This page introduces the five core British Values and explores how they shape your journey as an apprentice and future practitioner. These values are Democracy, Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect are more than policy terms. They’re the foundations of safe, inclusive, and ethical practice across health, education, and social care.
You’ll discover how these values link to your university learning, apprenticeship standards, influence everyday decisions, and support your development as a thoughtful, values-led professional.
Sheffield Hallam is an award-winning university, and one of the largest and most diverse in the UK.
The university empowers people from all backgrounds to acquire the skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed at whatever they choose to do.
At Sheffield Hallam, we are ambitious for others. It's a place where people are inspired to unlock their potential and start life-changing journeys. Curiosity drives innovation, and collaboration helps us tackle challenges and rethink the norm. Sheffield Hallam are proud to be an inclusive, open-minded community that champions equality and celebrates diversity.
British values in university life are all about creating a respectful, inclusive, and fair environment where everyone feels heard and supported.
These values are woven right into the professional standards that guide us as apprentices and future therapists. They’re not just abstract ideas; they shape how we work with people every day.
Democracy. In practice, this means giving service users a voice in their care. The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards ask us to involve people in decisions and respect their choices.
The rule of law shows up in our responsibility to work safely, ethically, and within our scope of practice. HCPC Standards remind us to follow policies, respect confidentiality, and be accountable.
Individual liberty is about supporting people’s independence. As apprentices, we learn to empower service users to make choices and take part in their own wellbeing.
Then there’s mutual respect and tolerance. These values are at the heart of treating everyone with dignity, whatever their background, culture, or beliefs. Professional standards and the NHS Constitution (2012) highlights equality, diversity, and inclusion.
British Values aren’t separate; they’re the foundation.
Use this poster to highlight the values for your learning. Also, see the regulatory bodies page to support your learning and understanding.
Learning about British values helps shape the kind of therapist you become, respectful, inclusive, ethical, and person-centred.
These values aren’t just theory; they guide your everyday practice and professional development. You will be required to reflect on these throughout your learning and summarise these during your progress reviews with your coach and mentor.
Top tip: This image show the badge that will be included in your online teaching to highlight learning linked to British Values.