2.2 Explain accountability when working with others

This guide will help you answer 2.2 Explain accountability when working with others.

Accountability means taking responsibility for your actions, decisions, and behaviours in the workplace. In health and social care, accountability ensures that staff carry out their duties safely, ethically, and in line with laws and organisational policies. When you work with others, accountability also involves ensuring that what you do supports team goals and benefits the person receiving care. It is about being answerable to colleagues, managers, external agencies, and ultimately to the people who use the service.

No matter your role, you must be able to explain why you acted in a certain way, what procedures you followed, and how your actions met professional standards. This transparency helps protect service users and promotes trust within the team.

Who You Are Accountable To

In health and social care you are accountable to several groups:

• The service user receiving care and support
• Your employer and line manager
• The wider team you work within
• Professional bodies that set standards for your role
• Inspectors and regulators such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
• The law and courts if legal issues arise

You must meet the expectations of all these groups, often at the same time. This means following agreed ways of working and reporting any concerns promptly.

Accountability to the Service User

You have a duty to respect the rights and preferences of the person you support. Their safety, dignity, and wellbeing must be at the centre of your work. You must keep your promises, follow agreed care plans, and involve them in decisions relating to their care. If something goes wrong or if there is a risk to the person, you must take immediate action and report it.

Being accountable to the service user means you:

• Listen to their wishes
• Protect their privacy
• Give accurate information
• Treat them fairly
• Avoid any harm

Accountability to Your Employer

Your employer expects you to follow the organisation’s policies, procedures, and codes of conduct. You are responsible for meeting agreed standards in your work. This includes attending training, reporting incidents, and keeping accurate records. You must carry out tasks you are trained and authorised to do, and let your manager know if you are unsure or untrained in a particular area.

Employers rely on staff to:

• Work safely
• Complete tasks to the required standard
• Maintain professional behaviour
• Report any breaches of policy
• Cooperate with investigations

Accountability to the Team

Working with others in health and social care means sharing responsibility for outcomes. Everyone has a role to play in meeting the needs of service users. Accountability in a team is about being reliable, communicating clearly, and contributing to group work. If you make mistakes, you should admit them openly and help to correct the situation.

Team accountability involves:

• Attending meetings and contributing ideas
• Following agreed care plans
• Supporting colleagues when needed
• Keeping others informed of changes
• Respecting the roles and skills of each team member

Accountability to Professional Bodies

Some roles require registration with professional bodies such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). These bodies set rules to protect the public. If you are registered, you must follow their codes of practice. Failing to do so can lead to investigation and possible removal from the register, meaning you cannot work in that profession.

Professional accountability includes:

• Maintaining competence through training
• Working within your professional limits
• Following ethical principles
• Reporting unsafe practices

Accountability to Regulators

Regulators such as the Care Quality Commission inspect services to make sure they meet required standards. Staff must cooperate with inspections and provide accurate information. If a regulator identifies poor practice, you may need to help implement changes. You must act honestly and avoid misleading inspectors.

Key points include:

• Providing truthful information during inspections
• Showing evidence of safe practice
• Supporting improvements after inspection reports

Accountability Under the Law

The law places clear duties on care workers. Legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Data Protection Act 2018 set specific responsibilities. If you break these laws, you could face legal action. Being accountable under the law means knowing what rules apply to your role and following them at all times.

Examples of legal accountability:

• Protecting confidential information
• Keeping the workplace safe
• Reporting safeguarding concerns
• Avoiding discrimination

Personal Responsibility

Accountability begins with personal responsibility. You should be clear about what tasks you are responsible for, and complete them reliably. If you are unsure about something, ask for guidance before acting. If you make a mistake, own up to it quickly and take steps to fix it.

Taking personal responsibility means:

• Arriving on time and ready to work
• Completing agreed tasks
• Maintaining professional standards
• Reflecting on your performance

Communication in Accountability

Clear and honest communication is central to accountability. When working with others, you must share relevant information in an accurate and timely way. This includes reporting incidents, updating records, and informing team members of changes in a service user’s condition.

Good communication involves:

• Speaking clearly
• Listening carefully
• Recording information accurately
• Using agreed channels such as care notes or secure emails

Poor communication can lead to mistakes, misunderstandings, and risks to service users.

Following Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures are agreed rules that guide how you work. Accountability means following these consistently and knowing where to find them if you need guidance. They cover areas such as health and safety, safeguarding, record keeping, and medication administration.

