Care Certificate Standard 1 Answers : Understand Your Role

Course – Care Certificate Workbook Answers NVQ/RQF/QCF

Standard 1 of the Care Certificate is about understanding your responsibilities as a social care worker. It’s not about what you do daily, but knowing how your role fits within the wider care setting. This means being aware of your rights and duties as an employee and following agreed ways of work, respecting professional boundaries and always maintaining confidentiality. You are also expected to stay informed about current legislation, standards and codes of conduct that provide help in your practice. By understanding all these important areas, you will be able to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care while working confidently within your role.

Learning Outcomes & Assessment Criteria Questions

1.1 Understand their own role

1.1a Describe your main duties and responsibilities

1.1b List the standards, codes of conduct and practices that relate to your role

1.1c Demonstrate that you are working in accordance with the agreed ways of working with your employer

1.1d Explain how your previous experiences, attitudes and beliefs may affect the way you work

1.2 Work in ways that have been agreed by their employer

1.2a Describe your 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 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 and resolving conflicts

Care Certificate Standard 1 Workbook Answers

Here you will find exemplary answers and explanations for all questions present in the Care Certificate Standard 1 workbook: Understand Your Role. We will guide you through the answers step by step so that you can fully understand the main points and expectations.

Learning Outcome 1.1 – Understand Your Role

Activity 1.1a:  Using your job description to help you, fill in the box below to describe your main duties and responsibilities. 

Answer 1.1a:

As a social care worker, my role is to provide care and support based on their individual care plans. This involves helping them in their daily tasks.

It’s equally important how I do these jobs. I always treat people with respect, maintain their dignity and support them in their independence. Also, I make sure their privacy is respected all the time.  I always follow organisations’ policies, such as maintaining accurate records and reporting any health or safety concerns.

Having good communication skills is also an important part of my job. I have to interact clearly and with respect with the people that I help, especially with communication problems, also with my co-workers and other professionals. 

Confidentiality is also important. When it’s necessary, I share personal information. My role’s purpose is to provide high-quality care and improve the lives of those whom I support. 

Activity 1.1b:  Look up the Care Certificate and the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England. Complete the diagram below to list some examples of the standards they include.

Answer 1.1b: 

Care Certificate Standards and Code of Conduct Overview

You are expected to fully understand your role and work in a people-centred manner. 

The Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers, I am expected to work according to the following standards, codes of conduct, and practices.

Care Certificate Standards:

• Understand your role
• Your personal development
• Duty of care
• Equality and diversity
• Work in person person-centred way
• Communication
• Privacy and dignity
• Fluids and nutrition
• Awareness of mental health, dementia and learning disabilities
• Safeguarding adults
• Safeguarding children
• Basic life support
• Health and safety
• Handling Information
• Infection prevention and control 

Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers, I must:

• Take responsibility for actions or inactions and ensure I can explain them.
• Always help and speak for the privacy, dignity, health, rights, and well-being of people using health care services and their carers.
• Work with colleagues to maintain high-quality, kind, and safe healthcare.
• Talk clearly and honestly to help keep people healthy, safe, and feeling good while they’re being looked after.
• Respect individuals’ right to keep their information safe.
• Continuously improve the quality of your care by learning.
• Support and promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.
  

Activity 1.1c: Demonstrate that you are working in accordance with the agreed ways of working with your employer.

Answer 1.1c: 

In my role, I follow all the set methods of working as outlined by my employer. This involve adhering to the company’s policies, procedures and care plans for each person that I provide help to. For example, I use correct techniques for moving and handling to ensure safety, maintain accurate records, immediately address concerns and always work within the boundaries of my work. 

I regularly inform myself about the latest updates to workplace policies and procedures. I also attend training sessions so that I’m always up-to-date with the best practices and the legal standard. If I were not sure about something, I would either ask my supervisor or take help from the staff handbook. By doing all this, I ensure that I’m working safely, professionally and in a way that supports the rights and well-being of those in my care.  

