Healthcare is built on trust. Patients trust that you will provide safe, competent care. They trust that you will be honest with them. And they trust that if something goes wrong, you will tell them what happened, why, and what you are doing to put it right. That trust is the foundation of every therapeutic relationship, and it is protected in law through the duty of candour.
For healthcare teams in Congleton, whether you work in a GP surgery, a dental practice, a care home, a community health service, or a private clinic, understanding and fulfilling your duty of candour is a professional and legal obligation. Getting it right protects your patients, your colleagues, and your organisation. Getting it wrong can result in regulatory action, legal proceedings, and a breakdown of the trust that everything depends on.
We are PCT Services, and we deliver CPD accredited training for healthcare professionals from our training centre at First Floor, 2 Queen Street in Northwich, about a 20 minute drive from Congleton.
What duty of candour means
The duty of candour requires healthcare providers to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with their care or treatment. It was introduced as a statutory duty for all CQC-registered providers following the Francis Report, which examined the failures at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and concluded that a culture of secrecy and defensiveness had contributed to serious harm.
In practice, duty of candour means that when a notifiable safety incident occurs, the healthcare provider must tell the patient or their family what happened as soon as reasonably practicable. They must offer an apology, which is not an admission of liability but an expression of sorrow that something went wrong. They must explain what enquiries will be carried out. They must provide the results of those enquiries in writing. And they must keep a written record of the notification.
The key word is notifiable. A notifiable safety incident is one that results in moderate harm, severe harm, or death. But good practice, and what the CQC expects to see, extends beyond the statutory minimum. Being open about near-misses, minor incidents, and unexpected outcomes builds the culture of transparency that the duty of candour was designed to create.
Why training matters
Knowing that you have a duty of candour and knowing how to discharge it are two different things. The conversation with a patient or family member after something has gone wrong is one of the most difficult conversations in healthcare. It requires empathy, clarity, honesty, and the ability to manage your own emotions while supporting theirs.
Without training, these conversations often go badly. Staff may be defensive, vague, or evasive because they are frightened of the consequences. They may delay the conversation because they do not know how to start it. They may use language that sounds like they are minimising what happened. They may fail to apologise because they have been told, incorrectly, that saying sorry is an admission of guilt.
Training equips your team with the skills and confidence to handle these conversations well. It covers the legal framework so that everyone understands their obligations. It addresses the practical steps of notification, including what to say, when to say it, and how to document it. It explores the emotional aspects for both the patient and the healthcare professional. And it helps teams build systems and processes that support candour as a routine part of clinical governance rather than a crisis response.
The link to ongoing CPD
Duty of candour does not exist in isolation. It sits within a broader framework of professional development, clinical governance, and reflective practice that every healthcare professional should be engaged in throughout their career.
The Health and Care Professions Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and the General Dental Council all require their registrants to maintain continuing professional development. CPD is not just about completing courses and collecting certificates. It is about demonstrating that you are reflecting on your practice, learning from your experiences, and continuously improving the quality of care you provide.
Understanding duty of candour contributes directly to CPD because it requires you to think critically about your clinical practice, to learn from incidents, and to develop the communication skills that are central to patient-centred care. When duty of candour is embedded in your team's culture, incident reviews become learning opportunities rather than blame exercises, and the quality of care improves as a result.
Our training for Congleton healthcare teams
Clinical Supervision (2 Day)
Our Clinical Supervision course provides the framework for structured reflective practice. It is CPD accredited, with a certificate valid for three years, and groups can be up to 20. The course covers supervision models, deep listening skills, reflective questioning, giving and receiving feedback, and managing the ethical boundaries of supervision.
Clinical supervision creates the regular, structured space where duty of candour conversations, incident reviews, and professional development can be discussed in a supportive environment. For Congleton healthcare teams, it provides the backbone of a culture where openness, learning, and continuous improvement are normal.
Clinical Supervision
This two day Clinical Supervision programme provides multidisciplinary professionals with the skills and knowledge to deliver clinical supervision effectively within the workplace. It is tailored to meet the regulatory requirements of NHS organisations and designed to incorporate individual Trusts local Clinical Supervision arrangements.
Duty of Candour Training
We cover duty of candour as part of our healthcare professional training, addressing the legal requirements, practical communication skills, documentation processes, and the emotional support that staff need when things go wrong. This training can be delivered on-site at your Congleton workplace for teams who want to learn together.
Duty of Candour
CPD accredited training covering the statutory and professional duty of candour in health and social care settings. This course is coming soon. Register your interest to be notified when dates are available.
Who should attend
Practice managers and clinical leads in GP surgeries who are responsible for clinical governance and incident management. Care home managers and senior nurses who handle complaints, incidents, and family communications. Dental practice owners and managers who need to understand their CQC obligations. Community healthcare professionals and therapists who work autonomously and may need to manage duty of candour conversations independently. Any healthcare professional who wants to strengthen their CPD portfolio with accredited training in clinical supervision and reflective practice.
Book your training
Check the upcoming dates on our Clinical Supervision page and book your places. Or give us a call on 07958 915146 to discuss on-site delivery or to talk through what your Congleton healthcare team needs.
Being open when things go wrong is not easy. But it is essential, it is required, and with the right training, your team can do it with confidence, compassion, and professionalism.
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