Complete Care Training
Unit 3: The Principles of Duty of Care in Adult Social Care Settings
Legal, Data & GovernanceLevel 2

Unit 3: The Principles of Duty of Care in Adult Social Care Settings

This unit introduces the core principles of duty of care and duty of candour in adult social care, with a strong focus on how these duties shape everyday practice. Learners will explore how to prevent foreseeable harm, act within professional competence, and respond appropriately when incidents occur through openness and transparency. The unit also examines the complex dilemmas that arise when duty of care conflicts with an individual’s rights, such as autonomy, privacy, liberty, and dignity. Learners will develop the knowledge and confidence to balance risk and rights using UK legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, and Human Rights Act, alongside best practice guidance. Through real-world scenarios and practical frameworks, learners will build skills in decision-making, escalation, documentation, and person-centred care, ensuring their actions are lawful, proportionate, and defensible in professional settings.

4 hours 30 minutes
Created by Sophie Barber Updated 11/2026 English
Part of Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate · Course 3 of 15

Available only in Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate

This course isn't sold on its own. You get it, with every other course in the pathway, when you enrol on the pathway.

£1400.00, was £1500.0015 courses
See the pathway

What you'll learn

Define duty of care and duty of candour
Describe how duty of care and duty of candour affects own work role
Describe dilemmas that may arise between the duty of care and an individual’s rights
Identify the different opportunities for professional and career development in the sector.

Course content

23 modules

What duty of care and duty of candour mean, where they come from in law and regulation, and why they underpin trust in adult social care.
How duty of care and duty of candour shape everyday tasks, from planning support and managing risk to reporting concerns and keeping records.
How duty of care can conflict with a person's right to make choices and take risks, and how to support decisions safely and lawfully.
Written assessment on duty of care and duty of candour: honesty, accountability and the right actions to take when an error occurs.
Career and professional development routes in adult social care, from induction and qualifications to the Care Workforce Pathway roles.
Common dilemmas between protecting people and respecting their choices, privacy and relationships, and how to work through them.
When and where to seek support with dilemmas, who can advise you and what kind of help is appropriate for different situations.
Written assessment on balancing duty of care with individual rights, managing dilemmas and knowing where to get guidance.
Why comments, compliments and complaints matter, what they tell a service about care quality, and the regulatory expectations behind them.
How comments and complaints reveal the experience of care and help services improve when they are listened to and acted on.
How to respond to comments and complaints in line with your organisation's procedure and Regulation 16, including what to record and who to tell.
Written assessment on responding to comments and complaints professionally, following procedures and using feedback to improve care.
The difference between adverse events, incidents, errors and near misses, and how to recognise each one quickly in practice.
Why incidents, errors and near misses must never be handled quietly, and how they link to safe care, accountability and learning.
The agreed ways of working for reporting adverse events, incidents, errors and near misses, and the legal duties behind them.
Who can support you after incidents, errors or disagreements, and how to access advice on partnership working and resolving conflict.
Written assessment on recognising and reporting adverse events, incidents, errors and near misses in line with agreed ways of working.
Why confrontation happens, from fear, pain and confusion to pressure and poor communication, and how to spot the early signs.
Communication techniques that calm tension, rebuild trust and reduce the likelihood and impact of confrontation.
How to assess and reduce the risks confrontation creates for the person, others and staff, and when to change your approach.
When conflict goes beyond your role, and how to access support and advice from managers and other professionals quickly and safely.
Why confrontations must be reported and recorded, what to include and how reports help prevent harm and improve care.
Written assessment on managing confrontation and conflict using communication, risk assessment and the right support to prevent escalation.

Specialist

Sophie Barber

A qualified teacher, examiner and content creator, Sophie has over 10 years experience developing resources for examination boards to ensure that they are using effective learning tools. An ex-medic, Sophie has a huge passion for the healthcare profession and the importance of delivering quality care.

Training you can trust

How this course works. You will work through self-paced modules, check your understanding with knowledge checks, and finish with a short assessment. On passing, your CPD-certified certificate is available to download immediately, ready for your CQC evidence file or employer records.

This certificate does not expire.

Accredited by CPD

All of our courses are accredited by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to universally accepted Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

There is no deadline: a one-off purchase gives you lifetime access to the course, including updates, so you can complete it at your own pace across shifts.
Yes. Every course is accredited by the CPD Certification Service, and the certificate states the course, the level and the date you passed.
Yes. It works on phone, tablet and computer, and your progress syncs between them.
Your certificate is generated the moment you pass the final assessment, ready to download or print.