1: Understanding Own Role (Previously missing)
📌 1.1 Explain how understanding your role contributes to the quality of care or support provided
Core Content:
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Understanding your role helps you know what is expected of you, stay within your boundaries, and deliver care in a safe, person-centred, and effective manner.
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Knowing your job description, values, and responsibilities ensures:
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Proper implementation of care plans
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Consistency and continuity of care
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Protection of individual rights and dignity
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Prevents mistakes, duplication of effort, and misunderstandings with others.
Example:
A care assistant who understands their duty to assist with personal care but not administer medication (unless trained and authorised) protects both themselves and the service user.
Relevant Theory:
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Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RACI Model): Helps define who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed—clarifying individual roles within teams.
Further Reading and Links:
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Skills for Care: Understand your role
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NHS England: Code of conduct for healthcare support workers
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SCIE: Quality care principles
📌 1.2 Explain how your role contributes to the overall delivery of service provided
Core Content:
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Every staff role is part of a wider care ecosystem; quality service delivery depends on each team member fulfilling their part reliably.
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Your role contributes by:
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Ensuring day-to-day support tasks are completed (e.g., hygiene, meals, companionship)
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Maintaining up-to-date records and reporting changes
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Supporting colleagues by following agreed procedures and sharing observations
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Example:
Failing to record a resident’s refusal to eat could result in missed signs of illness or emotional distress.
Relevant Framework:
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Person-Centred Planning (PCP): Individual staff contributions help tailor care to each person’s needs and promote dignity and autonomy.
Further Reading and Links:
📌 1.3 Explain how duties and responsibilities may vary from one role to another
Core Content:
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Roles in adult social care vary in scope and responsibility, depending on:
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The level of training and qualifications
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The setting (e.g., domiciliary vs residential care)
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The service users’ needs
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Some roles are focused on direct care, while others may involve administrative, supervision, or support functions.
Example:
A care assistant may assist with meals and hygiene, whereas a team leader may oversee care planning and supervise staff.
Relevant Theory:
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Role Theory (Biddle, 1979): Highlights that individuals behave based on the roles defined by social norms and organisational expectations.
Further Reading and Links:
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Social Care Institute for Excellence: Different care roles
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ThinkCareCareers: Explore roles in social care
2. Working in Agreed Ways with the Employer
📌 2.1 Demonstrate how to access full and up-to-date details of agreed ways of working that are relevant to their own role
Core Content:
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Agreed ways of working include policies, procedures, job descriptions, and care plans.
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These are usually found in:
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Induction handbooks
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Staff intranet or manuals
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Team meetings or supervision notes
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Employees must check for updates regularly and clarify any uncertainties with supervisors.
Relevant Theory:
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Role Theory (Kahn et al., 1964): Suggests each role has defined behaviours and expectations; clear guidance prevents role conflict.
Further Reading:
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Skills for Care: Understanding your role
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NHS Code of Conduct: NHS Employment Standards
📌 2.2 Explain why it is important to be honest and identify where errors may have occurred and to tell the appropriate person
Core Content:
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Promotes safety, accountability, and trust
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Allows quick correction of mistakes and prevents harm
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Encourages a culture of openness (“no-blame” culture)
Relevant Framework:
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Duty of Candour (Health and Social Care Act 2008, Reg. 20): Legal obligation to be open when things go wrong
Further Reading:
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NHS: Being Open Framework
📌 2.3 Explain their own responsibilities to the individuals being supported as well as key people, advocates and others who are significant to an individual
Core Content:
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Deliver person-centred care with respect and dignity
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Communicate effectively with family, carers, advocates
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Support individuals’ rights, wishes, and preferences
Relevant Theory:
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Person-Centred Theory (Carl Rogers, 1951): Care is effective when focused on the individual’s values and experiences
Further Reading:
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SCIE: Working with advocates
🔹 3: Understanding Working Relationships in Social Care
📌 3.1 Explain how a working relationship is different from a personal relationship
Core Content:
Working Relationship | Personal Relationship |
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Professional, bound by contract/policy | Informal, emotional ties |
Task-focused (care duties) | Based on mutual choice |
Limited to setting/hours | Can extend beyond work |
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In care settings, personal relationships can compromise professional boundaries and ethical standards.
Relevant Theory:
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Transactional Analysis (Eric Berne): Professional roles require adult-adult communication, not parent-child dynamics.
Further Reading:
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NHS: Boundaries in care
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Social Care Wales: Professional relationships
📌 3.2 Describe different working relationships in adult social care settings
Core Content:
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Colleagues: collaborative work, shared responsibilities
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Managers/supervisors: accountability, reporting, feedback
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Health professionals: coordination with nurses, GPs, therapists
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Individuals and their families/advocates: person-centred support and communication
Further Reading:
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Skills for Care: Working in adult social care
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NICE: Integrated working
🔹 4: Working in Partnership with Others
📌 4.1 Explain why it is important to work in teams and in partnership with others
Core Content:
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Ensures coordinated and efficient care
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Shares responsibilities and reduces risk
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Supports wellbeing of both workers and service users
Relevant Theory:
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Tuckman’s Stages of Team Development: Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing → Adjourning
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Belbin’s Team Roles: Individuals contribute different strengths to team performance
Further Reading:
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MindTools: Tuckman’s theory
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NHS: Teamworking
📌 4.2 Explain why it is important to work in partnership with key people, advocates and others who are significant to individuals being supported
Core Content:
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Provides a holistic understanding of the individual
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Respects individual’s network and choices
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Improves trust and communication
Further Reading:
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SCIE: Partnership working
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NHS England: Person-centred partnership
📌 4.3 Demonstrate behaviours, attitudes, and ways of working that can help improve partnership working
Core Content:
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Active listening and respect
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Reliability and professionalism
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Sharing information appropriately
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Being solution-focused, not blame-focused
Practical Example:
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Supporting a care plan review with a family member by clearly communicating changes in needs
Further Reading:
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Health Education England: Effective communication for partnership working
📌 4.4 Demonstrate how and when to access support and advice about:
â–ª partnership working
â–ª resolving conflicts
Core Content:
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When there is breakdown in communication or misunderstanding
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When unclear about boundaries or roles
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Support sources: managers, HR, mediation services, safeguarding leads
Relevant Theory:
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Conflict Resolution Model (Thomas-Kilmann): Identifies five conflict-handling styles (e.g., avoid, compete, collaborate)
Further Reading:
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NHS Leadership Academy: Team conflict support