
Want to understand the required guidelines to ensure safe, optimum quality, and compliant care services? That’s what the standards in health and social care are all about! It is all to help everyone focus on what truly matters- the experience of the care recipient!
Actually, the new health and social care standards are mainly based on human rights and well-being. They prioritize the needs, choices, and rights of each and every person who is receiving care. These standards aim to ensure that health and social care is person-centered, and most importantly- Respectful.
So, what are those standards in health and social work services? Let’s get to know it comprehensively in today’s insightful guide. Just read on!
The 5 Standards In Health And Social Care
The Health and Social Care Standards: My Support, My Life—the Scottish Government first established them in June 2017 after a thorough consultation conducted by the Healthcare Improvement and Care Inspectorate in Scotland. These standards became effective on 1 April 2018 and replaced the National Care Standards.
The standards in health and social care and its outcome set out mainly have been developed as a result of two acts.
- Section 10H of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
- Section 50 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010
Actually, the term standard in health and social care is a collective term. It can describe both principles and the headline outcomes.
The headline outcomes of the health and social care standards are-
- 1: I experience high-quality care and support that is right for me.
- 2: I am fully involved in all decisions about my care and support.
- 3: I have confidence in the people who support and care for me.
- 4: I have confidence in the organization providing my care and support.
- 5: I experience a high-quality environment if the organization provides the premises.
The outcomes related to each standard may have different meanings in different care settings.
However, you read through the descriptive statements of each standard from The Health and Social Care Standards published by the Scottish Government.
Health And Social Care Aims And Principles
The health and social care standards aim to make health and social work services better for everyone. This is to ensure everyone gets treated with respect and dignity and that our basic human rights are protected.
As for the principles of the standards- they are to ensure that you receive quality care. Well, these principles are not the standards or the outcomes. However, they reflect how everyone should be treated or can expect in a care setting.
The standards are underpinned by five principles. They are-
1. Dignity and Respect
- My human rights are protected and respected.
- I am respected as an individual and treated with dignity.
- I am treated fairly.
- I have not experienced any discrimination.
- My privacy is respected.
2. Compassion
- I experience compassionate, warm, nurturing support and care.
- My care is offered by the people who understand and are sensitive to my wishes and needs.
3. Be included
- I receive the right information at the right time in the right way I can understand.
- I supported to make informed choices. It is so that I can control my own care and support.
- I am included in the wider decisions about the way the service is provided.
- My suggestions, feedback, and concerns are considered.
- I am supposed to participate actively and fully in my community.
4. Responsive care and support
- My health and social care needs are assessed and reviewed so that I receive the best care and support at the right time.
- My support and care suit my needs, decisions, and choices.
- It is acted on if I make any complaint.
5. Wellbeing
- I am asked about my lifestyle aspirations and preferences. Plus, I am supported to achieve these.
- I am helped and encouraged to achieve my potential.
- I am supported to make informed choices. Even if it means I may be taking personal risks.
- I feel protected and safe from neglect, avoidable harm, and abuse.
Who Are These Standards For?
Essentially, the health and social care standards are for everyone. No matter what your age or ability, we all deserve the same high-quality care and support.
The health and social care organization will use the standards to guide their inspections and quality checks. The standards can also help them to make decisions to approve or register care and services.
Experts also encourage non-registered organizations to use the standards as a guide to offer high-quality care.
Moreover, you can apply the standards in many services. For instance
- Child-minding
- Daycare for young children
- Housing support
- Home care for adults
- Hospitals
- Clinics and
- Care homes
However, note that the standards do not replace the existing laws. Health and social care services still need to follow the legal requirements and the best practices of this sector.
You can say the standards just work alongside the laws to enhance the quality of care and ensure continuous improvement.
Why Standards Matter In Health And Social Care?
Here are some reasons that can clearly describe why standards are significant in health and social care.
Firstly, standards help the health and social care organization to measure their performance and to know how they are improving. It results in better care services and reduces the chances of an unacceptable variety of care.
Secondly, it enables the service users and the providers to understand what level of care they expect to receive and give. Moreover, it also offers them the chance to improve the quality of those services.
Thirdly, the standard provides the public and their representatives a way to assess whether their money is spent on efficient and effective care services.
Fourth, it helps the organization fulfill its responsibilities to uphold human rights and equal service to everyone.
Fifth, and finally, standards ensure compliance and support the regulation. It helps to monitor and assess the quality, safety, and improvement of the health and social care services.
What Will Happen If the Standard Of Health And Social Care Are Not Met?
Everyone is entitled to compassionate and safe care. True, different care services offer different types of support. But still, they all need to meet the standards of health and social care.
When this happens otherwise, the responsible authorities will step in and inspect the services to ensure compliance with the standards. It can result in corrective actions.
Moreover, poor coordination between the care services leads to negative outcomes for the individuals. For instance, unmet needs and inadequate care. As a result, there can be investigations or inquiries into the care failures.
Final Words
All in all, the standards in health and social care are essential to ensure everyone receives the service they deserve- high-quality and respectful care.
We will be able to create a compassionate and dignified care environment with a clear understanding and implementation of these standards.
That does not really matter whether you are the care recipient or the provider in this regard. We all need to prioritize this standard and work together so that we can walk towards a safe and compassionate care setting for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
The health and social care standards apply to services you use in care homes or support services. This may also include adult placement services, hospital care, nurse agencies, care homes for older people, or hospice care.
To maintain the standards of health and social care, you need to implement a quality management system. This includes staff training, clear policies, effective communication, and regular monitoring to identify areas for improvement.
The 5 dimensions of health and social care are physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual. These dimensions are interconnected, meaning that if one dimension changes, it can greatly affect the others. It's important to value each dimension equally.
The 8 core care values focus on ensuring each patient receives treatment with respect and in accordance with their preferences. These values are:
- Respect
- Independence
- Individuality
- Privacy
- Partnership
- Choice
- Dignity
- Rights