2.2. Summarise requirements of professional standards and codes of practice

This guide will help you answer 2.2. Summarise requirements of professional standards and codes of practice.

Professional standards and codes of practice are the guiding frameworks for health and social care work in the UK. They outline the responsibilities and expectations placed on workers to promote high-quality care while ensuring safety, respect, and dignity. In this guide, we will cover the essential requirements of these standards and codes, highlighting their purpose and impact on day-to-day work in health and social care.

Purpose of Professional Standards and Codes of Practice

Professional standards and codes of practice serve multiple purposes in the context of health and social care:

• They establish clear expectations for behaviour and performance.
• They safeguard the rights and needs of individuals who use services.
• They promote consistency across the workforce.
• They protect staff by providing clear guidelines for conduct.

For example, such guidelines help workers understand how to act ethically and effectively. They also promote accountability by holding staff responsible for maintaining the highest levels of care.

Legal and Ethical Frameworks

All professional standards and codes of practice are underpinned by laws and ethical principles. Workers must work in line with legislation, including:

• The Care Act 2014: Outlines duties to promote wellbeing and prevent neglect or abuse.
• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: Requires safe working environments for staff and those receiving care.
• The Equality Act 2010: Prohibits discrimination and ensures equality in service provision.
• The Mental Capacity Act 2005: Protects those who may lack the capacity to make their own decisions.
• The Data Protection Act 2018: Protects personal information and ensures confidentiality.

Ethical principles include respect for individual autonomy, promoting good, avoiding harm, and treating everyone fairly. These principles guide every decision you make as a health and social care worker.

Core Requirements of Professional Standards

Every professional who works in health and social care must uphold specific core requirements. These include:

Maintaining Competence

Workers need to have the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs effectively. This includes:

• Completing mandatory training.
• Taking advantage of ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Regularly updating sector knowledge to remain current on best practices.

Workers must reflect on their work and identify areas that require improvement. This helps maintain high standards of care.

Practicing Safely

You must provide care in a way that doesn’t pose risks to yourself or others. This includes:

• Following risk assessment processes.
• Using protective equipment where required.
• Ensuring safe moving and handling techniques.

The main aim is to protect individuals’ physical welfare and minimise incidents such as accidents and injuries.

Acting with Integrity

Workers must be honest and trustworthy. Integrity ensures individuals and families can trust the care they are receiving. Key behaviours include:

• Admitting mistakes and taking accountability.
• Avoiding relationships or behaviours that could exploit service users.
• Reporting misconduct, abuse, or unsafe conditions.

Promoting Respect and Dignity

Every individual has the right to be treated with respect and dignity. This includes:

• Respecting individuals’ choices, preferences, and lifestyles.
• Speaking in a way that is polite and non-judgemental.
• Ensuring individuals are never belittled, embarrassed, or humiliated.

Respect fosters positive relationships and ensures individuals feel valued.

Maintaining Confidentiality

You must protect private and personal information. This includes:

• Storing data securely.
• Sharing information only with consent or when legally required.
• Following organisational policies on information handling.

Confidentiality builds trust between individuals and those providing care.

Upholding Equality and Diversity

Promoting equality means giving everyone fair access to care and treatment. It also involves valuing diversity, which celebrates differences in age, race, gender, disability, religion, and cultural background. Key aspects include:

• Recognising and challenging discrimination.
• Adapting services to meet individual needs.
• Avoiding assumptions based on stereotypes.

This ensures services are inclusive and respectful of everyone.

Role of Codes of Practice in Health and Social Care

In addition to professional standards, codes of practice offer specific guidance on conduct and responsibilities. For example, the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England explains how workers should behave. Some of the key points outlined in the code include:

Upholding Professional Boundaries

Workers must maintain appropriate relationships with service users. This prevents exploitation and ensures professional interactions. Examples of breaches might include sharing personal information or forming inappropriate personal relationships with individuals you care for.

Providing Person-Centred Care

Codes of practice emphasise the importance of tailoring services to each individual. Workers must:

• Listen to individuals’ needs, preferences, and goals.
• Involve people in decisions about their own care.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals to achieve the best outcomes.

Person-centred care ensures a more holistic and respectful approach to service delivery.

Challenging Poor Practice

You must act when you witness unsafe, unethical, or harmful behaviour. This could involve:

• Reporting concerns to a manager or safeguarding lead.
• Supporting whistleblowing to protect those at risk.
• Reflecting on your own practices to avoid repeating mistakes.

This commitment helps maintain trust within the workforce and protects vulnerable individuals.

Standards for Communication

Communication is a fundamental part of professional standards and codes of practice. Workers must communicate clearly and respectfully with service users, colleagues, and families. This includes:

• Using active listening to understand individuals’ wishes.
• Adapting communication methods based on needs, such as using interpreters or communication aids.
• Ensuring written records are accurate, understandable, and free of bias.

Effective communication builds relationships based on understanding and trust.

Adhering to Safeguarding Practices

Safeguarding is an essential part of working in health and social care. It means protecting adults and children from abuse, neglect, or harm. Safeguarding responsibilities require workers to:

• Know the signs of abuse or neglect.
• Report concerns immediately following organisational policies.
• Support individuals while maintaining their dignity and rights.

Safeguarding is not just a legal obligation but a moral one.

Accountability and Leadership

Professional standards and codes of practice hold workers accountable. This means taking responsibility for your own actions and decisions. It also means participating in supervision and appraisals to ensure your work meets required standards.

Leadership plays a role, even at the most basic levels of care work. Workers must act as role models by demonstrating professional behaviour, a positive attitude, and a commitment to improving lives.

The Role of Regulatory Organisations

Regulatory organisations oversee professional standards and codes of practice. Some examples are:

• The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): Regulates social workers and allied health professionals.
• The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): Sets the standards for nurses and midwives.
• The Care Quality Commission (CQC): Monitors and inspects care providers to ensure compliance.

These bodies provide guidance, training resources, and disciplinary measures when needed.

Dealing with Breaches

If you fail to follow professional standards or codes of practice, there may be serious consequences. These might include:

• Disciplinary action from your employer.
• Loss of registration if you belong to a professional body.
• Legal consequences, such as penalties for breaching data protection laws.

It’s important to seek support if you’re unsure about how to meet these standards. Supervision and training can help you improve.

Final Thoughts

Professional standards and codes of practice are there to protect everyone involved in health and social care—from the workers themselves to service users. Following them isn’t just about compliance; it’s about providing care safely, respectfully, and ethically. By building trust, acting with integrity, and delivering person-centred care, you can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.