The 6 C's of care: A comprehensive overview

What are care values in health and social care? Well, they are a set of core principles that guide all health and social care professionals to provide high quality care. There are six key values that all providers should express to ensure that those they care for are always at the forefront of every care decision.

In this article, we're exploring what the 6 C's of care are and why the care values are so important in social care.

Where did the 6 C's of care come from?

The health and social care values were launched in December 2012 by NHS England Chief Nursing Officer Jane Cummings.

The 6 C's of care were introduced as part of wider efforts to raise standards across all health and social care services, responding to the growing need for a consistent set of values to guide care practices. It was initially rolled out in healthcare but has been adopted in social care, providing a benchmark for quality across the sector.

What are the 6 C's of care?

The 6 care values - care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment - play a vital role in care delivery. Let's explore what each value means:

1. Care

Of course, care runs at the heart of everything your service does. But it can range from recognising the individual needs and preferences of those in your care, developing person-centred care plans that grow and adjust in line with their changing needs, to having the right tools and processes in place to effectively provide this support every single day. And it often involves building strong relationships with clients and their families to ensure the care they receive is meaningful and effective, so they can live as independently as possible.

2. Compassion

The next core value is compassion. Compassion is about putting yourself in the shoes of others, showing genuine empathy and respect towards those you care for. It can mean taking the time to understand the different backgrounds and needs each person brings so those providing care can do so with the right considerations. Compassionate care also helps build trust between your care workers and those they support, helping to build those important relationships.

3. Competence

As you know, your care teams must complete and renew the necessary skills and certifications to provide the high quality care your service works hard to deliver. Along with keeping on top of mandatory learning, this can mean participating in training and development initiatives to ensure they can handle a variety of different situations or care needs, and confidently deliver high quality care throughout their career.

4. Communication

Clear communication is essential in all health and social care settings. From keeping in touch with clients and their families and liaising with third party stakeholders across sectors, to having clear record keeping and reporting processes across all functions, effective communication helps to strengthen relationships, empower clients and ensure accurate and efficient care is being delivered. Plus, communication is about being able to listen and observe so you can better understand and respond to the needs of both your clients and service.

Check out our blog 'Beating care plan battles so you can provide high quality care' for more information.

5. Courage

Empowering your care teams to have the courage to challenge practices or advocate for your clients is vital for providing effective care. Whether that's bringing risks to light before they become real problems or being able to stand up and embrace new approaches to care, your teams need to have the confidence to speak up. This is not only a benefit for your clients but can also be hugely important for safeguarding your service.

6. Commitment

The final care value is commitment. Every care provider should be dedicated to providing high quality care, with the determination to improve the level of care they deliver every single day. And those working in care should have a deep passion for bettering the lives of those they support, showing a commitment to providing consistent care that makes a positive difference to both clients and their families.

Why are the 6 C's of care important?

• Enhancing care quality

One of, if not the, most important benefits of the six care values is the positive impact they have on care quality. The principles help to ensure that care is person-centred, effective and respectful. All of which lead to improved care outcomes to those using your service, as well as improved client and staff satisfaction, which can mean you attract new enquirers and boost staff retention.

• Building trust and relationships

The 6 C's play a key role in your staff building a vital sense of trust with their clients. Values such as care, compassion and competency make up the foundation for a strong relationship where clients and their families can confidently engage with the service they draw upon, knowing their individual needs and preferences are not only encouraged but met.

• Personal growth and independence

Another important benefit of the six health and care values is the potential for personal growth for your staff and increased independence for your clients. Through commitment to care and competent care practices, your teams have chance to broaden the level or type of care they are qualified to deliver and progress in their career. Plus, your clients then benefit from a higher level of support which can allow them to live with more autonomy and control.

• Responsibility and accountability

The reason behind the 6 C's was to create a guideline for all health and care professionals to deliver high quality care. And part of that is ensuring that all stakeholders take accountability for the role they play in providing care that is effective and consistent. Embracing these care values across all sectors and services means that all people involved in your clients care journey follow the same types of standards and can all work towards a shared goal.

How you can embrace the 6 C's of care

Whether you provide residential care, domiciliary care or supported living, these guiding principles help you make a real, positive difference in the lives of the people you support. And of course, the software that runs at the heart of your operations needs to be able to support you in all aspects of care delivery, removing the admin pressures your teams face across each function and location so they can instead focus on other core priorities.

Care Cloud is our Software as a Service (SaaS) care business management solution for all types of care providers.

Care Cloud gives you complete oversight of all your care business needs; from client care plans and staff rostering to invoicing and training opportunities.

And with over 25 years of sector knowledge, find out today about how OneAdvanced Care can meet your organisation's needs.

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