Principle 5: positive cultures support learning, development and continuous improvement
Last updated: 9 Jun 2025
Listen to Sarah talk about supporting learning, development and continuous improvement in a positive culture.
What does it mean to support learning, development and continuous improvement?
We can support learning, training and development by:
- taking time to reflect on what works well and involving people who get care or support, partners and staff to find any areas we need to improve
- including reflective practice in our conversations
- learning from feedback from the people we care for and support
- learning from complaints and critical incidents
- recognising why it’s important to keep improving
- thinking about new ways to do things to making sure the people we care for, or support, get positive outcomes
- being committed to working with people who access and work in social care services
- being committed to staff learning and development
- being willing to learn from others and seeing how other people do things
- asking staff what learning and development they feel they need to do their work well and creating opportunities for learning
- making space for staff to share the things they’ve learned
- understanding what staff already know, and where there may be gaps in skills or experience
- keeping up to date with legal duties and statutory guidance.
The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 says service providers need to have clear arrangements to keep checking the quality of their service.
Service providers also need to prove their service works in line with legal requirements and its statement of purpose, and that it supports individuals appropriately.
Services should use the information they get through monitoring to keep developing and improving the service.
How does supporting learning, development and improvement lead to a positive culture?
By supporting learning, development and improvement, you can:
- improve well-being, because:
- people feel they have a voice, are listened to, and can contribute in a meaningful way
- staff have the skills and training they need to be confident at their job, so they feel prepared at work
- staff feel trusted to do their job well, and see their job as somewhere they can thrive
- staff feel better about themselves and trust their colleagues.
- improve the quality of your services, because:
- there are regular opportunities to reflect, learn and improve
- staff are more knowledgeable or experienced, so they’re likely to be able to support people in the best ways possible
- staff can try out new ideas, innovative solutions and new ways of working that deliver more effective services
- by trying new things and learning from others, staff can see opportunities to build and improve
- leaders understand the organisation’s strengths and what it can offer partners and the people it supports.
- positively impact how other people think about the organisation, because:
- it will attract more motivated and talented candidates (including future leaders and managers)
- consistent care and support may make people feel more open to working with social care staff to achieve what matters to them
- people speak well about their organisation and their role.
Where to find out more
Here are links to information and resources to help you to start supporting learning and development to create a positive culture.
Some of these links may not be available bilingually or in an accessible format. We’re not responsible for content produced by other organisations.
The Insight Collective
Find evidence and support to help you make a positive difference in social care.
Research, innovation and improvement (RII) skills resource – The Insight Collective
This resource helps you find relevant training and resources to develop your research, innovation and improvement skills. It includes links to useful opportunities, which have been grouped into four key themes: use evidence, improve and innovate, evaluate your work, shape culture.
Reflective supervision: a best practice guide – Social Workers Union (SWU)
A framework for reflection and problem solving in social work.
Development impact and you (DIY) toolkit – Nesta
A toolkit on how to invent, adopt or adapt ideas that can deliver better results. It includes 30 practical social innovation tools that are quick and simple to use.