National Care Standards Care at Home
Staff Member Name:
In the following pages I have provided details of my understanding
of how I must carry out my work practice in accordance with the
NCS core principles and the National Care Standards for Care at
Home.
Signature.
Date.
I can confirm that …………………………………………….has
demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the service provided
meets the NCS core principles and the National Care Standards
for Care at Home through their social care practice as detailed in
the statements contained within this document.
Line Managers Signature.
Date.
The National Care Standards are based on a set of core
principles
The main principles
The principles are dignity, privacy, choice, safety, realising potential and
equality and diversity.
Dignity
 Service users have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at all
times. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to enjoy a full range of social relationships.
I ensure this happens by
Privacy
 Service users have the right to have their privacy and property
respected, and be free from unnecessary intrusion. I ensure this
happens by
Choice
 Service users have the right to make informed choices, while
recognising the rights of other people to do the same. I ensure this
happens by

Service users have the right to know about the range of choices
available to them. I ensure this happens by
Safety
 Service users have the right to feel safe and secure in all aspects of
life, including health and wellbeing. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to enjoy safety but not be over-protected.
and be free from exploitation and abuse. I ensure this happens by
Realising potential
 Service users have the right to have the opportunity to achieve all they
can. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to make full use of the resources that are
available to them. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to make the most of their life. I ensure this
happens by
Equality and diversity
 Service users have the right to live an independent life, rich in purpose,
meaning and personal fulfillment. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to be valued for their ethnic background,
language, culture, and faith. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to be treated equally and to live in an
environment which is free from bullying, harassment and
discrimination. I ensure this happens by

Service users have the right to be able to complain effectively without
fear of victimisation. I ensure this happens by
Standard 1. Informing and deciding
Individuals should have all the information they need to help them
decide about using the care service in their home.
They should have an introductory pack, which clearly explains the service and
what it can provide. Everything should be written in plain English or in a
language and format that is suitable for the individual. It should include.
o
details of the aims and objectives of the service.
o
details of the service provider, including the manager or owner (or
both).
o
details of the services provided.
o
the charges and the services they cover.
o
contact names and telephone numbers including a 24 hour contact
number.
o
the most recent Care Inspectorate report on the service.
o
cover arrangements if home care workers are sick or absent.
o
policies and procedures for managing risk and recording and
reporting accidents and incidents.
o
the complaints procedure.
o
any limits to the service
o
the availability of the service and who can use it
o
arrangements agreed with the Care Inspectorate to be put in place if
the agency closes or there is a change of ownership.
Task 1.1
Obtain a copy of this introductory pack and check that all the following areas
are covered (tick each point as covered). Include this document with your
project.
Task 1.2
Which of these points are you responsible for being involved in as part of your
job?
Standard 2. The written agreement
Individuals should receive a written agreement which clearly defines
how the service will meet their needs. It sets out the terms and
conditions for receiving the service and arrangements for changing or
ending the agreement.
Question 2.1
Individuals should be fully involved in developing the detailed written
agreement and any reviews of the written agreement
How does this happen in your organization?
Task 2.2
The written agreement should include.
o the date that the agreement was made.
o the date the service starts.
o who will provide the service, and how and when.
o any charge to the individual and how they can pay this.
o information about how to change any details or end the service
agreement.
o how long the individual can expect to receive the service.
Obtain a copy of an example of the kind of written agreement an individual is
given for the service you are involved in providing. Check that it includes all
the points above and tick these. Include this document with your project.
Task 2.3
a) The individual should have a copy of their agreement signed and dated by
everyone involved. Speak with one of the individuals you work with to find out
if they have a copy of their agreement signed and dated.
b) The individual can ask for a review of their written agreement with the
provider. Find out if someone has asked for a review of their written
agreement.
Ask your manager to sign here to confirm you have done this
………………………………………line manager
Date:
Standard 3. Your personal plan
Individuals can be confident that the service will meet their care needs
and personal preferences. Staff will develop with them a personal plan
that details their needs and preferences and sets out how they will be
met, in a way that they find acceptable.
