A delegated healthcare activity is an activity that a regulated healthcare professional, such as a nurse, nursing associate, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist, delegates to a care worker or personal assistant.
New delegated healthcare activities guides
These guides have been designed to be used alongside organisational policies and professional guidance, and to support good conversations, shared decision making and the effective implementation of delegated healthcare activities within adult social care.
Each guide has been personalised to support:
The guides have been developed with the involvement of a wide range of sector partners, including The Care Workers’ Charity, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Think Local Act Personal (TLAP), and trade union representatives from GMB, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Unison and Unite the Union.
We're also grateful for the insight and feedback shared by Rob Moriarty, an individual employer and person with lived experience of delegated healthcare activities.
These guides have additionally benefited from contributions across the adult social care sector, including members of the Social Care Nursing Advisory Councils (SCNACs) and care providers; Cera Care, HC-One, Home Instead, Lifeways, Prestige Nursing & Care and Vitality Home Health. Their involvement helps ensure the content reflects operational considerations and the needs of the wider workforce.
Guiding principles and supporting resources
The guiding principles for delegated healthcare activity were co-developed by Skills for Care, the Department of Health and Social Care and partners, including the CQC, in May 2023. They have been refreshed in November 2024 following an independent evaluation. They contain four key areas to ensure that delegation is person-centred, clinically appropriate, safe and effective.
Our evaluation of the principles highlighted the complexity of decision-making across the integrated health and social care system and that situations and challenges will arise that are outside of the scope of the principles.
PDF - 11.79MB
The voluntary guiding principles include how to create the right conditions for delegation and highlight the importance of a person-centred approach and putting the person at the heart of decision-making.
PDF - 7.95MB
Download the printable easy read version of the delegated healthcare activities guiding principles.
PDF - 3.02MB
Download the screen accessible easy read version of the delegated healthcare activities guiding principles.