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• Define values of care

  Guiding principles that underpin the work of those providing care and support in health, social care and early years settings.
• Explain the importance of applying the value of individuality


  Recognising that a person is unique and has their own needs, wishes, beliefs and values. People are diverse, different and individual. This will promote equality and diversity and reduce discrimination.

  Ways to value diversity:

  • provide prayer rooms and information in different languages and formats (braille, large print) in a hospital
  • ramps and lifts in a GP surgery
  • hearing loops in a day care centre for adults with hearing impairments
• Explain the importance of applying the value of choice

  Enabling individuals to have different options to make their own choices

  Choice is empowering

  They should be offered a range of options and given enough information to make an informed choice

  Ways to value choice:

  • providing different delivery options as a midwife
  • offering different medication options as a GP
  • a community centre offering a choice of activities to join 
  • a foodbank allowing a choice as to how much support received
• Explain the importance of applying the value of rights

  Helping individuals to understand and access their rights. Everyone is entitled to rights. Rights are set out by law

  • To be treated with dignity, respect, as equal and be kept safe

  Ways to value rights:

  • a nurse monitoring and checking medication to prevent harm
  • a paramedic treating a patient behind a screen keeps dignity
  • a social worker taking time to listen to elderly persons wishes
  • a care worker knocking on the door before entering
• Explain the importance of applying the value of independence

  Encouraging and empowering individuals to do as much as possible for themselves, agreeing the level of support the need or want, never taking over or doing things for them just because its quicker.

  This builds self-esteem.

  Ways to value independence:

  • A nursing home worker allowing an elderly person to wash themselves but with support to get to the bathroom
  • A worker in a homeless shelter supporting someone to apply for accommodation, helping with a computer to complete the form independently
• Explain the importance of applying the value of privacy

  Many procedures in health and social care require privacy, for example showering and dressing or carrying out an intimate procedure.

  Respect and dignity can develop trust.

  Ways to value privacy:

  • The receptionist at a GP surgery not repeating personal information out loud during a phone call
  • A doctor closing the curtains during treatment
  • A foodbank volunteer not discussing another’s personal circumstances with others
• Explain the importance of applying the value of dignity

  Promoting self-respect and ensuring individuals are never humiliated or embarrassed.

  Valuing a service users beliefs or wishes and not making assumptions about how they wish to be treated.

  Ways to value dignity:

  • A doctor respecting the wishes of the service user to stop treatment
  • A residential care home allowing residents to attend a place of worship
  • A social worker respecting a disabled adult’s wish to be independent in their own home
• Explain the importance of applying the value of respect

  Taking into account or regard for someone’s feelings, wishes, rights and beliefs. This means when interacting with them you respect their opinions and feelings, even if you don’t agree with them.

  Respect is shown across all protected characteristics.

  
  

  Ways to value respect:

  • Not using patronising language
  • A homeless shelter respecting the decision of a homeless person refusing support
  • Recognising and respecting feelings of someone in a support group
• Explain the importance of applying the value of partnership

  Working together with other professionals, services and agencies to provide the most effective care. Sharing information and ideas helps people to learn from one another and should have the service users best interests at the centre.

  Ways to value partnership:

  • Surgeon discussing surgery options with the patient and family
  • Social worker liaising with a day care centre when planning a support package for a service user
  • Prisons working with local authorities to ensure a smooth transition with social care support for prisoners
• Explain the importance of applying the value of decision-making

  Service users should be encouraged and informed to make their own care decisions, after all they are experts on themselves. This leads to better outcomes if it’s appropriate for their needs and can make them feel empowered, raise self-esteem and confidence.

  Ways to value decision-making:

  • A nurse asking how someone feels about their condition to establish their needs
  • A paramedic explaining why they need to go to hospital for further treatment so they can make an informed decision
• What are the 6 Qualities of a service practitioner? (6C's)

  • Care
  • Compassion
  • Competence
  • Communication
  • Courage
  • Commitment
• Explain the importance of the quality of care


  Care should be right for the service user at every stage of their life to maintain health and wellbeing.

