1. Protect the rights and promote the interests of service users and carers.
This includes
• Treating each person as an individual;
• Respecting and, where appropriate, promoting the individual views and wishes of both service users and carers;
• Supporting service users’ rights to control their lives and make informed choices about the services they receive;
• Respecting and maintaining the dignity and privacy of service users;
• Promoting equal opportunities for service users and carers; and
• Respecting diversity and different cultures and values.
2. Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of service users and carers.
This includes
• Being honest and trustworthy;
• Communicating in an appropriate, open, accurate and straightforward way;
• Respecting confidential information and clearly explaining agency policies about confidentiality to service users and carers;
• Being reliable and dependable;
• Honouring work commitments, agreements and arrangements and it is not possible to do so, explaining why to service users and carers;
• Declaring issues that might create conflicts of interest and making sure that they do not influence your judgement or practice; and
• Adhering to policies and procedures about accepting gifts and money from service users and carers.
3. Promote the independence of service users whilst protecting them as far as possible from danger or harm.
This includes:
• Promoting the independence of service users and assisting them to understand and exercise their rights;
• Using established processes and procedures to challenge and report dangerous, abusive, discriminatory or exploitative behaviour and practice;
• Following practice and procedures designed to keep you and other people safe from violent and abusive behaviour at work;
• Bringing to the attention of your employer or the appropriate authority resource or