2.2 List the aims, objectives and values of the adult social care service

This guide will help you answer 2.2 List the aims, objectives and values of the adult social care service.

Adult social care services provide care and support to adults who need help to live more independently, safely, and with dignity. These services cover a wide range of settings such as residential care, community care, and home care. The aims, objectives, and values of adult social care are fundamental in guiding how these services are delivered to meet individual needs and promote the best possible outcomes.

This unit focuses on listing and explaining these aims, objectives, and values to provide a clear understanding of what adult social care services seek to achieve and how they work.

The Aims of Adult Social Care

The aims of adult social care define the overall purpose of the services. The following lists explain these aims with examples of why they matter.

• Promoting Independence: Adult social care aims to help individuals live as independently as possible. This means giving people the tools and support they need to manage everyday tasks or access community activities. For example, a carer might assist someone with mobility needs to learn new ways of moving safely around their home.
• Enhancing Quality of Life: A core aim is to improve individuals’ quality of life. This may include enabling them to develop social networks, participate in hobbies, or receive proper medical support. Services often focus on helping people feel connected, valued, and engaged in meaningful activities.
• Ensuring Safety: Safety is a priority. Adult social care works to protect vulnerable individuals from harm or neglect, whether in a care home, supported living environment, or their own house. Preventing risks such as falls or abuse is an important part of the service.
• Supporting Wellbeing: Care services aim to promote physical and mental wellbeing by providing support tailored to an individual’s needs. This can include helping with nutrition, providing assistance with medication, or arranging mental health support.
• Advancing Equal Opportunities: Care services aim to eliminate discrimination. Everyone has the right to receive support regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Services ensure fairness by focusing on individuals’ needs.

The Objectives of Adult Social Care

Objectives refer to specific actions that must be taken to meet the overall aims. Below are the key objectives of adult social care services, broken down for a clearer understanding.

Meeting Individual Needs

One of the primary objectives is making sure the care plan is focused on the individual. Adult social care providers work to understand what assistance each person needs, whether it’s help with practical tasks like dressing or more complex support like managing chronic health conditions. For example, care workers create personalised care plans that reflect an individual’s preferences, routines, and specific goals.

Promoting Choice and Control

Enabling people to make informed decisions about their care is a key objective. Giving individuals control helps maintain their dignity and respects their right to make choices. For example, if they can choose the meals they eat, the time they prefer to go to bed, or who provides their care, they are more likely to feel respected and valued.

Providing Accessible Services

Ensuring care is easily accessible is an essential objective. Services may need to adjust to overcome barriers such as location or financial difficulties. For example, a care provider might work with local authorities to enable those with limited income to afford essential care services.

Encouraging Active Participation

This objective focuses on involving people in all aspects of their care. It might mean supporting someone with disabilities to attend a local community group or helping an older person engage in a volunteering role. Active participation encourages confidence and reduces feelings of isolation.

Ensuring Robust Safeguarding Measures

An important objective is to protect individuals from harm and abuse. Social care services follow safeguarding policies designed to prevent, identify, and respond effectively to any risks. For example, all care staff are trained to report concerns like neglect or financial exploitation promptly.

Values of Adult Social Care

The values of adult social care form the foundation for everything that is done. They are the principles that guide care workers in delivering high-quality, compassionate care. These values reflect the ethics and responsibilities involved in providing support for vulnerable adults.

Dignity

Dignity means recognising and respecting a person’s worth. In adult social care, this may include treating someone kindly, listening to them without judgment, and respecting their privacy. For example, care workers should always knock on a bedroom door before entering and provide personal care in a way that minimises embarrassment.

Respect

Respect involves accepting individuals’ beliefs, cultures, and choices, even when they differ from our own. For instance, supporting someone’s choice to follow religious dietary practices demonstrates value for their beliefs.

Compassion

Compassion is about showing empathy and kindness towards others. In care work, this means understanding someone’s struggles, being patient and offering emotional support. For example, a care worker might take extra time to listen to someone who feels upset or lonely.

Equality and Inclusion

Equality ensures everyone has fair access to services and is treated fairly. Inclusion involves making sure no one is excluded due to a disability, language barrier, or social situation. For instance, care workers may assist clients with disabilities to access leisure activities suited to their interests.

Person-Centred Care

Person-centred care means focusing on the individual. Care plans should reflect each person’s unique needs, habits, and preferences. For example, if someone has a preferred morning routine, their support worker will adjust to accommodate it.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality means protecting information shared by an individual and sharing it only when necessary. For example, personal data about health or finances should only be accessed by authorised staff. This value is in line with legislation such as the Data Protection Act 2018.

Accountability

Accountability is about taking responsibility for actions and decisions. Care staff must perform duties to the best of their ability and admit mistakes when they happen. For example, if an error occurs in medication administration, accountability means reporting it immediately to prevent harm.

Empowerment

Empowerment involves supporting individuals to feel confident and take control of their own lives. This could mean helping someone learn new skills or encouraging them to express their opinions about their care.

Legal and Ethical Frameworks

The principles of adult social care are supported by various legal and ethical frameworks in the UK. These reinforce the importance of respecting individuals and meeting their needs fairly and lawfully. Examples include:

• Care Act 2014: Defines the responsibilities of local authorities and care providers to promote wellbeing and prevent needs from escalating.
• Human Rights Act 1998: Protects basic human rights, such as the right to respect for private and family life.
• Equality Act 2010: Prevents discrimination based on protected characteristics like age, disability, or religion.
• Mental Capacity Act 2005: Provides guidance on making decisions for individuals who may lack the ability to make them independently.
• Health and Social Care Act 2008: Sets standards for care quality and safety.

Why These Aims, Objectives, and Values Matter

The overarching goal of adult social care is to help people live their best lives despite challenges they may face. By working within a values-based framework, care workers can ensure they provide respectful, fair, and empowering services. This creates an environment where individuals feel supported to maintain their dignity, independence, and wellbeing.

Beyond these benefits to individuals, having clear aims, objectives, and values ensures consistency across the care sector. It sets a standard for all providers and care workers to follow, making the service transparent and accountable to the public and regulators.

By understanding these principles, care workers can better meet their responsibilities and provide high-quality, person-centred care.