Why is duty of care so important?

Posted 2 days ago

Duty of care is vital in health and social care for more reasons than one. Yes, it’s a legal obligation, but it’s also much more than that. We know that you strive to provide the best possible care for those you care for, and duty of care ensures that this is the case across the UK.

Let’s investigate the importance of duty of care a little deeper.

Importance of duty of care

Protect those in your care

As we said, duty of care is much more than simply meeting legal requirements. Ultimately, it helps your organisation to protect those in your care. Vulnerable individuals need to be protected from harm, abuse and injury, where their wellbeing is prioritised.

This is where safeguarding comes in. As a care establishment, it’s your responsibility to safeguard those in your establishment. Why not take a look at our blog about the responsibilities within duty of care?

Legal requirements

One of the biggest reasons why duty of care is important is due to the legal requirements that surround it. As a caregiver, your staff have a legal responsibility to provide a reasonable standard of care to patients. If you don’t meet these requirements then you run the risk of financial and reputational consequences. Some of these include:

Fines
Damaged reputation
Criminal charges
Employee disciplinary action

Demands a high level of care

Duty of care requires health and social care organisations to meet a high level of support/care. This means that care receivers get effective care at all times and are always kept safe. Staff training is a great way to keep caregivers informed on new changes and to refresh their knowledge.

Trust

With a high level of care comes a high level of trust. Whether your organisation is a care home or any other form of health and social care establishment, ensuring duty of care of followed immaculately means more people are going to put their trust in your organisation. Families and residents want to know that they and their loved ones will be taken care of to the highest standard.

Enhance your staff’s care skills with iHASCO

Cover all duty of care bases with Health & Safety, HR and Compliance Training for Care. They are great for private care and public NHS care organisations, helping you to provide excellent care for your residents, patients and more. Our courses cover many different areas, take a look:

Duty of Care Awareness Training

Check out our blog on everything you need to know about duty of care in the care industry for more support and information.

Here at iHASCO, we’ve helped many organisations work towards improving all areas of care. If you have specific training needs, share them with us, and we’ll craft a bespoke quote tailored to your organisation’s requirements. Let’s join forces to make your workplace one that is trusted by all for its high standards of care.