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EMPL
O
YERS OF SOCIAL
>
CODES OF PRA
FOR EMPL
O
YERS OF SOCIAL
CARE
W
ORKERS
CTICE
CARE
W
ORKERS
EMPLOYERS OF
SOCIAL CARE WORKERS

ailable.
making the codes widely av
ough
ds thr
omote these standar
Councils will pr
The
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eady aspir
ds to which they alr
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ecognise in the codes the shar
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wor
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esponsibilities of emplo
the joint r
eflect existing good
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The codes ar
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e complementary and mirr
because they ar
esented together in this document
e pr
ar
ers and the public expect of them.
car
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The two codes for wor
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y
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in place at local lev
eloping these codes
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e similar standar
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list of statements that describe the standar
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member of the public.
ds of conduct.
expected standar
service user or
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y
, emplo
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kers do not meet
opriate action when wor
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for and what they will mean to y
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ou understand what the codes ar
to help y
ds set out in their code, support social
standar
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ocial Car
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e to the
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egulation of social car
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esponsibilities of
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eed codes of
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How will the codes be used?
Code of Practice for Employers of Social Care Workers
>
The codes are a key step in the
The purpose of this code is to set down the
introduction of a system of regulation for
responsibilities of employers in regulating social care
social care in the four countries of the UK.
workers. The purpose of workforce regulation is to
The Councils are responsible for the
protect and promote the interests of service users and
registration of those working in social
carers. The code is intended to complement rather
care. The register will be a public record
than replace or duplicate existing employers’ policies
that those registered have met the
and it forms part of the wider package of legislation,
requirements for entry onto the register
requirements and guidance that relate to the
and have agreed to abide by the
employment of staff. Employers are responsible for
standards set out in the Code of Practice
making sure that they meet the standards set out in
for Social Care Workers.
this code, provide high quality services and promote
public trust and confidence in social care services.
The Councils will take account of the
standards set in the Code of Practice for
Status
Social Care Workers in considering issues
The National Care Standards Commission and the
of misconduct and decisions as to whether
Social Services Inspectorate will take this code into
a registered worker should remain on the
account in their enforcement of care standards.
register.
To meet their responsibilities in relation to regulating
What will the codes mean to you?
the social care workforce, social care employers must:
As a social care worker you will have
• Make sure people are suitable to enter the workforce
criteria to guide your practice and be clear
and understand their roles and responsibilities;
about what standards of conduct you are
expected to meet. You are encouraged to
• Have written policies and procedures in place to
use the codes to examine your own
enable social care workers to meet the General Social
practice and to look for areas in which
Care Council (GSCC) Code of Practice for Social Care
you can improve.
Workers;
As a social care employer you will know
• Provide training and development opportunities to
>what part you are expected to play in the enable social care workers to strengthen and develop
regulation of the workforce and the
their skills and knowledge;
support of high quality social care. You are
• Put in place and implement written policies and
encouraged to review your own standards
procedures to deal with dangerous, discriminatory or
of practice and policies in the light of the
exploitative behaviour and practice; and
standards set in the code.
• Promote the GSCC’s codes of practice to social care
As a user of services or member of the
workers, service users and carers and co-operate with
public the codes will help you understand
the GSCC’s proceedings.
how a social care worker should behave
towards you and how employers should
support social care workers to do their
jobs well.

1
e.
and car
e high quality services
ganisation to ensur
or
f and the
anaging the performance of staf
M
1.5
k; and
w in their wor
follo
es they must
ocedur
ganisational policies and pr
or
ant legislation and the
elev
esponsibilities, r
and r
oles
f clear information about their r
iving staf
G
1.4
ences;
fer
e
eliable r
viding r
o
eeking and pr
S
1.3
appointments;
e confirming
e been selected for befor
hav
capable of carrying out the duties of the job they
e
es and assessing whether people ar
index
egisters and
ant r
elev
ds, r
ecor
Checking criminal r
1.2
ce;
kfor
wor
esponsibilities.
oles and r
their r
our
ed to enter y
w
e allo
e ar
vide social car
o
pr
e suitable to
wledge and skills and who ar
kno
ce and understand
kfor
e wor
car
opriate
e the appr
only people who hav
suitable to enter the social
e that
ocesses focused on making sur
selection pr
ecruitment and
ough r
ous and thor
sing rigor
U
1.1
e
e people ar
must make sur
>
1
This includes:
u
o
y
, r e
y
e emplo
As a social car

2
2
As a social care employer, you
This includes:
> must have written policies and
2.1
Implementing and monitoring written policies on:
procedures in place to enable
confidentiality; equal opportunities; risk
assessment; substance abuse; record keeping; and
social care workers to meet the
the acceptance of money or personal gifts from
GSCC’s Code of Practice for
service users or carers;
Social Care Workers.
2.2
Effectively managing and supervising staff to
support effective practice and good conduct and
supporting staff to address deficiencies in their
performance;
2.3
Having systems in place to enable social care
workers to report inadequate resources or
operational difficulties which might impede the
delivery of safe care and working with them and
relevant authorities to address those issues; and
2.4
Supporting social care workers to meet the GSCC’s
Code of Practice for Social Care Workers and not
requiring them to do anything that would put their
compliance with that code at risk.

