4.2 Give examples of ways that own actions can impact on individuals and others

This guide will help you answer 4.2 Give examples of ways that own actions can impact on individuals and others.

Every action you take as a health and social care worker has an impact—on those you support, on your colleagues, and on the wider atmosphere at work. Your choices can affect people’s wellbeing, confidence, trust, and safety. Actions include words you use, how you behave, whether you respect people’s choices, and how well you follow agreed ways of working.

Recognising how your behaviour and decisions affect others helps you provide better support, build positive relationships, and create a safer, more caring service.

Building Trust and Respect

When you show respect and listen to someone’s views, you help build trust. For example:

• Taking time to listen when someone wants to talk shows you value their feelings.
• Using polite language builds confidence and helps the person feel respected.
• Respecting privacy—knocking before entering a room or keeping information confidential—shows trustworthiness.

Negative actions, like speaking sharply, ignoring someone, or sharing private details, can damage trust and make people feel unsafe or unimportant.

Supporting Independence

Encouraging people to do things for themselves, instead of taking over tasks, can boost confidence and self-esteem. For example:

• Letting someone choose their clothes helps them keep control over their life.
• Supporting a person to try a new activity builds independence and reduces feelings of helplessness.

If you always do things for someone without asking, they might feel useless or lose skills over time. This can affect their mood and wellbeing.

Creating a Positive Atmosphere

Smiling, speaking kindly, and showing patience can lift people’s spirits and create a happier environment. Actions that help:

• Greeting everyone warmly at the start of each shift sets a friendly tone.
• Taking time to celebrate achievements—no matter how small—encourages positive feelings.

Negative actions like complaining, gossiping, or ignoring people can make a place feel tense, unwelcoming, or unsafe.

Ensuring Physical Safety

Following health and safety procedures keeps people safe from harm. Examples:

• Checking equipment before use stops accidents.
• Washing your hands reduces the risk of infection.

If you skip safety checks or are careless with hygiene, people may be injured or become ill. This endangers those you support and your colleagues.

Promoting Dignity

Addressing people in the way they want, using their preferred names, and offering choices all promote dignity.

• Knocking before entering a bathroom or bedroom respects privacy.
• Covering a person with a towel during personal care safeguards dignity.

Failure to protect dignity, such as talking over someone or exposing them unnecessarily, can cause embarrassment or humiliation.

Effective Communication

Your communication skills influence how information is understood and how people feel about their care. Communicate clearly:

• Using plain, simple language avoids confusion.
• Checking understanding by asking if the person wishes to repeat instructions encourages safe practice.

Failure to communicate clearly can cause misunderstanding, mistakes and anxiety.

Reacting to Concerns

Responding quickly and honestly when someone voices a concern shows that you care and take their wellbeing seriously.

• Acting on worries about medication side effects can prevent harm.
• Reporting concerns about unsafe behaviour keeps everyone safe.

Ignoring or dismissing concerns can allow problems to get worse and reduces trust in the care provided.

Encouraging Inclusion

Being welcoming and open to all individuals regardless of their background helps everyone feel valued.

• Including people of different backgrounds or abilities in conversations and activities promotes belonging.
• Challenging inappropriate comments or behaviour teaches others what is acceptable.

If you exclude certain people or ignore discriminatory behaviour, you can encourage a culture where others feel isolated or unwelcome.

Supporting Teamwork

How you treat colleagues affects the entire team’s success.

• Sharing information and offering help creates a positive working environment.
• Thanking others for their efforts strengthens relationships and teamwork.

Refusing to help, withholding information, or criticising others unfairly can break down trust and make tasks more difficult.

Role-Modelling Good Practice

You set an example with your actions. Others often copy what they see.

• Following hand-washing guidance encourages others to do the same.
• Admitting mistakes and reporting them promotes a culture of honesty.

If you cut corners or break the rules, others might too, which raises risks for everyone.

Providing Emotional Support

Simple actions such as offering a reassuring word or taking time to sit with someone can comfort and calm people facing distress.

• Listening with empathy when someone is upset helps them feel understood.
• Noticing changes in mood can help you refer someone for extra support if needed.

Ignoring someone in distress can lead to increased anxiety, loneliness or further difficulties.

The Impact of Inaction

Sometimes, not acting can have negative effects. For example:

• Failing to report a broken piece of equipment means it will not be repaired, putting everyone at risk.
• Not updating care notes means others may not have the information they need, leading to mistakes.

These oversights can harm people directly and damage confidence in your service.

Final Thoughts

Your actions, large or small, matter every day. Positive choices can boost people’s wellbeing, safety, and happiness, and create a more supportive, safer workplace for all. Negative or neglectful actions can cause real harm—physically and emotionally—for both individuals and your colleagues.

Staying aware of the effect of your choices helps you grow as a care worker and improves the lives of the people you support.