This Care Certificate Standard 3 Duty of Care online course helps health and social care workers understand their legal and ethical responsibilities to provide safe, high-quality, and person-centred care. Duty of care means putting the wellbeing, safety, and rights of individuals first — and acting in a way that prevents harm or distress.

This free course will help you explore what duty of care means in practice, how to handle dilemmas and complaints, and how to manage incidents safely and professionally.

Why Take This eLearning Course?

Duty of care is one of the foundations of good care practice. Every health and social care worker has a responsibility to act in the best interests of the people they support, ensuring safety, respect, and dignity at all times.

Here’s why this course is important:

• Understand your legal responsibilities: Learn what the law and your employer’s policies require of you.
• Work safely and confidently: Understand how duty of care affects your daily decisions and actions.
• Resolve conflicts and dilemmas: Discover how to balance individuals’ rights with your duty to protect them from harm.
• Improve quality of care: Learn how to use feedback, complaints, and incidents to make positive changes.

Care Certificate Standard 3 Course Outline

Module 1: Understanding Duty of Care and Its Role in Safe Practice
Learners will explore what “duty of care” means and how it underpins safe, ethical, and person-centred practice in health and social care. The module defines the concept, outlines its legal and moral foundations, and explains how it guides daily responsibilities and decision-making. Learners will understand how upholding duty of care promotes safety, trust, and wellbeing for people who use services.

Module 2: Addressing Dilemmas Related to Duty of Care
This module helps learners recognise and respond to dilemmas that may arise between an individual’s rights and their duty of care obligations. It explores practical examples—such as balancing autonomy with safety—and clarifies what must and must not be done within one’s professional role. Learners will also learn where to access guidance, supervision, and support to resolve conflicts responsibly and in line with legislation and organisational policies.

Module 3: Handling Comments and Complaints
Learners will understand how to respond effectively to comments and complaints following relevant legislation and agreed ways of working. The module highlights the importance of listening, empathy, and professionalism when handling feedback. It also explores how complaints contribute to service improvement, including through reflective practice and procedural learning. A case study will be used to illustrate best practice in handling a complaint as a care worker.

Module 4: Managing Incidents, Errors, and Near Misses
This module focuses on recognising and appropriately responding to adverse events, incidents, errors, and near misses. Learners will understand what actions must and must not be taken, the importance of transparency, and how to follow reporting procedures in line with organisational policy and UK legislation. The module also covers how learning from incidents improves safety and prevents recurrence.

Module 5: Handling Confrontation and Difficult Situations
Learners will examine the common causes of conflict and confrontation in care environments, such as stress, communication breakdowns, and unmet needs. The module explores how effective communication, de-escalation techniques, and emotional regulation can prevent or resolve conflict. Learners will learn how to assess risk, reduce harm, and follow agreed ways of working when reporting or responding to confrontational incidents.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define duty of care and explain how it contributes to safe practice in health and social care.
• Describe how duty of care applies to your own role and responsibilities.
• Recognise dilemmas that may arise between duty of care and an individual’s rights.
• Explain what must and must not be done when managing conflicts or dilemmas.
• Identify where to seek additional support and advice when facing uncertainty.
• Respond appropriately to comments and complaints in line with legislation and agreed ways of working.
• Understand how to learn from complaints to improve service quality.
• Recognise and report adverse events, incidents, errors, and near misses according to workplace procedures.
• Handle confrontation and difficult situations using effective communication and de-escalation techniques.
• Understand when and how to access support when managing conflict or risk.

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

• New and existing health and social care workers
• Domiciliary care staff, support workers, and healthcare assistants
• Team leaders and care supervisors
• Anyone completing or refreshing the Care Certificate

It’s suitable for learners at all levels and forms part of the 15 Care Certificate Standards required for those new to the sector.

FAQ

What is ‘Duty of Care’?
Duty of care means ensuring the safety and wellbeing of individuals in your care. It involves acting within your role, following agreed ways of working, and taking reasonable steps to prevent harm or distress.

Do I need previous training to take this course?
No. This course is suitable for all care staff, including new learners completing their Care Certificate.

Is this course part of the Care Certificate?
Yes. This training meets the requirements for Standard 3: Duty of Care within the Care Certificate Framework.

How long does the course take?
Most learners complete it within 1–2 hours, depending on their pace and reflection activities.

Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. On completion, you’ll receive a Care Certificate Standard 3: Duty of Care certificate to include in your training record or CPD portfolio.

Is the course CPD accredited?
Our courses are in the process of CPD accreditation, ensuring your training meets recognised professional standards.

Understanding duty of care is essential for providing safe and compassionate care. It ensures that every decision you make prioritises the rights, safety, and dignity of the people you support.

By completing this course, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to make sound professional decisions, respond effectively to complaints or incidents, and provide care that meets the highest standards of safety and respect.

Enrol on the Care Certificate Standard 3: Duty of Care Training Course today

Develop the confidence, awareness, and skills to meet your duty of care — keeping both you and the people you support safe.