2. Assess current preparedness and learn about relevant disaster risks.
3. Make a plan suited to the person's needs and circumstances.
4. Communicate the plan with the support network and work together on gaps.

The framework was co-designed with people with disability, supporting services, government and emergency services agencies. The University of Sydney's P-CEP course provides training in facilitating the process; this article is an introductory explanation.

Source: The University of Sydney

How can you start the conversation?

Choose one familiar part of the day and ask the person how it works now. Use their preferred way of communicating and allow enough time for their answers. These are useful opening questions:

• What do you usually do yourself, and what do you want to keep doing yourself?
• Who helps with this part of your day, and what have they agreed to do?
• What would need to change if that person could not come?
• What information would another trusted person need, and what are you comfortable sharing?

Write down the person's answers in their own words where possible. If an arrangement is uncertain, mark it as a question to follow up. A contact name alone does not establish that someone is available, willing or able to provide a particular kind of help.

What should happen after the conversation?

Turn one unresolved question into a small, agreed action. For example: ask the nominated contact to confirm their availability, check that a document can be found, or arrange another conversation about transport. Record who will follow up and when you will check the answer together.

Then walk through a simple scenario using the information you have recorded. Ask each person to explain their part, and invite the participant to say what does and does not work for them. Use any confusion to improve the wording or identify a missing arrangement.

Lifebox's P-CEP Pilot page explains the approach being offered by Lifebox. For the framework's own training and learning materials, start with the University of Sydney resource below.