  High quality care is at the centre of all health and social care work.

  Example

  • You show care when working with a dementia sufferer, when you place their needs and best interests at the centre and treat them with dignity
• Explain the importance of the quality of compassion


  This is about HOW the care is given.

  Its thought of as recognising emotions and responding with kindness.

  Delivering care with empathy, respect and dignity and developing relationships shows compassion.

  Example

  • You show care working as a mental health nurse supporting someone with mental health needs by showing empathy with what they are going through and treating them with kindness
• Explain the importance of the quality of competence

  Having the skills and knowledge to deliver effective care an treatment.

  Its also the ability to understand the service users’ needs

  Example:

  • A social care worker supporting a teenager in care knows what support is suitable for their age and needs and can put this into place
• Explain the importance of the quality of communication

  Communicating in health and social care is essential to develop relationships with service users’, their families and other colleagues.

  Listening is also an important part of communication to ensure service users’ are part of the decision process.

  Example:

  • A doctor listening and understanding if a patient does not consent to treatment
• Explain the importance of the quality of courage

  This is being brave to speak up about concerns such as discrimination.

  It can also be about trying new ways of working to improve experience for service users.

  Example:

  • A care worker suggesting a change to visiting times in a care home because they think it will improve their experiences in the day.
• Explain the importance of the quality of commitment


  A promise / agreement to do something.

  Service users and their care should be the priority for service providers and being committed to improving their care and experience is a big responsibility.

  Example:

  • A support worker learning sign language (BSL) so they can support their client who is deaf
• What are the benefits of applying person-centred values to the service provider?

  ⮚ Improves job satisfaction for workers

  ⮚ Maintains or improves quality of life

  ⮚ Supports rights to choice and consultation

  ⮚ Supports practitioners to develop skills

  ⮚ Enables the sharing of good practice

  ⮚ Provide clear guidelines to the standards of care that should be given by care workers
• What are benefits of applying person-centred values to the service user?

  ⮚ Ensures that care given is standardised

  ⮚ Improves quality of care given

  ⮚ Maintains or improves quality of life

  ⮚ Develops strengths
• Identify the effects on people who use services if the values of care are not applied (PIES)


  Physical

  Intellectual

  Emotional

  Social

  Remember these as PIES effects.
• Physical effects - on people who use services if the values of care are not applied 


  Physical effects relate to an individual's body.

  • pain & injury
  • existing illness
  • bruising, cuts and grazes
  • broken bones
  • dehydration & malnutrition

  Example: If a service user in a nursing home is not given a choice of

  food to suit their dietary needs, they could become malnourished
• Intellectual effects - on people who use services if the values of care are not applied 


  Intellectual effects relate to an individual's thought processes, such as thinking skills, understanding and learning.

  • will not achieve full potential
  • lack of skills, knowledge, progress & interest
  • Lack of mental stimulation

  Example: A service user in a residential care home has individual needs which may require specific activities to keep their mind active. If they are denied it could lead to a lack of mental stimulation
• Emotional effects - on the people who use services if the values of care are not applied

  Emotional effects relate to an individual's feelings.

  • low self-esteem & self confidence
  • disempowered ,upset & angry
  • loss of trust & feeling unsafe
  • depressed, stressed, frustration
  • humiliation, self-harm

  Example: If a service user in hospital feels that their privacy has not

  been maintained they could feel upset, angry and embarrassed
• Social effects - on people who use services if the values of care are not applied 


  Social effects relate to an individual's relationships with others.

  • withdrawn, isolated, excluded,
  • un-cooperative,lack of friends
  • develop behaviour problems
  • refusal to use the service

  Example: If service user’s independence is not encouraged in a day

  care centre, they may become withdrawn or feel excluded