3
k.
aspects of their wor
ed to carry out any
epar
able or adequately pr
who seek assistance because they do not feel
kers
e wor
opriately to social car
esponding appr
R
3.4
elopment; and
ofessional dev
pr
ements for continuing
equir
egistration and its r
r
s eligibility criteria for
to meet the GSCC’
egistration
f in posts subject to r
upporting staf
S
3.3
learning;
kplace assessment and practice
e wor
fectiv
ef
k education and training, including
social wor
wledge.
skills and kno
e and
vision of social car
o
Contributing to the pr
3.2
elop their
engthen and dev
str
esponsibilities;
oles and r
changing r
kers to
e wor
enable social car
w and
e for ne
epar
ely and pr
fectiv
their jobs ef
elopment opportunities to
dev
kers do
e wor
opportunities to help social car
elopment
viding induction, training and dev
o r P
3.1
vide training and
o
must pr
>
This includes:
u
o
y
, r e
y
e emplo
As a social car
3

4
4
This includes:
As a social care employer, you
> must put into place and
4.1
Making it clear to social care workers that
bullying, harassment or any form of unjustifiable
implement written policies and
discrimination is not acceptable and taking
procedures to deal with
action to deal with such behaviour;
dangerous, discriminatory or
4.2
Establishing and promoting procedures for social
exploitative behaviour and
care workers to report dangerous, discriminatory,
abusive or exploitative behaviour and practice
practice.
and dealing with these reports promptly,
effectively and openly;
4.3 Making it clear to social care workers, service
users and carers that violence, threats or abuse
to staff are not acceptable and having clear
policies and procedures for minimising the risk
of violence and managing violent incidents;
4.4
Supporting social care workers who experience
trauma or violence in their work;
4.5
Putting in place and implementing written
policies and procedures that promote staff
welfare and equal opportunities for workers; and
4.6
While ensuring that the care and safety of
service users is your priority, providing
appropriate assistance to social care workers
whose work is affected by ill health or
dependency on drugs and alcohol, and giving
clear guidance about any limits on their work
while they are receiving treatment.

findings and decisions of the GSCC.
opriately to the
esponding appr
hearings and r
estigations and
Co-operating with GSCC inv
5.6
the GSCC; and
eport has been made to
ed that a r
olv
ker inv
wor
5
egistration and inform the
into question their r
kers that might call
e wor
ed social car
egister
r
y
nforming the GSCC about any misconduct b
I
5.5
kers;
elates to the conduct of wor
that r
kers in making any decision
r o
W
e
ocial Car
for S
ractice
s Code of P
aking account of the GSCC’
T
5.4
elation to the codes;
contact the GSCC in r
,
our policies and, if necessary
ough y
issues thr
w to raise
kers and informing them about ho
r o
W
e
ocial Car
ractice for S
code and the Code of P
e of this
ers awar
aking service users and car
M
5.3
oceedings.
s pr
GSCC’
esponsibility to meet that code;
their personal r
ers and co-operate with the
car
kers and
r o
W
e
ocial Car
ractice for S
Code of P
kers, service users and
wor
s
kers about the GSCC’
e wor
nforming social car
I
5.2
e
of practice to social car
esponsibility to comply with it;
our r
and y
kers about this code
e wor
nforming social car
I
5.1
s codes
omote the GSCC’
must pr
>
u
o
y
, r e
y
e emplo
As a social car
This includes:
5