An individual’s personal plan should include information and decisions about:
o what they prefer to be called.
o personal preferences as to food and drink, and any special
dietary needs.
o social, cultural and spiritual preferences.
o leisure interests.
o who should be involved in reviewing their personal plan.
o any communication needs they may have.
o what communication arrangements need to be put in place if
their first language is not English.
o when and in what circumstances friends, relatives and carers
will be contacted.
o an independent person to contact if they want to make a
complaint or raise a concern.
o the name or names of any home care workers who will work
with them.
Task 3.1
Look at the personal plan of one of the individuals you work with in your
service. Check that all the above points have been included in the plan. Tick
the points covered. Are any of the points not covered? If not find out why and
write the reason down here.
Task 3.2
Speak with 2 of the individuals you work with in your service and ask them the
following questions. Write down their answers
a)
Do you have a copy of your plan in a format that you can
understand?
b)
Have you ever asked for your care needs to be reviewed at any
time? Did you know that you can ask for this to happen?
c)
Did you know that you can take part in all reviews of your care if you
want to, along with anyone else you choose? Did you know that you
can have help to do this if you need it?
d)
Did you know that if there is a change in your personal situation or
health, staff will contact the necessary service with your knowledge and
with your agreement (if you are able to give it).
Standard 4. Management and staffing
Individuals should experience good quality care at home. This is
provided by management and the care staff who have the skills and
competence to carry out the tasks the individual requires. The service
should operate in line with all applicable legal requirements and bestpractice guidelines.
Task 4.1
Individuals can be assured that the organization providing care to them has
policies and procedures which cover all legal requirements, including:
o staffing and training.
o administration of medication.
o managing risk.
o proper record-keeping, including recording incidents and
complaints.
o personal interviews.
o health and safety.
Check that your organization has all of the above policies and procedures and
tick them off as you find out about them.
Task 4.2
Individuals should be confident that staff know how to put these policies and
procedures into practice and that they have regular training to keep up to date
with new guidance.
a) What training did you receive when you started your job?
b) What other training are you expected to do in your job?
c) How do you get to go on training courses through your work?
Task 4.3
Individuals can be confident that you have been recruited and selected to
work there following the appropriate processes.
a) When you were recruited did you have to become a member of the
PVG scheme?
b) Did you have to provide the names of people to give you a reference?
c) Were you on a register of health or care professionals before you took
up this post?
Task 4.4
Individuals should feel confident that whenever staff are involved in any
financial transaction, it will be carefully recorded.
What is the policy in your work place when handling peoples money?
Task 4.5
Individuals should feel confident that the organization monitors all aspects of
the service, especially its quality.
a) How does your organization do this?
Task 4.6
Individuals should feel confident that the service being provided will be
consistent and reliable in who is giving the care to them. They should also be
notified in advance of any necessary changes to the timing of their care at
home service and who their home care worker is.
a) What can you do to make sure this happens?
b) What can your organization do to make sure this happens?
Task 4.7
a) What is your organization’s policy on prompting, assisting and
administering medication to individuals?
b) Are you involved in this? If so, have you undertaken any training?
c) Why is it important to undertake training in these areas?
Task 4.8
Staff should be dressed appropriately for their work task and in a way that is
respectful and sensitive to the culture of the individual they are working with.
How do you ensure you dress appropriately in your job role when working
with the specific individuals you work with?
Task 4.9
Individuals need to be confident that you are employed by your employer
and that you are who you say you are.
How do you demonstrate this in your contacts with individuals and those
who are important to them - so that they are reassured?
Standard 5. Lifestyle - social, cultural and religious belief or
faith
An individual’s social, cultural and religious beliefs or faith should be
respected. Individuals should be able to live their life in keeping with
these beliefs.
Task 5.1
a) As a home care worker it is essential that you are properly informed about
the social, cultural and religious beliefs or faith of the individuals you work
with. How do you find out this information?
b) As a home care worker it is important that you support the individuals you
work with so that they can practice their beliefs, including keeping in touch
with their faith community. How do you do this in your job role?
c) As a homecare worker it is essential that you recognize the importance of
holy days and festivals for the individuals you work with. How can you
support individuals to mark and celebrate these if they choose to?
d) It is important to respect the domestic routines of the individuals you work
with. Provide some examples of how you do this in your job.
