Kent & Medway Health and Care Academy

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Values

As well as qualifications and experience, employers in health and care are looking to recruit people who have the right values to work in the sector.

Most organisations will have a set of values and principles they embody within their daily business and are looking for employees who embody these too.

Here are some links to our local employers’ vision, values and mission statements. Most of the organisations are looking for staff who embody behaviours that show caring, inclusion, compassion, high professionalism, collaboration and teamwork. These values enable us to provide the best possible care to our patients.

Employers will be looking out for how you demonstrate these values in your job applications and your interview.

Social care values

Universal care sector values

Values are the beliefs and views that people hold about the importance of something.

These values have been developed in co-production with people with lived experience of drawing on care and support.

They outline what people want from the workers who support them.

Kind, compassionate and empathetic

Be kind, compassionate and empathetic so you can see things from my point of view, with concern for what matters to me, my wellbeing and health.

Honest, trustworthy and reliable

Be honest, trustworthy and reliable so you turn up when you say you will, and provide the care and support we have agreed. Be discreet and confidential to build up a trusting relationship between us.

Respect

Treat me, the people around me and where I live with respect. Respect my values and my choices about the life I want to lead and respect your role to value and uphold my goals.

Courageous and principled

Show strength, courage and commitment to speak out if something is not right or could be better, and to step back when I am exercising my choice and control. Act according to principles of human rights, equity and inclusion and in line with my personalised care and support plan.

See the whole person

Be curious and listen carefully to understand the unique person I am with strengths, abilities and aspirations. Make plans and decisions about me, with me.

Flexible, open and learning

Be reflective, open and non-judgemental so we can learn and adapt how we work together in the longer term.

Proud and positive

Take pride in your work and have a friendly, positive and proactive attitude so we can enjoy spending time together.

Source: Care workforce pathway for adult social care: overview - GOV.UK

NHS values

What are the NHS values?

Working in the NHS you will need to demonstrate the NHS Constitution values and work to them at all times.

Working together for patients

Patients come first in everything we do. For example, we put the needs of patients before organisational boundaries to deliver excellent customer care. We speak up when things go wrong.

Respect and dignity

We value every person. For example, we respect their aspirations and commitments, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits. We are honest and open about our point of view and what we can and cannot do.

Commitment to quality of care

We strive to deliver quality care every time. For example, we encourage feedback from patients, families, carers, staff and the public. We use this to improve the care we provide.

Compassion

We ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide. For example, we search for the things we can do, however small, to give comfort and relieve suffering. We find time for patients, their families and carers, and our colleagues.

Improving lives

We strive to improve health and wellbeing. For example, we cherish excellence and professionalism in clinical practice, service improvements and innovation. We recognise that we all have a part to play in making ourselves, patients and our communities healthier.

Everyone counts

We maximise our resources for the benefit of the whole community. For example, we make sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind. We accept that some people need more help and that difficult decisions have to be taken.

Source: NHS Staffing Pool Hub - Working in Healthcare - What are the NHS values | NHS Professionals

NHS Kent and Medway's purpose, vision and values