What duty of candour means in residential care

Duty of candour requires providers to be open and transparent with people receiving care when something has gone wrong. In England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) applies this expectation to all health and social care providers it regulates. For care homes and other adult social care services the registered provider and registered manager carry the statutory responsibility, while frontline staff must recognise problems, escalate them promptly, and communicate honestly.

What candour looks like in practice

• Tell the truth: do not conceal, downplay, or stay silent when harm may have occurred.
• Apologise: offer a sincere apology as part of the response.
• Explain what is known: share verified facts and avoid guessing beyond them.
• Support the person affected: ensure the resident and their family or representative know what will happen next.
• Record and review: document the incident and use it to learn and improve care.

Nation note

Duty of candour principles apply across the UK: be open, apologise, support people affected, record honestly, and learn from incidents. The legal framework differs by nation. This course follows England's CQC Regulation 20 for care-home thresholds and points to where Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland use different rules or procedures.

Four-nations candour note

Duty of candour is not the same as blame. It is an open and compassionate response when care has gone wrong, combined with support and learning.