Organisational Duty of Candour (Scotland)

Understand what to do when something goes wrong.

Our Organisational Duty of Candour (Scotland) online course gives staff and managers practical guidance on when the Duty of Candour procedure applies, what the organisation must do, and how to communicate openly and appropriately with the people affected.

Designed for staff working across health, social care, social work, care services and Early Years in Scotland, this course focuses on practical application rather than legal theory alone.

What is Organisational Duty of Candour?

Organisational Duty of Candour is the legal procedure that applies to providers of health, care and social work services in Scotland when certain unintended or unexpected incidents result in, or could result in, specified harm or death.

It is designed to promote openness, honesty, effective communication and organisational learning when something has gone wrong. Scottish Government

Importantly, not every accident, complaint or adverse event automatically activates the Duty of Candour procedure.

Organisations need to understand the statutory trigger, obtain the required professional opinion where appropriate and follow the correct procedure when the duty applies.

This course helps learners understand that distinction in practical terms.

What the Course Covers

• What Organisational Duty of Candour means
• When the statutory duty may apply
• Staff, manager and organisational responsibilities
• Activating the procedure
• Communication with the relevant person
• Meetings, support and meaningful apology
• Reviewing incidents and identifying learning
• Record keeping and annual reporting
• Practical Duty of Candour scenarios and decision-making

Who Is This Course For?

Suitable for:

• Health and social care staff
• Care home and support workers
• Social work teams
• Managers and service leaders
• Early Years and childcare staff
• Staff involved in incident reporting, review or governance

No previous Duty of Candour knowledge is required.

Practical Learning

The course includes realistic scenarios, interactive activities, reflection points and downloadable resources to help learners understand how Duty of Candour works in practice.

Learners also receive a practical toolkit covering:

• Incident response and escalation
• Manager decision-making
• Communication and meetings
• Meaningful apology
• Incident review and learning
• Records and annual reporting

Course Details

Delivery: Online
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Assessment: 15 questions
Pass mark: 80%
Certificate: Available immediately after passing
CPD Accreditation: CPD Group Accredited – 2 CPD Points

Why This Training Matters

Organisational Duty of Candour is about more than reporting an incident. It is about responding openly, supporting those affected and learning from what happened.

This course helps staff understand their role and gives managers a clear overview of the full process.

CPD Group Accredited

This course has been independently accredited by The CPD Group and is worth 2 CPD points on successful completion.