Adult Social Care Practice Principles

1. Introduction

Lancashire County Council is committed to delivering the best quality support for people with lived experience and families who have care or support needs. Our practice principles illustrate ‘what good looks like’, in order to support quality and consistency of practice across adult social care. Current legislation, along with related policies, practice guidance and procedures and recording mechanisms run alongside these practice principles.

Living Better Lives in Lancashire is our vision for Adult Social Care, offering support to Lancashire residents to live as independently as possible.

The purpose of our practice principles is to support us to be consistent in our practice and to deliver a personalised, solution-focused, strengths-based service to the people we serve. Our principles will help us become a more confident and responsible social care workforce.  The principles are aligned to our vision for Living Better Lives in Lancashire and our strengths-based practice model.

Our principles have been developed using aspects of the Making It Real framework which was co-produced by Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) and a range of partners and people with lived experience of using health and care services. Each principle is written in the style of ‘We’ statements, mirroring the approach used by Care Quality Commission (CQC) in their Assessment Framework, to help practitioners know what is expected of them. By linking the ‘I’ statements from TLAP, practitioners will be supported to understand what a good experience looks like, from the point of view of the person being supported.

Our principles may be updated periodically, based on relevant and appropriate feedback from staff and managers, professional forums, feedback from learning and development and reflective supervision.  We all have a role to ensure we reflect, give feedback and listen. When complaints or representations are received from people using services, carers or other organisations – adherence to these principles is what will be tested.

Our principles apply directly to all staff who carry out assessments, care and support planning, reviews and safeguarding, as defined in the relevant health and social care legislative framework(s).  All staff are required to be familiar with these principles and incorporate them into their daily practice.

Registered professionals are also expected to work within the remit of Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services, the Professional Capabilities Framework for Social Work, and relevant Regulatory Professional Standards. See the Appendix for full details.

2. The Principles

Principle 1: We will ensure a person’s voice is heard and work with them to achieve their outcomes

We have conversations with people to discover what they want from life and the care and support that will enable this, without restricting solutions to formal services.

• We start from understanding what matters to the person and acknowledge that they are the expert in their own lives.
• We value people, recognising their strengths, experience and abilities and supporting them to plan for their future.
• Our communication is respectful, and we take time to understand diverse characteristics that are important to the person.
• We look for ways to involve people in their communities where they feel included and valued for their contribution.
• We know that the place where people live, the people they live with, and the support they get, are important to their wellbeing and often interlinked.
• We “work with people” and not “do to them”.

Principle 2: We will always promote independence, building on people’s strengths to promote recover and enablement

We work with people to make sure that their personal plans promote wellbeing and enable them to be as independent as possible.

• We listen and take the time to get to know people, communities, and resources.
• We look to prevent, reduce and delay needs from arising at every stage, utilising universal services, community or voluntary support and providing information and advice where appropriate.
• We reassure people, at every opportunity that our intention is to support them to remain as independent as possible and reduce their reliance on formal care.
• We make the most of technology to promote independence.
• We encourage people to make choices, within the resources available, about how their care and support needs will be met.
• We co-produce innovative care and support plans with people.

Principle 3: We will ensure people are safe and supported to manage risks

We work with people to understand what being safe means to them as well as with our partners on the best way to achieve this.

Concentrating on improving people’s lives whilst protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. We make sure we share concerns quickly and appropriately.

We work with people to manage risks by thinking creatively about options for safe solutions that enable people to do the things that matter to them.

We embed the key principles of safeguarding as set out in statutory guidance:

• We support and encourage people to make their own decisions and give informed consent. (Empowerment)
• We work together with other organisations to take action before harm occurs. (Prevention)
• We support the least intrusive response to the risk presented. (Proportionality)
• We support people who are at risk. (Protection)
• We identify local solutions through working with communities, and together to help safeguard vulnerable people. (Partnership)
• We are aware that we are all accountable as individuals, services and as organisations. (Accountability).

Principle 4: We will adhere to the legal framework for Adult Social Care clearly evidencing reasons for the decisions we make

We understand our statutory responsibilities and we use legal frameworks, obligations, and structures.

• We consider and promote a person’s wellbeing when carrying out any intervention or care and support function. This includes giving preventative messages and signposting for people’s wellbeing.
• The level of assessment will be proportionate to the complexity of the situation.
• We make decisions based on our duties within legislation and aim to explain this to people we work with.
• Key decision-making clearly follows required legal and professional processes (e.g. best interest decisions, care assessments, eligibility determination, care and support planning, safeguarding and professional case notes).
• We conduct person-centred assessments and review support plans as needed, with an annual review as a minimum requirement.
• We engage advocacy services where required, to ensure the person’s voice is heard.
• We recognise that our recording has a direct impact on people’s lives and record information in timely way, adhering to legal and ethical standards.
• We work collaboratively, enabling strong partnerships especially in the integration of health and social care across various sectors.

Appendix – Standards for Adult Social Care Staff

For social work

BASW Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)

BASW Code of Ethics for Social Work 

Social Work England Professional Standards

DHSC Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers in Adult Services

DHSC Post Qualifying Standards for Social Work Practice Supervisors in Adult Social Care

For occupational therapy

Health & Care Professions Council: Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics

Health & Care Professions Council: Standards of proficiency

Health & Care Professions Council: Standards of Continuing Professional Development

Health & Care Professions Council: Meeting our standards