What is Professional Courage in Health and Social Care?

Professional courage refers to the inner strength and conviction needed to act ethically, uphold standards, and advocate for best practice. In health and social care, it means standing by what is right even if that means facing opposition, criticism, or fear of the consequences. This type of courage forms a foundation for safe, honest, and effective service.

Professional courage is about doing the right thing in support of people receiving care. It might involve raising concerns about poor standards, questioning unsafe processes, or challenging disrespectful behaviour from staff, service users, or families. This courage is necessary to safeguard individuals’ wellbeing and to keep professional values intact.

Why Professional Courage is Important

The health and social care sector is responsible for some of the most vulnerable in society. People place their trust in staff to protect them, treat them fairly, and provide high quality support. Without professional courage, standards might slip, unsafe practices could take root, and those in care could be put at risk.

Professional courage:

• Protects service users by championing their needs
• Maintains the reputation and trustworthiness of organisations
• Encourages a culture of learning and honesty

Doing the right thing sometimes means going against the crowd or standing up to people in authority, which can feel uncomfortable—professional courage makes this possible.

Upholding Professional Standards

Every role in health and social care comes with agreed codes of practice, standards, and ethical rules. These expectations exist to keep people safe and ensure consistency. Professional courage involves:

• Sticking to your code of conduct, even under pressure
• Refusing to cut corners, even if a colleague suggests it
• Challenging requests that go against best practice

Professional standards should guide daily actions, not just sit in a handbook. Sometimes this means saying no, reporting incidents, or insisting on correct procedure when others may not.

Speaking Up and Raising Concerns

Whistleblowing and raising concerns are clear signs of professional courage. Speaking up might mean:

• Reporting suspected abuse or neglect, even if others dismiss your worries
• Highlighting a staffing shortage that could put people at risk
• Challenging handwriting in records that is unclear or misleading

Barriers to speaking up include fear of backlash or damaging relationships with colleagues. Professional courage helps overcome these fears for the sake of safe, dignified care.

Dealing With Authority and Power

Health and social care staff are often part of multi-professional teams led by doctors, managers, or external professionals such as social workers. Sometimes, staff spot mistakes or concerns made by people in senior positions. Professional courage means:

• Respectfully challenging decisions that seem unsafe or unhelpful
• Sharing your professional views even if others disagree
• Supporting more junior colleagues to have their voices heard

By keeping the focus on service users’ wellbeing and not hierarchy, staff with professional courage help uphold the highest standards.

Acting on Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas happen when there is no clear right answer, or when professional values collide. For example, staff might have to balance a person’s right to independence with the need to keep them safe. Professional courage means:

• Taking time to consider all aspects of a dilemma
• Seeking help when needed, instead of making snap decisions
• Being honest with service users and families about difficult choices

Upholding principles around respect, consent, and dignity in tough situations calls for courage, especially if under pressure to ignore them.

Professional Courage and Confidentiality

Keeping information private is a legal and ethical requirement. At times, staff may feel pressure to share information inappropriately, such as with family members, unauthorised colleagues, or friends. Professional courage is needed to:

• Refuse to discuss confidential matters with those who should not have access
• Challenge breaches of confidentiality among staff
• Speak up if systems or processes do not protect privacy

Even if well-intentioned people ask questions or assume you should share, sticking to confidentiality rules is a sign of professional integrity.

Supporting Colleagues With Professional Courage

Staff with courage look out for each other, especially in stressful situations. Showing courage in support of colleagues might involve:

• Defending someone facing unfair criticism from others
• Encouraging a team member to raise a worry they have been keeping quiet
• Reporting bullying, harassment, or other harmful behaviour in a team

This positive influence helps to create a safer working environment for staff and service users alike.

Coping With Personal Risk

Doing what is right may put staff under personal pressure. Risks may include:

• Damaged working relationships
• Threats to career progression
• Feelings of isolation or exclusion

Professional courage is about weighing these risks, but not letting them stop you from doing the right thing. Organisations should have processes such as whistleblowing policies to support staff in these situations, but the initial step comes from a personal willingness to stand up for what is correct.

How Managers and Leaders Support Professional Courage

Leaders set the tone for teams. Ways they support professional courage include:

• Listening openly to concerns from staff at all levels
• Following up reports on safety or ethical issues
• Protecting people who raise concerns from negative consequences
• Providing clear policies and training on professional expectations

When leaders act with professional courage and back up their staff, the whole organisation becomes safer and stronger.

Barriers to Professional Courage

Though most staff want to do the right thing, barriers sometimes arise. Common barriers include:

• Fear of losing a job or being judged
• Worry about causing conflict
• Lack of support from management
• Confusing guidance or unclear processes

Reflection, good communication, and clear policies go a long way to breaking down these barriers.

Examples in Practice

Some practical examples of professional courage:

• A nurse challenges the discharge plan for a patient who is not ready to go home
• A care assistant refuses to change a record at a colleague’s instruction when it would be dishonest
• A social worker reports concerns about unsafe housing, even though the local authority is under pressure to keep costs down
• A senior manager admits a policy has not worked and involves staff in finding a better solution

Professional courage can happen at all levels, not just in management roles.

Building Professional Courage

Growing this type of courage takes time and support. Steps to encourage professional courage include:

• Regular training in ethics, safeguarding, and good practice
• Reflective practice sessions to discuss difficult experiences
• Mentoring and peer support to build confidence

New or less experienced staff may need more support to grow their confidence in speaking up.

The Impact on Staff and Service Users

Professional courage protects staff and those they support. It means:

• Increased trust in health and social care services
• Higher job satisfaction for staff who know they are doing the right thing
• Better safety and wellbeing for people using services
• More open and accountable organisations

Service users benefit because staff are brave enough to act in their best interest, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Supporting Professional Courage Over Time

Keep professional courage alive by:

• Encouraging honesty at all staff levels
• Recognising and rewarding brave actions, not just results
• Reviewing policies and updating them if they make it hard to speak up

A workplace where staff feel safe to raise issues is one where people are safer and care is better.

Good Practice in Professional Courage

To show professional courage, practice:

• Raising concerns promptly and clearly
• Keeping accurate, honest records
• Standing by ethical standards, even under pressure
• Supporting colleagues to act on their values
• Respecting confidentiality and professional boundaries

In difficult moments, referring to professional codes of practice and organisational policy provides a strong foundation.

What Professional Courage is Not

Some points to clarify:

• Professional courage does not mean being argumentative or refusing to cooperate. It is about constructive, thoughtful action.
• It is not about going against colleagues for its own sake, but standing up for service users’ wellbeing.
• It is not about acting alone when support or guidance is needed.

It depends on responsible decision-making that puts care, safety, and honesty at the centre.

Summary

Professional courage is the readiness to act with integrity even when it is difficult or unpopular. It means making decisions based on professional ethics, safeguarding people from harm, and upholding trust in health and social care services. Every staff member has a role in building this courage, with support from leaders, training, and clear expectations. By showing professional courage, health and social care workers protect those they support and help create positive, safe places for all.