When you follow policies:

• You work safely
• You meet legal requirements
• You protect yourself and your colleagues
• You deliver consistent care

If you are asked to work outside of policy, report to your manager immediately.

Reporting Concerns

Being accountable means you must report any risks, incidents, or poor practice. Reporting helps protect service users and the organisation. It is your responsibility to act promptly when you notice a problem.

Report concerns when:

• A service user’s safety is at risk
• There is suspected abuse or neglect
• Workplace equipment is unsafe
• Colleagues act outside their competence

Use agreed procedures such as incident forms or verbal reports to your line manager.

Accountability and Professional Boundaries

Professional boundaries separate the professional role from personal involvement. Crossing boundaries can damage trust and lead to harm. Accountability includes knowing what boundaries apply to your role and keeping to them.

Key boundaries include:

• Not sharing personal contact details with service users
• Avoiding personal relationships with service users
• Keeping work and personal life separate
• Staying within your role when offering support

Positive Outcomes of Accountability

When staff are accountable, several benefits arise:

• Better quality care for service users
• Stronger teamwork
• Greater trust between staff and service users
• Compliance with legal and regulatory standards
• Reduced risk of harm

Accountability supports a safe and efficient workplace.

Challenges to Accountability

There can be challenges in maintaining accountability when working with others:

• Lack of clear roles
• Poor communication within the team
• Conflicting priorities
• Pressure to rush tasks
• Inadequate training

Managing these challenges requires open communication, good teamwork, and ongoing training.

Strategies to Strengthen Accountability

Workers can strengthen accountability by:

• Attending regular supervision and appraisals
• Keeping up to date with training
• Asking for clarification on unclear tasks
• Acting honestly and admitting mistakes
• Supporting colleagues in meeting shared goals

These actions show you take responsibility seriously.

Shared and Individual Accountability

In teams, some responsibilities are shared and some are individual. For example, everyone shares responsibility for keeping the workplace safe. But each person has individual responsibility for their own tasks and professional conduct.

It is important to:

• Understand which tasks are yours alone
• Know which tasks require teamwork
• Clarify responsibilities before starting work
• Support shared goals while completing your own duties

Linking Accountability to Standards of Care

Accountability is linked to standards such as the Care Certificate for new workers or national guidelines from NICE. These standards set out what good care looks like. Workers can use them to check if their practice meets expectations.

Following standards means:

• Service users receive consistent care
• Staff know what is expected
• Organisations meet inspection requirements

Reflective Practice and Accountability

Reflective practice means looking back at what you have done and considering how to improve. It can help you strengthen accountability. By reviewing your actions, you can see what worked well and what needs change.

Steps in reflective practice:

• Think about what happened
• Identify successes and areas for improvement
• Plan how to change future actions
• Discuss with supervisors if needed

Accountability in Multi-Agency Working

In health and social care, you may work with professionals in other organisations such as hospitals, schools, or police. Here, accountability includes following your own organisation’s procedures while cooperating with external partners.

Important points:

• Know your role in the wider group
• Share accurate and lawful information
• Respect the rules of other agencies
• Maintain clear records of joint work

Consequences of Poor Accountability

Poor accountability can lead to serious problems:

• Harm to service users
• Complaints and loss of trust
• Disciplinary action
• Legal penalties for individuals or organisations
• Damage to workplace morale

By being accountable, you help prevent these outcomes.

Working Within Competence

You must only carry out tasks you are trained and competent to do. Acting outside your competence can be dangerous and is a breach of accountability. Always speak up if asked to perform tasks beyond your skills.

Competence means:

• Having the necessary skills
• Understanding the task
• Knowing the risks involved
• Being able to carry it out safely

Supporting Colleagues with Accountability

Accountability involves supporting your colleagues by sharing information, offering help, and covering tasks if needed. If someone is struggling, you can help them meet their responsibilities.

Ways to support:

• Offer guidance when asked
• Share knowledge from training
• Assist with heavy workloads when possible
• Encourage honest communication

Final Thoughts

Accountability when working with others in health and social care is about taking responsibility for your actions and being answerable to those you work with and for. It means following procedures, respecting laws, and keeping commitments to service users and colleagues.

Strong accountability improves care quality, supports trust, and protects everyone involved. By being reliable, honest, and skilled in your role, you help create a safe and supportive environment. It takes daily effort, but it is one of the most important parts of working in health and social care.