Duty of Care in Care Settings

A duty of care in care settings means that care professionals are legally and ethically required to act in the best interests of the individuals they support. It involves:

• Providing Safe and Competent Care: Ensuring that all actions taken are for the benefit of the individual and that they are carried out with skill and knowledge.
• Preventing Harm: Taking proactive steps to prevent harm or injury, including safeguarding vulnerable individuals.
• Respecting Rights: Honouring the dignity, privacy, and choices of the individuals receiving care.
• Maintaining Professional Boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries to maintain a professional relationship based on trust and integrity.
• Reporting Concerns: Identifying and reporting risks and safeguarding issues promptly to appropriate authorities.

By fulfilling this duty of care, care professionals ensure they are providing high-quality, ethical, and lawful care. This builds trust with those they support and maintains the integrity of the care setting.

Answers for Duty of Care in Care Settings

Understand how duty of care contributes to safe practice

• 1.1 Explain what it means to have a duty of care in own work role
• 1.2 Explain how duty of care relates to duty of candour
• 1.3 Explain how duty of care contributes to the safeguarding or protection of individuals

Know how to address conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between an individual’s rights and the duty of care

• 2.1 Describe conflicts or dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and an individual’s rights
• 2.2 Describe how to manage risks associated with conflicts or dilemmas between an individual’s rights and the duty of care
• 2.3 Explain where to get additional support and advice about conflicts and dilemmas

Know how to respond to complaints

• 3.1 Describe how to respond to complaints
• 3.2 Explain policies and procedures relating to the handling of complaints