>
CODES OF PRA
SOCIAL
FOR SOCIAL
CARE
W
CARE W
ORKERS
ORKERS
CTICE
SOCIAL CARE WORKERS

ailable.
making the codes widely av
ough
ds thr
omote these standar
Councils will pr
The
e.
eady aspir
ds to which they alr
standar
ds.
kers in ensuring high standar
wor
ed
ecognise in the codes the shar
ers will r
y
emplo
ers and
y
esponsibilities of emplo
the joint r
kers and
practice and it is anticipated that wor
or
e complementary and mirr
because they ar
eflect existing good
e intended to r
The codes ar
esented together in this document
e pr
ar
ers
y
kers and emplo
The two codes for wor
ds of conduct.
expected standar
kers do not meet
opriate action when wor
appr
e services.
ds in social car
➔ standar
kers in meeting their code and take
e wor
car
as part of their contribution to raising
ds set out in their code, support social
standar
eloping these codes
ked together in dev
wor
e to the
ers adher
y
es that emplo
equir
The code r
e
elop codes of practice and hav
duty to dev
el.
e been set out at national lev
ds hav
standar
e a
The Councils hav
ales.
W
e Council for
Car
Again, this is the first time that such
kers.
wor
ervices Council, and the
ocial S
the Scottish S
e
egulation of social car
ers in the r
y
emplo
e Council,
ocial Car
eland S
r
orthern I
as the N
esponsibilities of
wn the r
kers sets do
r o
W
ctober 2001, at the same time
k on 1 O
wor
e
ocial Car
ers of S
y
mplo
ractice for E
The Code of P
e Council began its
ocial Car
eneral S
The G
the public expect of them.
public.
ers and
ers, colleagues, service users, car
y
emplo
service user or member of the
, r e
y
emplo
ds of conduct
w what standar
kers kno
wor
,
ker
e wor
ou as a social car
mean to y
e that
e and ensur
ed in social car
equir
ds r
standar
e for and what they will
what the codes ar
The intention is to confirm the
el.
at local lev
ou understand
kers, is intended to help y
r o
W
ds in place
e similar standar
ers hav
y
many emplo
e
ocial Car
ers of S
y
mplo
ractice for E
P
el, although
been set in this way at national lev
oduced in the Code of
epr
which is also r
e
ds hav
This is the first time that standar
k.
wor
oduction,
This intr
k.
which they should wor
kers as they go about their daily
e wor
social car
ds of conduct and practice within
the standar
ed of
equir
ofessional conduct and practice r
pr
kers describing
e wor
ers of social car
y
emplo
ds of
list of statements that describe the standar
kers and
e wor
practice for social car
kers is a
r o
W
e
ocial Car
ractice for S
The Code of P
eed codes of
This document contains agr
e the codes?
What ar
oduction
ntr
I
➔

Code of Practice for Social Care Workers
>
How will the codes be used?
The codes are a key step in the
The purpose of this code is to set out the conduct
introduction of a system of regulation for
that is expected of social care workers and to inform
social care in the four countries of the UK.
service users and the public about the standards of
The Councils are responsible for the
conduct they can expect from social care workers.
registration of those working in social
It forms part of the wider package of legislation,
>care. The register will be a public record practice standards and employers’policies and
that those registered have met the
procedures that social care workers must meet.
requirements for entry onto the register
Social care workers are responsible for making sure
and have agreed to abide by the
that their conduct does not fall below the standards
standards set out in the Code of Practice
set out in this code and that no action or omission
for Social Care Workers.
on their part harms the wellbeing of service users.
The Councils will take account of the
Status
standards set in the Code of Practice for
The General Social Care Council expects social care
Social Care Workers in considering issues
workers to meet this code and may take action if
of misconduct and decisions as to whether
registered workers fail to do so.
a registered worker should remain on the
register.
Employers of social care workers are required to
take account of this code in making any decisions
What will the codes mean to you?
about the conduct of their staff.
As a social care worker you will have
Social care workers must:
criteria to guide your practice and be clear
about what standards of conduct you are
• Protect the rights and promote the interests of
expected to meet. You are encouraged to
service users and carers;
use the codes to examine your own
• Strive to establish and maintain the trust and
practice and to look for areas in which
confidence of service users and carers;
you can improve.
• Promote the independence of service users while
As a social care employer you will know
protecting them as far as possible from danger or
what part you are expected to play in the
harm;
regulation of the workforce and the
support of high quality social care. You are
• Respect the rights of service users whilst seeking
encouraged to review your own standards
to ensure that their behaviour does not harm
of practice and policies in the light of the
themselves or other people;
standards set in the code.
• Uphold public trust and confidence in social care
As a user of services or member of the
services; and
public the codes will help you understand
how a social care worker should behave
• Be accountable for the quality of their work and
towards you and how employers should
take responsibility for maintaining and improving
support social care workers to do their
their knowledge and skills.
jobs well.

1
alues.
v
es and
ent cultur
fer
ersity and dif
especting div
R
1.6
ers; and
and car
omoting equal opportunities for service users
r P
1.5
acy of service users;
priv
especting and maintaining the dignity and
R
1.4
e;
eceiv
services they r
es and make informed choices about the
liv
ol their
rights to contr
’
upporting service users
S
1.3
ers;
users and car
ers.
service users and car
ws and wishes of both service
the individual vie
omoting
opriate, pr
e appr
especting and, wher
R
1.2
ests of
omote the inter
pr
eating each person as an individual;
r T
1.1
otect the rights and
must pr
>
1
This includes:
u
o
, y
ker
e wor
As a social car

