What are the 6 Cās in health and social care is a question that often comes into focus in moments that matter most. A busy NHS ward at handover. A care worker visiting someone at home. A quiet decision that affects dignity, safety, and trust.
The 6 Cās in health and social care are NHS values that guide how care is delivered, not rules or skills. They support safe, person-centred care by shaping attitudes, behaviour, and everyday decisions across all roles.
This guide explains each of the 6 Cās in clear, practical terms. It shows how they apply in hospitals, care homes, and community settings. Learners gain clarity for assignments. Workers see how values fit real practice. Providers understand what good care should feel like, day to day.
The 6 Cās in health and social care describe the values that shape how care should feel, not just how it is delivered. You see them in everyday moments. How staff speak. How they listen. How they act when things are difficult.
The 6 Cās are a set of health and social care values introduced by NHS England to support compassionate care across all settings. They guide behaviour, attitudes, and decisions, whether you work in a hospital, care home, or community service.
The six Cās are:
Together, they set a shared standard for safe, respectful, person-centred care in UK health and social care.
The 6 Cās didnāt appear out of nowhere. They grew out of real failures in care, moments where people werenāt listened to, protected, or treated with dignity. Lessons learned the hard way.
They come from Compassion in Practice, an approach developed by NHS England to improve care culture across the system. The focus was simple. Put people back at the centre of care, every time.
Several major reviews shaped this thinking. The Francis Report exposed poor standards and lack of compassion. Winterbourne View highlighted abuse when values were ignored. The Berwick Review reinforced safety and learning. The NHS Constitution set clear expectations for respect and dignity.
Together, these led to shared values. Not rules. Not targets. A clear reminder of how care should feel to the people receiving it, and to those providing it.
These values shape how care feels in real life, not just how itās described in policy or training.
Care sits at the heart of the profession. Itās the reason health and social care exists in the first place.
Care means supporting people in a way that respects their individual needs, choices, and wishes. This is person-centred care in action. Not just tasks, but outcomes that protect dignity and improve quality of life.
In daily practice, care shows up in small things. Helping someone wash at their own pace. Explaining whatās happening. Not rushing, even when the shift feels busy.
Compassion goes beyond being kind. Itās about empathy, respect, and dignity, even in difficult moments.
The NHS often describes compassion as intelligent kindness. Understanding how someone feels, then responding in a way that truly helps. Compassion shapes the patient experience, especially when people feel anxious, unwell, or vulnerable.
A simple example. Sitting at eye level with a worried patient. Listening. Reassuring them they matter.
Good intentions arenāt enough without competence. People rely on staff to know what theyāre doing.
Competence means having the right skills, knowledge, and confidence to deliver safe, evidence-based practice. It develops through training, supervision, and learning on the job.
This includes knowing limits. Asking for help. Following guidance so care stays safe and effective.
Care breaks down quickly when communication fails. Listening matters as much as speaking.
Clear communication helps people understand their care and stay involved. The principle of no decision about me without me sits at the centre of good practice. It also supports teamwork and accurate records.
In practice, this might mean checking understanding. Sharing updates with colleagues. Writing clear notes others can rely on.
Courage isnāt about being fearless. Itās about doing the right thing when it feels uncomfortable.
This includes speaking up about poor practice, raising safeguarding concerns, and challenging unsafe decisions. Courage protects people from harm and supports ethical practice.
For example, reporting a concern about unexplained bruising, even when it feels awkward. Safety comes first.
Commitment shows in what people do, shift after shift. Even on hard days.
It means dedication to learning, improving care, and acting professionally over time. Professional responsibility doesnāt stop at basic duties. It includes reflection and continuous improvement.
A committed worker turns up prepared. Follows values. Keeps striving to do better for the people they support.
Care can look fine on paper and still feel wrong in practice. The 6 Cās exist to close that gap, between tasks being done and people feeling safe, respected, and heard.
First, they support consistent care. When staff work to shared values, people receive the same standard of care regardless of who is on shift. That consistency reduces confusion and avoids mixed messages.
They also protect patient safety. Competence, communication, and courage help staff follow safe practice, spot risks early, and speak up when something isnāt right. Small actions prevent bigger harm.
The 6 Cās build trust and dignity. Compassion and care shape how people experience services, especially during illness, distress, or loss of independence. Feeling respected matters.
They improve care experiences overall. People feel listened to. Involved. Valued as individuals, not tasks on a list.
Finally, they support accountability. The values guide behaviour, decision-making, and professional responsibility across UK health and social care.
Values matter most when they shape everyday actions. The 6 Cās come to life in ordinary moments across hospitals, care homes, and community services.
Care
A care worker supports someone to wash and dress in a way that respects their routine, preferences, and comfort. The focus stays on individual needs and quality of life.
Compassion
A healthcare assistant takes time to sit with a patient who feels anxious before a procedure. They listen, reassure, and preserve dignity.
Competence
A support worker administers medication only after completing training and following the correct checks. Safe practice comes from skills and knowledge.
Communication
A nurse explains treatment options clearly and checks understanding. Decisions involve the person, not just the record.
