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Qualities and values
Your qualities and values are the attitudes, behaviours and personal strengths that help you build positive relationships and provide good care and support. They shape how you treat people, respond to situations and work with others.
Why are qualities and values important?
In social care, the way you support someone can be just as important as the tasks you carry out.
Having the right qualities and values helps you to:
• build positive relationships
• support people with dignity and respect
• work well as part of a team
• respond calmly and sensitively to challenges
• promote people’s rights, wellbeing and independence
• create person-centred support that focuses on what matters to the individual.
These values are at the heart of good social care practice in Wales.
You can develop your qualities and values by
• volunteering or caring for others
• learning from colleagues and managers
• taking part in training and learning opportunities
• listening to feedback
• reflecting on your experiences and practice
• building confidence through everyday interactions.
Working in social care is a continuous learning journey and developing your qualities and values is an important part of becoming a skilled and compassionate worker.
You may already have these qualities and values
You may already use many of these qualities and values in your everyday life without realising it.
Supporting family or friends, helping someone who is struggling, listening without judgement or showing patience and kindness are all examples of skills and values that are important in social care.
Some of the key qualities and values needed in social care are:
• kindness and compassion
• patience and understanding
• honesty and trustworthiness
• good communication
• respect for others
• reliability and responsibility
• empathy and listening skills
• a positive and caring attitude.
These qualities and values help people receiving care and support to feel safe, valued, listened to and respected. They help build trust and support people to live well and achieve what matters to them.
Watch the video below to learn more about the qualities and values needed to work in care. Subtitles are available in English or Welsh by selecting CC on the video:
Learn more by completing Balancing rights and responsibilities e-learning.