Activity 1.1d:   Being self-aware is important for care workers. Think about your previous experiences and the attitudes and beliefs you have, and under the points below, explain how they may have affected the way you work.

Answer 1.1d: 

A positive experience

As a child, I always got praise and support. It gave me the confidence to overcome any problem and reach my goal. Because of this, positive encouragement is important in supporting individuals to reach their maximum potential. I use the same approach in my daily practice, thus always helping others build their confidence and reach their full potential.
A negative experience

I was put on a night shift where I had to work from 10 pm to 8 am so that I could support someone’s requirements. But this affected my body badly because I couldn’t sleep properly during the day, no matter how much I tried. Due to this, I ended up feeling tired all the time, getting easily frustrated and starting to make mistakes. 

So, to overcome all this, I talked to my manager about how it was affecting my daily life, and we both agreed that night work is not working for me.  Once I started again on my usual day shifts and started sleeping at night, I felt much better. I was able to do my work more effectively.
Your positive attitude

I come to work with a positive attitude towards every challenge, and believe that there is a reason behind someone’s bad behaviour. I focus on understanding why someone is acting that way and try to find ways to help them. Due to my positive approach, I feel motivated to solve problems by using permanent solutions rather than quick fixes that don’t deal with the real issue. 
Your Personal Belief

I personally believe that every person should be treated equally. This belief helps me to work fairly with everyone, regardless of their sex, race, disability, or any other differences. By following this principle, I can work effectively with friends, colleagues, and external professionals without making assumptions about anyone.

Learning Outcome – 1.2 Work in ways that have been agreed by their employer

Activity 1.2a: Familiarise yourself with your employment rights and responsibilities. Under each of the headings below, describe your rights and responsibilities as a worker.

Answer 1.2a: 

Health and safety

It’s my responsibility to protect the health, safety and well-being of everyone around me, such as clients, co-workers, external agencies and the public. I do all this by identifying potential hazards and, when possible, removing them. I also report any risk to my manager. I’m also expected to follow the company’s established procedure, including care plans and risk assessments and policies. 

As an employee, my rights include the guarantee that my employer will work to reduce risks to me and others. They must act quickly on any hazards I report and provide me with the right training and equipment to do my job properly.
Confidentiality

I am responsible for sharing personal information only when it’s required and with consent. If I have concerns about abuse or harm, I may need to share information without consent. My employer is responsible for securely storing and sharing my personal information only when needed. Paper records should be kept in locked storage, and digital records should be protected with passwords.

Working Time

I have a contract to work an average of 37 hours per week, though my actual hours of working may vary from week to week. I haven’t opted out of the Working Time Directive, so I cannot work more than 48 hours per week unless I voluntarily provide written consent to my employer.

I am entitled to:

• A weekly rest break of at least 24 hours
• A daily rest break of 11 hours every 24 hours
• A 20-minute rest break each day if I am working over 6 hours
• 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave each year.

Pay and wages

I should earn at least the National Living Wage, which is  £9.50 per hour. Right now, I earn £10.40 per hour, and this is expected to rise to £10.58 per hour in September 2024. Another point is that younger workers who are under 25 years old can legally be paid less.

Activity 1.2b: Speak to your employer to find out the aims, objectives and values of the organisation that you work in and use the information to fill in the table below.

Answer 1.2b:

Aims of my organisation

• To provide high-quality, person-centred care that truly meets the needs of every individual we support.
• To go beyond the basic standards and deliver care that clients are genuinely happy with.
• To manage our services ethically with integrity and high standards, building open, honest, and respectful relationships.
• To offer staff regular, high-standard training that supports both their job skills and personal growth.
• To keep our team happy and motivated, we help them grow in their roles and deliver outstanding care.
• To grow our organisation steadily and responsibly as more people need our services.

