In this context, a complex environment is one where the needs of more than one person have to be taken
into consideration. Typically this will be in circumstances where two people live together and have separate
individual needs that both require care plans.
Under these circumstances, decisions need to be made regarding what processes can be implemented, to
ensure that neither person is disadvantaged and that appropriate support is given that ensures both
individual and holistic needs are recognised and supported.
The extension of the process outlined in the White Paper, to other care groups (e.g. Long Term Conditions
or Learning Disabilities); will inevitably increase the frequency of complex environments being encountered.
It is therefore important that this area is explored and accommodated within the current SAP processes.
There are various options for including complex environments within SAP, and it is to be recognised that
none of these will exclusively be the right approach. Each stage of the process will need to be flexible
enough to cater for the variations that these circumstances will create.