Courage
A care worker reports a safeguarding concern despite feeling unsure. Speaking up protects people from harm.
Commitment
A staff member attends regular training and reflects on feedback. They stay focused on improving care over time.
Care looks different depending on where it happens. The values behind it shouldnāt change.
The 6 Cās apply across all health and social care settings. That includes hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes, and community services. They guide everyday decisions, no matter the role or setting.
In care homes, the 6 Cās support dignity, safety, and trust for residents who may rely on others daily.
In community care, they shape respectful support in peopleās own homes.
In mental health and learning disability services, they promote understanding, involvement, and safe boundaries.
In end-of-life care, they protect comfort, compassion, and choice.
From clinical staff to support workers, the message stays the same.
The 6 Cās belong to everyone involved in care.
This question comes up often. Especially in training, exams, and interviews.
The clear answer is this: the NHS does not rank the 6 Cās. No single value matters more than the others. Each one depends on the rest to work properly in practice.
Care without compassion feels cold.Ā Compassion without competence risks harm. Communication fails without courage. Commitment holds them all together over time.
The 6 Cās work as a set. Together, they shape safe, respectful, and person-centred care across UK health and social care settings.
Youāll see different versions online. Thatās where the confusion starts. Some training materials shorten the list for specific settings. Others add extra values to reflect local priorities. These versions often help discussion, but they are not NHS standards.
In England, the recognised framework remains clear. The NHS standard is the 6 Cās: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment.
If youāre studying, working in care, or answering assignments, use the 6 Cās. Theyāre the values consistently linked to NHS England and UK health and social care practice.
Youāll see different versions online. Thatās where the confusion starts.
Some training materials shorten the list for specific settings. Others add extra values to reflect local priorities. These versions often help discussion, but they are not NHS standards.
In England, the recognised framework remains clear. The NHS standard is the 6 Cās: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment.
If youāre studying, working in care, or answering assignments, use the 6 Cās. Theyāre the values consistently linked to NHS England and UK health and social care practice.
The 6 Cās remind us what good care looks like, day to day. They guide how staff think, act, and respond, whether in hospitals, care homes, or the community.
For learners and professionals, theyāre more than theory. When lived in practice, the 6 Cās support safe, respectful, and person-centred care across health and social care in the UK.
The 6 Cās are Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage, and Commitment. They are core health and social care values set out by NHS England to guide safe, respectful, and person-centred care. They apply across hospitals, care homes, community services, and all UK care roles.
They help ensure care is safe, consistent, and respectful. The 6 Cās support dignity, reduce harm, improve experiences, and build trust. They give staff a shared set of values to guide everyday decisions and behaviour, especially in complex or pressured care situations.
No, the 6 Cās apply to all health and social care staff. They are relevant to care workers, support staff, students, managers, and professionals in every care setting. Anyone involved in delivering or supporting care is expected to work in line with these values.
Care means meeting individual needs safely and effectively. It focuses on supporting wellbeing, comfort, independence, and quality of life. Care should be person-centred, respectful, and based on what matters to the individual, not just tasks or routines.
Compassion means showing empathy, respect, and kindness. It involves understanding how care feels from the personās perspective. Compassionate care supports dignity, reduces anxiety, and helps people feel listened to, valued, and treated as individuals, not problems to be managed.
Competence means having the right skills, knowledge, and ability. It includes training, experience, and learning from practice. Competent workers know their limits, follow guidance, and seek support when needed to ensure care is safe, effective, and evidence-based.
Communication supports understanding, choice, and involvement. It includes listening, speaking clearly, sharing information, and recording care properly. Good communication helps people feel involved in decisions, supports teamwork, and reduces mistakes that can affect safety and trust.
Courage means doing the right thing, even when it feels difficult. It includes speaking up about concerns, challenging unsafe practice, and supporting safeguarding. Courage helps protect people using services and supports ethical, honest, and accountable care.
Commitment means being reliable, professional, and dedicated. It shows through attending work consistently, following standards, and aiming to improve care over time. Commitment supports continuity of care and shows respect for people who rely on services every day.
None of the 6 Cās is ranked as most important. The NHS treats them as equal and interconnected. Safe and compassionate care depends on all six values working together, rather than focusing on one at the expense of the others.
Yes, the 6 Cās remain part of NHS values. They continue to guide expectations for behaviour, care quality, and patient experience. The values are reflected in training, professional standards, and everyday practice across NHS services in England.
Yes, they apply across health and social care. Care homes, community services, learning disability support, and mental health services all use the 6 Cās to guide safe, respectful, and person-centred care for people of all ages.
Students show the 6 Cās through behaviour and attitude. Listening to people, following guidance, reflecting on feedback, and acting professionally all demonstrate the values. Students are expected to apply the 6 Cās during placements, assessments, and everyday learning.
Yes, the 6 Cās support person-centred care. They focus on dignity, choice, respect, and involvement. By following the 6 Cās, staff place the individual at the centre of decisions, rather than fitting people into fixed routines.
True. The 6 Cās apply to everyone working in UK health and social care. They are shared values that guide behaviour, decision-making, and care delivery, regardless of role, setting, or level of responsibility.
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