The Objective of my organisation

• Meet each service user’s assessed needs through consistent, person-centred planning.
• Support independence and enhance quality of life by providing professional, dependable care.
• Deliver care services in a flexible and inclusive way, always respecting individual rights and choices.
• Manage staff well by carefully planning recruitment, providing training, and supporting their ongoing development and retention.
• Run care services efficiently and effectively to ensure users receive the best possible value.
• Carry out risk assessments to maintain safety while still respecting individuals’ rights to make their own choices and take risks.

The Values of my Organisation

• Integrity
• Respect 
• Care
• Professionalism
• Trust

Activity 1.2c: It is essential to work in ways that are agreed with your employer. Give an example of an agreed way of working in your workplace and explain why it is important.

Answer 1.2c

One of the agreed-upon ways of working we follow at work is the safeguarding policy. This policy describes what to do if we think someone vulnerable might be at risk of harm or abuse. It is important because it guides us on how to report abuse and tells us the steps for solving yhe situation properly.

Following this policy is important because it helps protect vulnerable people and makes sure that any concerns are dealt with properly. It also keeps us in line with the law and helps the company deliver safe and supportive care, as promised.

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

Answer 1.2d:

I can use a few simple ways to get complete and latest details about how I’m expected to work. I will check the staff handbook, which has all the information about the company’s policies and procedures. This book is given to every employee, and it’s kept in places like the office or staff room, where it is easily accessible. I can also check the workplace computer system, where digital copies of policies, procedures, training manuals and staff guidelines are regularly updated. 

If I find anything unclear or I’m unsure where to find the latest update, I can ask my manager or supervisor. They are here to help us and to explain anything that I don’t understand. To stay informed, I regularly attend training sessions, workshops and team meetings where we learn about new updates or changes on how we work.

I can also read the care plans about the people we support. These documents help me in understanding their specific needs and how to care for them properly, which are aligned with our agreed ways of working. All these steps help me in doing my job safely, correctly and in the best way possible for the people that I support.

Activity 1.2e and 1.2f: Part i) For each of the statements below, decide whether each should be reported as a concern and tick either yes or no.

Answer 1.2e and 1.2f

• The health and safety of staff is in danger – YES, any risks to staff safety must be reported right away to prevent accidents or harm in the workplace.
• Individuals are treated with dignity and respect – NO, this is a basic standard in care and should be part of everyday practice. It doesn’t need to be reported unless it’s not being followed.
• The environment is being damaged by work activity – YES, we all have a duty to protect our surroundings. Any damage caused by work must be reported so that action can be taken. Organisations also have a legal and ethical duty to reduce harm to the environment.
• Wrongdoing is being covered up – YES, hiding mistakes is very serious. In the care sector, we must be honest and take responsibility. Cover-ups lead to poor care and unsafe practices, so they must be reported immediately.
• An individual’s care is poor, but they can’t or won’t speak up – YES, if someone is receiving poor care and cannot complain, it’s our job to raise the issue on their behalf to protect them.
• Care plans are reassessed and updated regularly – NO, this is part of normal care procedures and doesn’t need to be reported as a concern unless it’s not happening as it should.
• Your manager is involved in the abuse of individuals – YES, all abuse must be reported without delay. If a manager is involved, it should be reported to someone higher or to an outside authority, following the safeguarding policy.

Part ii) Thinking about the statements in Part i) that would need to be reported, explain how you would raise your concerns, or whistleblow and why.

If I noticed a health and safety concern, first of all, I would assess if it is something I can resolve safely myself, and  I would do so. Whether I could resolve it or not, I would still report it to my manager verbally. If my manager did not treat my concern seriously, I would escalate it to our health and safety manager.

If I saw that work activities were harming the environment, I would report it to my manager and suggest any solutions to the problem. But if nothing is done about it, then I will report this to the local council’s environmental health team if my concerns are not acted on by my manager.

If I found out someone is covering up wrongdoing, I would immediately report it to my manager. If my manager didn’t take the action quickly, then I would take this further and speak to senior management. If it is still not dealt with, then I will report it to the CQC  following my organisation’s whistle-blowing policy. 