2
2
As a social care worker, you
This includes:
> must strive to establish and
2.1
Being honest and trustworthy;
maintain the trust and
2.2
Communicating in an appropriate, open, accurate
confidence of service users and
and straightforward way;
carers.
2.3
Respecting confidential information and clearly
explaining agency policies about confidentiality to
service users and carers;
2.4
Being reliable and dependable;
2.5
Honouring work commitments, agreements and
arrangements and, when it is not possible to do
so, explaining why to service users and carers;
2.6
Declaring issues that might create conflicts of
interest and making sure that they do not
influence your judgement or practice; and
2.7
Adhering to policies and procedures about
accepting gifts and money from service users and
carers.

ers.
and car
k with service users
our wor
om y
that comes fr
r e
w
esponsibly the po
ecognising and using r
R
3.8
opriate person; and
appr
esponding to them or passing them to the
r
complaints, taking complaints seriously and
ers to make
elping service users and car
H
3.7
abuse;
elating to substance
policies, including those r
health and safety
’
ers
y
Complying with emplo
3.6
e;
car
3
ds of
fecting standar
ersely af
be unsafe or adv
e the practice of colleagues may
authority wher
opriate
er or an appr
y
our emplo
nforming y
I
5 . 3
e;
ery of safe car
deliv
ficulties that might get in the way of the
dif
ce or operational
esour
opriate authority r
appr
er or the
y
our emplo
ringing to the attention of y
B
3.4
k;
e behaviour at wor
and abusiv
om violent
ou and other people safe fr
keep y
es designed to
ocedur
wing practice and pr
ollo
F
3.3
practice;
e behaviour and
discriminatory or exploitativ
e,
ous, abusiv
eport danger
challenge and r
om danger or harm.
possible fr
es to
ocedur
ocesses and pr
sing established pr
U
3.2
otecting them as far as
while pr
their rights;
independence of service users
cise
er
and assisting them to understand and ex
omoting the independence of service users
r P
3.1
omote the
must pr
>
This includes:
u
o
, y
ker
e wor
As a social car
3

4
4
This includes:
As a social care worker, you
> must respect the rights of service
4.1  Recognising that service users have the right to
take risks and helping them to identify and
users while seeking to ensure
manage potential and actual risks to themselves
that their behaviour does not
and others;
harm themselves or other
4.2
Following risk assessment policies and
people.
procedures to assess whether the behaviour of
service users presents a risk of harm to
themselves or others;
4.3  Taking necessary steps to minimise the risks of
service users from doing actual or potential
harm to themselves or other people; and
4.4  Ensuring that relevant colleagues and agencies
are informed about the outcomes and
implications of risk assessments.

e services.
in social car
k
our suitability to wor
would call into question y
k, which
k or outside wor
, in wor
e in a way
ehav
B
5.8
or
ourself or other people at unnecessary risk;
ut y
P
5.7
5
colleagues;
ers or
service users, car
y
discrimination b
Condone any unlawful or unjustifiable
6 . 5
ers or colleagues;
service users, car
iscriminate unlawfully or unjustifiably against
D
5.5
service users;
elationships with
opriate personal r
orm inappr
F
5.4
kplace;
wor
, home or
operty
about them or to their pr
e to personal information
ou hav
the access y
ers or
buse the trust of service users and car
A
5.3
way;
ers or colleagues in any
xploit service users, car
E
5.2
services.
e
confidence in social car
colleagues;
ers or
buse, neglect or harm service users, car
A
5.1
must uphold public trust and
>
ou must not:
ticular y
par
n I
u
o
, y
ker
e wor
As a social car
5

6
This includes:
As a social care worker, you
> must be accountable for the
6.1
Meeting relevant standards of practice and
working in a lawful, safe and effective way;
quality of your work and take
6 6.2Maintaining clear and accurate records as
responsibility for maintaining
required by procedures established for your
and improving your knowledge
work;
and skills.
6.3
Informing your employer or the appropriate
authority about any personal difficulties that
might affect your ability to do your job
competently and safely;
6.4
Seeking assistance from your employer or the
appropriate authority if you do not feel able or
adequately prepared to carry out any aspect of
your work, or you are not sure about how to
proceed in a work matter;
6.5
Working openly and co-operatively with
colleagues and treating them with respect;
6.6 Recognising that you remain responsible for the
work that you have delegated to other workers;
6.7
Recognising and respecting the roles and
expertise of workers from other agencies and
working in partnership with them; and
6.8 Undertaking relevant training to maintain and
improve your knowledge and skills and
contributing to the learning and development of
others.

Council 2002
e
cial Car
o
eneral S
© Copyright G
g.uk
.gscc.or
www
020 7397 5100
SE1 2HB
London
s Lane
’ y
a
2 H
ouse
oldings H
G
Council
e r a
ocial C
eneral S
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