Purpose

The purpose of this code is to set out the conduct that is expected of social service workers and to inform service users and the public about the standards of conduct they can expect from social service workers. It forms part of the wider package of legislation, practice standards and employers' policies and procedures that social service workers must meet. Social service workers are responsible for making sure that their conduct does not fall below the standards set out in this code and that no action or omission on their part harms the well being of service users.

Status

The General Social Care Council expects social service workers to meet this code and may take action if registered workers fail to do so.

Employers of social service workers are required to take account of this code in making any decisions about the conduct of their staff.

Social service workers must:

1. Protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers

2. Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers

3. Promote the independence of service users while protecting them as far as possible from __danger or harm.

4. Respect the rights of service users while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm __themselves or other people

5. Uphold public trust and confidence in social services

6. Be accountable for the quality of their work and take responsibility for maintaining and __improving their knowledge and skills

1. As a social service worker you must protect the rights and promote the interests of __service users and carers.

This includes:

1.1 Treating each person as an individual;

1.2 Respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and wishes of both service ___users and carers;

1.3 Supporting service users' rights to control their lives and make informed choices about the ___services they receive;

1.4 Respecting and maintaining the dignity and privacy of service users;

1.5 Promoting equal opportunities for service users and carers; and,

1.6 Respecting diversity and different cultures and values.

2. As a social service worker you must strive to establish and maintain the trust and __confidence of service users and carers.

This includes:

2.1 Being honest and trustworthy;

2.2 Communicating in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way;

2.3 Respecting confidential information and clearly explaining agency policies about ___confidentiality to services 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.

3. As a social service worker you must promote the independence of service users while __protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm.

This includes:

3.1 Promoting the independence of service users and assisting them to understand and exercise ___their rights;

3.2 Using established processes and procedures to challenge and report dangerous, abusive, ___discriminatory or exploitative behaviour and practice;

3.3 Following practice and procedures designed to keep you and other people safe from violent ___and abusive behaviour at work;

3.4 Bringing to the attention of your employer or the appropriate authority resource or operational ___difficulties that might get in the way of the delivery of safe care;

3.5 Informing your employer or an appropriate authority where the practice of colleagues may be ___unsafe or adversely affecting standards of care;

3.6 Complying with employers' health and safety policies including those relating to substance ___abuse;

3.7 Helping service users and carers to make complaints, taking complaints seriously and ___responding to them or passing them to the appropriate person; and,

3.8 Recognising and using responsibly the power that comes from your work with service users ___and carers.

4. As a social service worker you must respect the rights of service users while seeking to __ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people.

This includes:

4.1 Recognising that service users have the right to take risks and helping them to identify and ___manage potential and actual risks to themselves and others;

4.2 Following risk assessment policies and 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.

5. As a social service worker you must uphold public trust and confidence in social __services.

In particular you must not:

5.1 Abuse, neglect or harm service users, carers or colleagues;

5.2 Exploit service users, carers or colleagues in any way;

5.3 Abuse the trust of service users and carers or the access you have to personal information ___about them, or to their property, home or workplace;

5.4 Form inappropriate personal relationships with services users;

5.5 Discriminate unlawfully or unjustifiably against service users, carers or colleagues;

5.6 Condone any unlawful or unjustifiable discrimination by service users, carers or colleagues;

5.7 Put yourself or other people at unnecessary risk; or,

5.8 Behave in a way, in work or outside work, which would call into question your suitability to ___work in social services.

6. As a social service worker you must be accountable for the quality of your work and __take responsibility for maintaining and improving your knowledge and skills.

This includes:

6.1 Meeting relevant standards of practice, and working in a lawful, safe and effective way;

6.2 Maintaining clear and accurate records as required by procedures established for your work;

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.