Essence of Care was first introduced in 2001, designed to support and address the fundamentals of care which are still at the heart of its 12 benchmarks. Essence of Care 2010 is ideal for frontline staff in health and social care settings. For the purpose of these benchmarks, the care environment is defined as; An area where care takes place. For example, this could be a building or vehicle. Essence of Care 2010 - Benchmarks for Care Environment provides best practice guidance to make certain that the care environment meets the needs and preferences of visitors and residents. It covers how to ensure they feel comfortable, safe and welcomed, experience care in a tidy and well maintained area, and are confident that infection control precautions are in place. This title must be read in conjunction with 'How to use Essence of Care 2010' (ISBN 9780113228720). It should also be noted that all the benchmarks are interrelated