What values do I need to work in social care?
Depending on the role, you don’t always need qualifications or previous work
experience in the sector to get a job in social care. What’s really important is having
the right values, behaviours and attitudes to work effectively with people who need
care and support.
What are values in social care?
Values are the beliefs and views that people hold about what is right or wrong. They
apply to all aspects of life and influence how a person behaves in different
situations.
Here are some examples of the values and behaviours you might need to work in
social care.
Dignity and respect
Learning and reflection – (thinking about what you do and why you do things
in a certain way)
Working together
Commitment to quality care and support
Here are examples of how these values and behaviours might look in your everyday
work. They explain some of the things employers do and don’t want to see in
employees.
What employers would like to see
What employers don’t want to see
Dignity and respect
You spend time listening to people to get to
know them and their needs
You ignore people and do not make time to
welcome them or to get to know them and
their needs
You respect people’s right to make their
own choices and decisions about how they
want to be supported
You do not respect people’s right to make
their own decisions. You believe you know
what they need better than they do