Standard 6. Eating well
If shopping for food or preparing meals is part of the service you
provide, an individual should know that the food will be handled safely
and meals will reflect their choices and special dietary needs (if any).
Task 6.1
a) How do you find out about an individual’s food choices and any ethnic,
cultural, faith or other preferences they have in relation to the food they
choose to eat?
b) Where would you find information recorded about someone’s special diet
(for example, vegetarian, low-fat or high-protein)?
c) How do you go about ensuring that individuals get the food purchased and
prepared that reflects their choices, preferences and any dietary requirements
they may have?
d) How do you follow good food hygiene practices when food handling?
e) How do you prepare and present meals well? Why is it important to do
this?
f) What kinds of assistance might people need to enable them to eat and
enjoy their food? What things can you do to make sure people get the
assistance they need?
g) Why is it important to notice, record and pass on to colleagues anything
that affects an individual’s ability to eat or drink? Why is it important to discuss
these observations with the individual first?
Standard 7. Keeping well - healthcare
Individuals should be confident that the service will get in touch with the
healthcare services if they need them to.
Task 7.1
a) Why is it important to know the contact details for someone’s GP and other
health professionals involved with them? Where would you expect to find this
information?
b) Why is it important that you receive proper training to carry out the tasks
you are asked to do with the individuals you work with?
c) Why is it important to check for any changes to an individual’s health?
d) What should you do if you have concerns about someone’s health?
e) Who should you discuss the concerns with and why?
f) Why is it important to contact the emergency services if someone’s health
deteriorates suddenly?
Standard 8. Keeping well - medication
(where help with taking medication is provided as part of the service)
If an individual’s service includes help with taking their medication, the
provider has arrangements in place for this to be done safely and in the
way that suits the individual best.
Task 8.1
a) Where would you expect to find information about someone’s medication?
b) What kinds of information would you expect to see about any medication
someone is taking?
c) What information needs to be recorded when someone takes their
medication?
d) Why is it important to know they type of assistance, if any, someone
requires when taking their medication?
Task 8.2
Read your organsiation's policy on medication.
Sign and date here when you have done this.
Signature…………………………………………….
Date……………………………
Standard 9. Private life
An individual’s rights to privacy must be respected.
Task 9.1
An individual’s personal plan will refer to their right to privacy. Can you
identify where in a plan this is written?
Task 9.2
An individual can expect to be called by their preferred title or name.
a) How can you find out this information?
b) Can you give examples of how you comply with this?
Task 9.3
Individuals can expect that you will respect them and everyone in their
household, their home and everything in it and their domestic routines.
a) Can you give examples of how you show this respect in the way you work?
b) Are there parts of an individual's home that you visit where you have not
got permission to go?
c) How would you find out this information and why is it important to respect
the individual's wishes?
Task 9.4
Why is it important not to ask individuals for more information than you require
to do your work with them effectively?
Task 9.5
How do you respect someone’s privacy and dignity when carrying out
personal care tasks?
Task 9.6
How do you ensure you respect the individuals right to confidentiality in the
way you work? Provide examples from your work practice.
Standard 10. Supporting communication
Individuals can expect help to use services and equipment for
communication, if their first language is not English or if they have any
other communication needs.
Task 10.1
a) How can your organisation help an individual get and use specialist
communication support (including interpreters) and equipment if they need it?
b) Where could you expect to find out about someone’s communication needs
and where would you get guidance on how to support them with these
effectively?
Standard 11. Expressing your views
Individuals or their carer are encouraged to express the individual’s
views on any aspects of the care service at any time.
Task 11.1
a) Why is it important to encourage an individual to freely discuss any
concerns they may have with you?
Task 11.2
Read your organizations complaints procedure.
Read the Care Inspectorate’s complaints procedure.
Sign and date here when you have done this.
Signature…………………………………………….
Date……………………………
a) What should you do if someone tells you that they are not happy with the
care they are receiving?
Task 11.3
a) How can you find out about independent representatives or independent
advocates that individuals can access when they want to you want?
b) Why is it important to listen to what the independent person or group has to
say on behalf of the individual?
Task 11.4
a) How can you encourage individuals to play a part in the Care
Inspectorate's inspection of the service if they want to?
b) How does your organization ensure that individuals are enabled to access
previous copies of inspection reports on the service?