A promise to keep

What is the Social Care Commitment?

• A Government White paper initiative ‘caring for our future’

• It’s about improving care, and the public’s confidence in care

• It has been developed by employers, employees and people who need care and support

• It is a voluntary agreement on workforce quality

A sector united

A sector united

Alistair BurtMinister for Community and Social Care

Dec 2015

“The 1.45 million care workers and healthcare assistants in this country are the lifeblood of the care sector. As our population continues to grow and age, their skills and dedication are needed now more than ever. But it is one thing to attract people with the right values and skills, quite another to empower and support them in what we know to be challenging yet highly rewarding careers.For more than two years, the Social Care Commitment has done exactly that – a contract between employers and employees to invest in each other and be the best they can. The Department of Health will continue to support Skills for Care, care agencies and local providers as they use the Commitment to facilitate better training and support, enhanced career paths and, ultimately, greater peace of mind for those receiving or arranging care for themselves and their loved ones.”

The Social Care Commitment is a voluntary agreement between employers and their employees

Employers promise to give their workers the development they need.

Staff promise to put care values into practice in their daily work.

The Social Care Commitment online

For organisations the commitmentis a public promise.Employers that make the commitmentCan choose to be listed on the Social Care Commitment website search resource .For staff, the commitment is private.Only your employer will know thatyou have made the commitment.

The employer commitmentis a promise to:

Take responsibility for how staff work.

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Recruit staff who care.

Provide thorough induction training.

Help staff develop theirskills.Make sure staff understand safety and quality standards.

Supervise staff properly.

Support staff who put their commitment into practice everyday.

The employee commitmentis a promise to:

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Work responsibly.

Uphold dignity.

Work co-operatively.

Communicate effectively.

Protect privacy.

Continue to learn.

Treat people fairly.

The Social Care Commitment is our promise as

providers to people who use our care and support

services that we will put our values into practice:

Respect Rights

Individuality

PrivacyChoice

Independence

PartnershipDignity

What are care values?

Treating people who need care and support as individuals.

Respecting their right to make their own decisions.

Respecting their right to privacy.

Working in partnership with them.

Giving them real choices.

Promoting and supporting their dignity or self-respect.

Treating them with respect at all times.

Promoting and supporting their rights.

How it works

Making the commitment is voluntary.

The employer makes the commitment online first, and then emails a link to their employees inviting them to also sign up and make their commitment.

Employees cannot make the commitment on their own without their employer having signed up first.

Both Employers and their employees will be asked to renew their commitment 2yrs after they first signed up.

So what’s involved?

Seven statements.

Guidance.

Tasks - choose at least one task for each statement.

Resources - Social Care Commitment booklets - Personal development plan - Links to resources across the sector.

Making the commitment means doing the tasks

There are three types of tasks:

identifying and sharinggood practicefinding out informationand sharing itdiscussing with colleagues ideas and issues

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Example

Employee Statement 1 : I will always take responsibility for the things I do or don’t do

What this statement means to an employee is:

Being clear with yourself and others about:

• what your job involves;• which tasks you have the knowledge and skills to undertake safely and well – and which tasks you do not.

One of the six tasks associated with this that you could choose is:

• Discuss with my employer, supervisor or colleagues what knowledge and skills I need to carry out my job safely and well.

So what next - how do I sign up?

Your employer emails you a link tothe commitment website, with a registration code.

You follow the link to the website, register and complete your sign up

It’s simple:

On the website you…

Go through the seven statementsof commitment and their guidance.

Look at the tasks for each statement.

Choose the ones you want to do.

Set yourself deadlines for doing your tasks.

Click the ‘Commit’ button – job done!

Then…

Download and print your certificate.

Save and print your personal development plan.

Discuss how you will plan and do your tasks.

Review your tasks.

Renew your commitment annually.

www.thesocialcarecommitment.org.uk

Sign up and be part of making a real difference to the quality of care

“The commitment has got staff and residents involved in the care provided“

- Signed up employer

AnyQuestions?