Overview

Standard 1 of the Care Certificate helps you to understand your job role, your rights, duties and responsibilities and what is expected from you by your employer.

It also goes into the differences between a personal and professional relationship and working in partnership with others.

Some of the assessment criteria in this standard are the same or very similar to those in the Level 2 Diploma Unit Responsibilities of a Care Worker. To avoid duplication, links to that unit are provided where there is overlap.

Contents

• 1.1 Understand their own role
  • 1.1a Describe their main duties and responsibilities
  • 1.1b List the standards and codes of conduct and practice that relate to their role
  • 1.1c Demonstrate that they are working in accordance with the agreed ways of working with their employer
  • 1.1d Explain how their previous experiences, attitudes and beliefs may affect the way they work
• 1.2 Work in ways that have been agreed with their employer
  • 1.2a Describe their employment rights and responsibilities
  • 1.2b List the aims, objectives and values of the service in which they work
  • 1.2c Explain why it is important to work in ways that are agreed with their employer
  • 1.2d Demonstrate how to access full and up-to-date details of agreed ways of working that are relevant to their role
  • 1.2e Explain how and when to escalate any concerns they might have (whistleblowing)
  • 1.2f Explain why it is important to be honest and identify where errors may have occurred and to tell the appropriate person
• 1.3 Understand working relationships in health and social care
  • 1.3a Describe their responsibilities to the individuals they support
  • 1.3b Explain how a working relationship is different from a personal relationship
  • 1.3c Describe different working relationships in health and social care settings
• 1.4 Work in partnership with others
  • 1.4a Explain why it is important to work in teams and in partnership with others
  • 1.4b Explain why it is important to work in partnership with key people, advocates and others who are significant to an individual
  • 1.4c Demonstrate behaviours, attitudes and ways of working that can help improve partnership working
  • 1.4d Demonstrate how and when to access support and advice about: partnership working, resolving conflicts

Study Guide

1.1a Describe their main duties and responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities are often used interchangeably. technically, duties are the tasks you perform as part of your job role and responsibilities are your obligation to carry them out to a specified standard.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be laid out in your job description. You should also have this explained to you during your interview and again during your induction to ensure that you fully understand what you must do.

Some examples of your duties and responsibilities may be:

• Ensure service users receive a high level of care
• Administer medication
• Report all health and safety hazards
• Keep an accurate timesheet
• Review and update care plans

1.1b List the standards and codes of conduct and practice that relate to their role

To carry out your role competently, you will need to be aware of the minimum standards and codes of conduct and practice that relate to your role.

Any worker who is new to the care industry should complete the 15 standards of the Care Certificate (as you are doing now) before working unsupervised. This should form part of a robust induction program. It consists of all the basic knowledge and understanding a person needs to work in health and social care.

Skills for Care in collaboration with Skills for Health and the Department of Health have created The Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England. This describes how all care workers should behave and conduct themselves.

1.1c Demonstrate that they are working in accordance with the agreed ways of working with their employer

There are several ways that you can demonstrate that you are working in accordance with agreed ways of working with your employer.

Click here to see some examples.

1.1d Explain how their previous experiences, attitudes and beliefs may affect the way they work

This has previously been fully answered here.

In short, you should not let your previous experiences and personal attitudes and beliefs affect or influence your work.

1.2a Describe their employment rights and responsibilities

All employees have certain rights that they can expect to be upheld by their employer and certain responsibilities towards their employer.

Some of your rights include:

• Working time directive – your employer cannot make you work more than 48 hours per week (on average) although you can opt out of this
• Health and Safety – your employer must provide a safe environment for you to work and any equipment you require to do your job
• National Living Wage (NVM) – your employer must pay you at least the NVM, which is currently £8.21 per hour for over 25s
• Discrimination – you must not be discriminated against by your employer

Some of your responsibilities include:

• Health and safety – you must report any workplace hazards you encounter to your employer immediately
• Agreed ways of working – you must adhere to your employers agreed ways of working (policies and procedures)
• Punctuality – you must arrive at and leave work at the times agreed with your employer
• Due care – treat all of your employer’s equipment with due care

Further information can be found on the ACAS website.

