What are the 6 Cs of care?
The 6 Cs of care were first introduced in December 2017 as a central part of the NHS ‘Compassion in Practice’ initiative. They were devised to help health care organisations understand the values that they must adhere to in their care delivery. Despite being initially devised for NHS staff to follow, other health care organisations have adopted the 6Cs as a flagship standard for the individualised person-centred care that their own employees should deliver.
At Helping Hands, we are already fully versed in person-centred care, as that’s all we deliver. Since we were established in 1989, we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure our customers receive nothing but the highest standards of personalised support in the comfortable and familiar surroundings of their beloved homes. We offer care and support on both a visiting care and live-in care basis, meaning that we can design the perfect package of support for you that is beneficial but never feels intrusive.
The 6 Cs
We all have the right to demand the very best from the people who support us with our health care challenges, whether we’re in a hospital environment, care home, or our own home. Knowing that the staff all adhere to the 6 Cs is very reassuring, and the underpinning message of the 6 Cs is as follows:
Care
Care is our core business at Helping Hands, and it’s at the heart of everything that we do. Helping each of our customers individually also benefits the local community, as more properly supported people will reduce the demand on local resources. We all have the right to expect that the professionals caring for us will do so to the best of their ability.
Compassion
Compassion is something that all Helping Hands carers have; in fact, we insist on it. Compassion is a quality that enables someone to feel empathy for another person, which is crucial if the very best care is going to be given. We always try to put ourselves in the other person’s situation while treating them with the utmost respect and protecting their dignity.
Competence
All health care professionals need to be equipped with the necessary practical skills to carry out their role efficiently. Understanding exactly how to help someone and applying the skills to do so can only be learned through experience and access to the latest industry advancements, something that we do routinely at Helping Hands through our innovative Training Academy.
Communication
Good communication isn’t just about talking; it is as important to listen to others as talking. Teamwork, caring for colleagues, and noticing if something is wrong can only be achieved through good communication. We encourage all of our staff to care for each other to the same high standards that they care for our customers.
Courage
It’s not always easy to speak out and stand up for what we believe is right; however, when we notice something that concerns us about the care being given to our customers, our employees are encouraged to do so without hesitation. It doesn’t matter the circumstances, if something isn’t right then they will find the strength of character to speak up and help us put it right.
Commitment
It is vital to be committed to our customers and the care and support we deliver. Everyone at Helping Hands is committed to the people we support and the service we provide. As a business, we are also committed to facing whatever challenges home care faces in the future while ensuring that our service remains as high-quality as possible.
Why are they important?
The 6 Cs are important because they represent everything that should underpin good care delivery. They demonstrate a commitment to the care that we provide and the competence and compassion needed to deliver it effectively. Helping Hands are committed to only ever delivering the very highest quality support, while equipping our carers with the skills and knowledge to provide that support with courage in their own abilities and those of their colleagues. We’ll never stop improving our communication skills and making sure that our care services continue to get better through shared ideas, best practice, and providing a safe environment where people aren’t afraid to speak out.
Home care with Helping Hands
Because Helping Hands only offer home care it means that we get to support you where it matters most, in the home that means the world to you and where you no doubt want to continue living for as long as possible. By adhering to the 6 Cs of care, we can be sure that the service you receive is continually evolving, providing you with carers and support staff who are at the top of their game, and making sure the future of Helping Hands is a good one for everyone we support and who works for us. By making that commitment we are showing that we have a passion for delivering exceptional visiting and live-in care across the whole of England and Wales, helping you to live as independently as possible for as long as possible in the home that means the world to you.
