Gratitude reinforces the core values of social care

Each organisation within the social care sector, has its own means of operation, different objectives, based on the variety of challenges that the sector presents. We often find though, that these objectives are underpinned by a set of core values that are at the heart of all these different social care operations.

Hannah Harrison from Encompass Care said her organisation's core values include Honesty, Inclusivity, Kindness, Dignity and Integrity.

Each of these values can be strengthened by the power of gratitude. It is the glue that holds the sector together.

An attitude of gratitude creates a safe space where people feel able to freely express themselves. They feel that their actions will be appreciated. Honesty encourages an open exchange of ideas. We can create a safer work environment where everyone feels they can just be themselves, knowing that if we are experiencing difficulties we can be honest with our co-workers, and offer our help when the situation is reversed.

Gratitude helps us strengthen relationships and helps us to build stronger teams. It makes everyone feel appreciated and that their efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Whether the gratitude comes from the management of the social care professionals or whether it's delivered on a peer-to-peer basis. It makes everyone feel included, they feel part of something.

It doesn't just stop with the staff either, gratitude also makes the people receiving the care feel part of the process. When  people being cared for are able to show their appreciation, they too feel included and the whole atmosphere of the care setting is more positive and everyone feels that they are working towards the same goals.

Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving, when we are thanked for our kind actions, it makes us want to pass on that gratitude to others who have been kind to us and this can start a chain of gratitude. Furthermore, it will increase our own acts of kindness. If our kind actions are being recognised it will encourage us to be even kinder, where gratitude is practised there will always be more kindness; the two things are intrinsically linked.

One of biggest issues facing those receiving our care is the problem of dignity. It is quite easy to feel less then human when we need help to do everyday and sometimes very personal tasks. Expressing gratitude allows us the opportunity to restore our dignity and feel human again. Gratitude helps build our self-respect and by showing appreciation we are acknowledging the dignified way that we are being treated.

Gratitude also helps to maintain strengthen and even raise the level of integrity. If we normalise the practice of gratitude, the accepted standards we follow will rise, if everyone is appreciative of other people's kindness it makes it easy to implement higher standards. Everyone is on the same team and we don't want to let the other team members down.

If we implement practices of gratitude throughout the social care sector, all of these core values will be reinforced and will be given the space to grow. It will make the whole sector a kinder, happier and more productive place.

If you'd like to hear more from the Encompass Care team and the power of gratitude then have a listen to our latest Social Care Radio Show!