If I notice someone’s care is insufficient and they could not or didn’t want to speak up for themselves, I would report it to my manager first. If the issue wasn’t sorted or required more attention, then I’d raise it with the safeguarding lead in our organisation. If things still didn’t improve, I’d go further and report it to the local social services safeguarding team or CQC. I would also consider encouraging and supporting the individual to make a complaint through our organisation’s complaints policy.

If my manager were responsible for the abuse, I would go to our safeguarding lead. Depending on how serious it was, I’d also report it to social services, the CQC, or even the police to make sure the individual was protected.

Activity 1.3a Think about your responsibilities to the individuals you support. Describe four of your responsibilities to those individuals. 

Answer 1.3a 

As a care worker, I have a responsibility to provide help in the best way possible. Here are the four main responsibilities I would follow:

• Keeping them safe from harm: I must make sure that every person I support is protected from abuse and neglect. If I ever see anything wrong, I will take action and immediately report it. 
• Respecting their rights and promoting independence:  I support people to make their own choices and live as independently as they want. I will focus on what they can do instead of what they need help with. 
• Following their care plan:  I always make sure the support I give matches the person’s care plan. This helps me meet their needs, and provide care the way they want. 
• Treating everyone equally and with respect: I treat everyone equally, no matter their background or beliefs. I also value each person’s individuality and make sure they feel included and respected. 

Activity 1.3b In the boxes below, explain how a working relationship is different to a personal relationship. Use examples from your service to help you explain your points.

Answer 1.3b 

A working relationship is

A professional relationship that is created and maintained in the workplace is built by following agreed-upon rules and procedures, and it is part of your paid work. Personal matters are not discussed here, and confidentiality must be maintained. These relationships are guided by legislation, best practices and industry standards.  

Examples include

Interaction between co-workers, managers and their team members, care workers and the individuals they support, care workers and other professionals such as social workers, GPs, nurses, advocates, etc. 

A personal relationship is

A mutual connection between friends and family where they socialise and discuss their personal matters. These relationships are not regulated and do not follow any rules, policies or procedures. 

Examples include

Relationships with partners, friends, siblings, parents/children, family friends, neighbours, etc.

Activity 1.3c There are four main working relationships in health and social care. State the four main working relationships and provide a description of each, including who they are most likely to be in your own workplace:

Answer 1.3c

1. Care workers and clients – These are the individuals whom I provide care services to, and this may also include their significant others, such as their parents, siblings, etc. It’s essential to maintain professional boundaries and remember that the people that I am caring for are not my friends but clients. 
2. Care workers and other care workers – These are the colleagues I work with daily as part of a team. We work as a team, supporting each other while sharing responsibilities. 
3. Managers and team managers – This is the relationship I have with my manager. My manager is responsible for supporting the team, providing guidance and supporting our professional development. Regular appraisals, support meetings, and watching how I work help me improve my skills and ensure that I meet the required standards of care.
4. Care workers and other professionals – This includes my relationship with external agencies that provide care services. This involves social workers, dieticians, mental health experts, nurses or general doctors.  

Activity 1.4a and 1.4b: As a worker in health and social care, it is essential to be an effective and a good team member and work in partnership. Explain why it is important to work. 

• In partnership with other workers 

I must have a good working relationship with my coworkers to ensure that the people we support receive consistent and reliable care. It also helps the team to have a high morale and a positive attitude towards the services we provide. This team effort is not only in our group but also for the other departments in our organisation and the external agencies we work with. Sometimes we may never agree on something, but we listen to each other and try to come to a fair decision. 

• In partnership with key people, advocates, and others who are significant to the individual, such as their carer, family members or friends:

I must work well with people who are involved in a person’s care, such as their family, friends and advocates. They are often the only ones to whom a person can share their wishes and problems. They can also tell us what we are doing wrong or what we can improve, thus improving the overall well-being of an individual. 

Making a good relationship with these important people helps in building a stronger care support for a person. This teamwork will help everyone to work on the same goal and ensure that the individual’s voice is never unheard. 

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