Being Human Framework

Being Human: A Framework for Safety Culture within Health and Social Care

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Being Human: A Framework for Safety Culture within Health and Social Care sets out what a good safety culture looks like within HSC in Northern Ireland. It defines safety culture as one that is safe and compassionate; just and open; and, continually learning and improving. It delineates a shift away from process-centred, ‘tick box’ approaches to Health and Social Care, and, instead focuses on embedding a relational, person-centred ethos at all levels of the HSC system; understanding that the relationships we have with ourselves and with each other, as patients, family members and colleagues, are HSC’s greatest asset to ensuring a safe, high-quality HSC system.

Underpinned by HSC Values, and aligned to best-practice standards, including DoH Quality Standards, 2006, the Framework defines three overarching domains that represent the collective mindset necessary to drive a strong safety culture.

• Domain 1: Commitment to Patient Safety and Staff Wellbeing
• Domain 2: Compassion, Civility and Respect
• Domain 3: Curiosity and Constructive Challenge

Each of these domains encompass a number of expectations for HSC organisations, underpinned by a series of indicators, setting out the enabling system factors, behaviours and outcomes that provide evidence of a good safety culture.

Accompanied by case studies, good practice examples, along with examples of poor behaviour, they are designed to be enabling and empowering for HSC staff, patients and families.