1.2b List the aims, objectives and values of the service in which they work

The company or organisation that you work for should have written statements of their aims, objectives and values.

For example, the Mission of DUTTONCARE is to provide high quality study guides for learners in the health and social care sector.

You will probably find your own organisation’s aims, objectives and values on their literature or their website. Alternatively, you can request this information from your manager.

It is important to know and understand what your organisation is trying to achieve and what its core values and driving principles are so that you can ensure your practice is in line with what the organisation is doing. It can also aid you when it comes to making difficult decisions.

1.2c Explain why it is important to work in ways that are agreed with their employer

It is essential that you work in ways that are agreed with your employer because many of the policies and procedures in place are there to ensure that you work within the confines of the law, to industry standards and that the health, safety and wellbeing of yourself and others is preserved.

In addition, your employer is paying you to do a job so it is your responsibility to carry this out to the best of your ability in the way that your employer wants.

1.2d Demonstrate how to access full and up-to-date details of agreed ways of working that are relevant to their role

This question has already been answered here.

1.2e Explain how and when to escalate any concerns they might have (whistleblowing)

Whistleblowing is the act of reporting serious concerns at work such as malpractice, negligence or illegal activities.

It is your responsibility to report anything you feel is not right and your employer should have a whistleblowing policy in place to ensure the process runs smoothly and protect you from being discriminated against for making a legitimate report.

In most cases, you should (in the first instance) report concerns to your manager. If you are reporting something that concerns your manager or you do not feel comfortable approaching them about it, you may speak to another manager or senior management. Your organisation’s whistleblowing policy will explain who to contact.

Your concern should then be investigated and they will let you know the outcome within agreed timescales.

If you do not think your concern is being dealt with properly or it isn’t being treated seriously, you may be forced to escalate it further. Maybe to senior management or even outside agencies such as CQC, social services or the police.

1.2f Explain why it is important to be honest and identify where errors may have occurred and to tell the appropriate person

Everybody makes mistakes from time to time and care organisations do understand this.

So, when you do make a mistake or witness an error by somebody else you should report it immediately either to your manager or other appropriate person(s).

Honesty is important because when an error occurs, it is important to:

1. Rectify it or reduce the impact of it as quickly as possible
2. Learn from it to prevent it happening again

If you cover up or do not own up to mistakes and errors then they cannot be rectified and there is a high likelihood of it happening again.

1.3a Describe their responsibilities to the individuals they support

You will have several responsibilities towards the people you support.

You must always provide professional care in line with the individual’s needs, wishes and preferences (which can be found in their care plan).

You have a duty of care to reasonably ensure that the individuals you support are protected from harm and abuse.

You should work in a person-centred way, protect an individual’s rights and promote their interests, health and well-being. You should encourage them to be as independent as possible.

You should also respect their rights to privacy and dignity.

1.3b Explain how a working relationship is different from a personal relationship

Click here for a list of the differences between working relationships and personal relationships.

1.3c Describe different working relationships in health and social care settings

Some examples of the different working relationships in a care setting can be found here.

1.4a Explain why it is important to work in teams and in partnership with others

The importance of partnership working is fully discussed here.

1.4b Explain why it is important to work in partnership with key people, advocates and others who are significant to an individual

As a care worker, you will need to work in partnership with key people that are significant to the individuals that you care for. This can include their family members and advocates.

These people are often looking out for the best interests of the individual so it is important that you take the time to listen to what they have they say and take their views and opinions seriously. You do not always have to agree with them but it is important that you work together to achieve the best outcomes for the individual.

1.4c Demonstrate behaviours, attitudes and ways of working that can help improve partnership working

Ways of working that can help improve partnership working has already been discussed here.

1.4d Demonstrate how and when to access support and advice about: partnership working, resolving conflicts

Here you will find when and how to access support about partnership working and resolving conflicts.