What do you need to promote working in care? 

Working In the healthcare sector means you are responsible for others. Therefore, you'll need to promote the following: independence, respect, dignity and privacy.  

Promoting independence  

Promoting independence can become difficult, especially if you support people with disabilities. It can be challenging to let go and welcome the unknown of possible hardships involved with allowing others to live a more independent lifestyle.  

Steps you can take to promote independence:  

• Encourage interactions with others. 
• Encourage involvement with community activities. 
• Provide decision-making power  
• Allowing an individual to take care of their own personal hygiene – with aids and safety adaptations if necessary.  
• Encouraging an individual to make diet and meal choices. 
• Allowing an individual to take on small tasks.  

Having independence is something everyone craves so, encouraging the individual(s) you support to follow the steps above will greatly improve well-being.  

Promoting respect and dignity  

When people (including yourself) are not treated with respect, it leads to low mood and putting a barrier between being able to enjoy life. As a carer it is incredibly important that those you support are treated with respect and dignity, not only by yourself but by anyone else they encounter as well. 

Steps you can take to ensure those you support are treated with respect and dignity includes,  

• Much like ways to promote independence, allowing an individual to be in control of their own hygiene and clothing. Clothing is a great way for people to express themselves, denying an individual you support to choose what they want to wear harms their dignity. 
• Promote social activities, at times the people you are caring for can feel like they are a burden, making them feel shut off from the outside world. Which is why encouraging them to take part in social activities is incredibly important to their well-being and dignity.  
• Involve the individual(s) you care for in the decisions relating to their care. Everyone likes to be included, as it allows us to give our own opinions on different situations etc. When an individual(s) you care for are not included this can leave them feeling abandoned or as if they are nothing more than an option.  

Promoting Privacy  

Working in care means having responsibilities that require respect and privacy. You will have to create an environment that is comfortable and full of trust. Here are some steps you can take to ensure this.  

• Respect any requests of personal space. Don't sabotage boundaries by going through an individual's belongings without permission. If you're looking for something specific and unsure where it is then ask.  
• Maintain patient confidentiality, don't tell anyone details about those you support.  
• Look away while they get dressed, unless they require your assistance while getting dressed, look the other way.  
• Pay attention to your surroundings by providing those you care for with extra space and privacy while in overcrowded places.  

The set of values for all healthcare staff. By following the above you're sure to go far in your career in care.  

If any of this becomes challenging remember you can always ask for support from those appropriate within your work place.