Common Core Principles to Supporting Good Mental Health and Wellbeing in Adult Social Care

Principle 1 – Know the key signs of mental illnesses and distress and be able to respond appropriately.

Principle 2 – Understand the importance of good mental health and wellbeing and have good knowledge of how to promote these with people who need care and support

Principle 3 – Promote dignity and respect by maintaining confidentiality and integrity and valuing the individual’s knowledge and experience

Principle 4 – Ensure equality and legal rights are upheld under the law, especially in relation to the Equality Act 2010 and Mental Capacity Act 2005

Principle 5 – Maintain safety and safeguarding responsibilities by appropriately assessing risks and supporting where necessary

Principle 6 – Deliver flexible and personalised care that reflects the individual’s identity and preferences

Principle 7 – Enable informed choice and control by appropriately supporting people who need care and support to make well-informed social care and lifestyle decisions, building on their strengths and personal resources.

Principle 8 – Promote social inclusion by helping people who are being supported to maintain positive relationships and family contact, peer support, active community involvement, and by enabling carer involvement

Principle 9 – Promote creative, cultural and recreational activities that are meaningful to the individual to enable the best possible quality of life and fulfilment

Principle 10 – Enable capacity and confidence-building in people who need care and support to maintain their independence and control by supporting them to manage risk-taking activities, lifestyle decisions and setting goals.

Use to answer question 9.3a of the Care Certificate