This Decision Making Skills in Health and Social Care course is designed for workers, managers and support staff who make or contribute to decisions about care, support and service delivery. It explores why sound judgement matters in everyday practice and how decisions can affect safety, dignity, independence and outcomes for people who use services.
This free course covers the principles of effective decision making, types of decisions made in care settings, factors that influence judgement, structured decision making models, person-centred practice, ethical responsibilities, communication, record keeping, accountability and escalation. It supports learners to make better-informed, more transparent and more defensible decisions within their role.
Why Take This eLearning Course?
Good decision making is central to safe, person-centred health and social care. This course helps learners understand how to balance choice, risk, legal duties, professional expectations and available evidence when making decisions or contributing to shared decisions.
This course will help you to:
- Understand what effective decision making looks like in care practice
- Recognise how decisions affect safety, dignity and person-centred support
- Distinguish between routine, complex, short-term and long-term decisions
- Identify when shared or multi-disciplinary input is needed
- Understand how values, emotions, training and policies influence judgement
- Apply structured approaches to improve consistency and accountability
- Support individuals to make informed choices about their care
- Recognise ethical dilemmas involving risk, consent, capacity and confidentiality
- Communicate decisions clearly and keep accurate records
- Know when to seek advice or escalate concerns
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define decision making within health and social care settings
- Explain why effective decisions support safe and person-centred care
- Identify who may be involved in decision making
- Describe the impact of poor decision making on individuals and services
- Recognise common types of decisions made in care settings
- Explain factors that influence decision making, including legislation and guidance
- Describe structured and evidence-based approaches to decision making
- Explain how person-centred care supports informed choice and better outcomes
- Identify ethical issues linked to consent, capacity and best interests decisions
- Describe the importance of communication, records, accountability and escalation
Decision Making Skills in Health and Social Care Course Outline
Module 1: Understanding Decision Making in Care
Learners will explore what decision making means in health and social care, including how decisions are shaped by information, legal duties, professional standards and the person’s wishes. This module explains why effective judgement supports safety and person-centred care, who may be involved in decisions and how poor decisions can lead to harm, distress, mistrust, ineffective care planning and wider service pressures.
Module 2: Types of Decisions in Health and Social Care
Learners will examine the different types of decisions made in care settings, from daily living choices and clinical concerns to safeguarding and organisational decisions. The module explains the difference between routine and complex decisions, short-term and long-term decisions, and those that require shared or multi-disciplinary input. It also highlights the importance of recording, escalation and involving the person wherever possible.
Module 3: Factors That Influence Decision Making
Learners will consider how personal, professional and external factors affect judgement. This includes values, beliefs, emotions, stress, training, policies, codes of practice, legislation, national guidance, risk, resources and time pressure. The module encourages learners to recognise bias, work within professional boundaries, use supervision and apply relevant frameworks such as the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and national guidance where applicable.
Module 4: Decision Making Models and Evidence-Based Practice
Learners will be introduced to common decision making models, including structured problem-solving, risk-based decision making and shared decision making. This module explains how to clarify a decision, gather evidence, consider legal and policy duties, weigh risks and benefits, agree actions and review outcomes. It also covers evidence-based examples in areas such as falls prevention, medicines support, infection prevention, communication approaches and reflective practice.
Module 5: Person-Centred Decision Making
Learners will explore person-centred care as an approach that places the individual’s wishes, identity, routines, communication needs and goals at the centre of decisions. This module explains why involving people in decisions about their care can improve outcomes, strengthen consent, support dignity and reduce misunderstandings. It also covers practical ways to support informed choice, including accessible information, communication support, balanced options, advocacy and respect for independence.
Module 6: Ethics, Consent and Mental Capacity
Learners will examine ethical principles in health and social care, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, dignity, honesty and accountability. The module explores common ethical dilemmas such as choice versus risk, confidentiality versus safeguarding, capacity uncertainty, resource limitations and family disagreement. It also explains the role of consent, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and when best interests decisions are required.
Module 7: Communication and Record Keeping
Learners will understand how clear communication supports effective decision making, shared understanding, participation and safer escalation. This module identifies barriers such as sensory loss, language, literacy, cognitive needs, distress, professional jargon and poor handover systems. It also explains strategies to overcome these barriers and highlights why accurate, timely and respectful records are essential for evidence, accountability, continuity, review, rights and legal duties.
Module 8: Accountability, Responsibility and Escalation
Learners will explore accountability in health and social care, including individual and organisational responsibility for decisions, actions and omissions. This module explains the value of following policies, procedures and professional standards, and when workers should seek advice or escalate concerns. It covers key escalation points such as changes in condition, safeguarding concerns, capacity or consent issues, policy triggers, conflict and complex decision making.
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Health and social care workers in care homes, supported living, home care and community services
- Support workers, care assistants and senior care staff
- Team leaders, supervisors and service managers
- New staff developing confidence in care-related decisions
- Experienced workers who want to strengthen reflective and accountable practice
- Staff involved in care planning, risk management, safeguarding or multi-disciplinary working
No previous specialist knowledge is required.
FAQ
Who is this course suitable for?
This course is suitable for health and social care workers who make, support or record decisions as part of care delivery. It is also useful for team leaders, managers and staff who contribute to care planning, risk assessment, safeguarding responses or shared decision making.
Do I need any previous experience?
No previous specialist knowledge is required. The course explains key concepts clearly and is suitable for both new and experienced workers who want to improve their understanding of safe, person-centred decision making.
What will I learn on this course?
You will learn how decisions are made in health and social care, what factors influence judgement, how to use structured decision making approaches, how to involve individuals in choices, and how ethics, consent, capacity, communication, records and escalation support safer practice.
Will this course help with day-to-day practice?
Yes. The course connects decision making to everyday care situations, including daily routines, risk management, care planning, safeguarding concerns, communication, record keeping and knowing when to seek advice.
Does the course cover practical decision making skills?
Yes. It covers practical approaches such as gathering information, weighing options, considering risks and benefits, using evidence, involving the person, documenting decisions and reviewing outcomes.
Does it cover relevant responsibilities or good practice?
Yes. The course covers accountability, working within role, following policies and procedures, respecting consent and mental capacity, recognising safeguarding concerns, maintaining accurate records and escalating decisions when risks or uncertainty increase.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced and usually takes around 1 hour to complete.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is issued after successful completion.
Decision Making Skills in Health and Social Care provides a clear and practical introduction to the knowledge, judgement and communication needed to make safer, more person-centred and accountable decisions. It is suitable for learners who want to strengthen confidence, improve consistency and support better outcomes in care practice.
Enrol now to build your understanding of decision making skills in health and social care.
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