Unit 2 Principles of Health
and Social Care Practice
Understand how principles of
support are implemented in health
and social care practice
Lesson Objectives
• Outline the unit content
• Asses the principles of support in relation to
social care
• Analyse ethical considerations in relation to a
specific case
Unit Content
This unit develops understanding of the values
and principles that underpin the practice of all
those who work in health and social care.
Learners will consider theories and policies that
underpin health and social care practice and
explore formal and informal mechanisms
required to promote good practice by
individuals in the workforce, including strategies
that can influence the performance of others.
Discussion
What do you consider to be the
important principles of health and
social care practice?
Working in pairs 20 mins
Complete the hand out using the text book
provided.
Sylvio - Antonia
Izzy - Marie
Arefa - Hannah
Catherine – Lydia
You are completing the first side only
Principles of health and social care
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Respecting individuality
Rights
Choice
Privacy
Independence
Dignity
Respect and partnership
Equal opportunities
Respecting diversity, different cultures and values
Providing care, support and attention for individuals,
family, friends, carers, groups and communities
Most Important
• Working individually select which principle is
most important to you.
• You will have 1 minute to persuade to the rest
of the class why this is the most important.
• 3 minutes to prepare
What are ethics
• At its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles. They
affect how people make decisions and lead their lives.
• Ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and
society and is also described as moral philosophy.
• The term is derived from the Greek word ethos which can
mean custom, habit, character or disposition.
• Ethics covers the following dilemmas:
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how to live a good life
our rights and responsibilities
the language of right and wrong
moral decisions - what is good and bad?
• Our concepts of ethics have been derived from religions,
philosophies and cultures. They infuse debates on topics like
abortion, human rights and professional conduct.
Ref: http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml
Ethical Principles
There are four key ethical principals that every Health & Social
Care worker should take into account:
1. Respect for autonomy: respecting the decision-making
capacities of autonomous persons; enabling individuals to
make reasoned informed choices.
2. Beneficence: this considers the balancing of benefits of
treatment against the risks and costs; the healthcare
professional should act in a way that benefits the patient
3. Non maleficence: avoiding the causation of harm; the
healthcare professional should not harm the patient. All
treatment involves some harm, even if minimal, but the
harm should not be disproportionate to the benefits of
treatment.
1. Justice: distributing benefits, risks and costs fairly; the
notion that patients in similar positions should be
treated in a similar manner.
2. Fidelity: This principle requires loyalty, fairness,
truthfulness, advocacy, and dedication to our
patients. It involves an agreement to keep our
promises. Fidelity refers to the concept of keeping a
commitment and is based upon the virtue of caring.
3. Paternalism: Healthcare professionals make decisions
about diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis for the
patient. Based upon the health care professional’s
belief about what is in the best interest of the patient,
he/she chooses to reveal or withhold patient
information in these three important arenas. This
principle is heavily laden as an application of power
over the patient.
Organ Trade
Is it ethical?
Lesson Objectives
• Outline the unit content
• Asses the principles of support in relation to
social care
• Analyse ethical considerations in relation to a
specific case