The following text from EU documents describes the principles behind a culture of care.

• Recital 31 of the EU Directive 2010/EU states:
  Animal-welfare considerations should be given the highest priority in the context of animal keeping, breeding and use. Breeders, suppliers and users should therefore have an animal-welfare body in place with the primary task of focusing on giving advice on animal-welfare issues. The body should also follow the development and outcome of projects at establishment level, foster a climate of care and provide tools for the practical application and timely implementation of recent technical and scientific developments in relation to the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement, in order to enhance the life-time experience of the animals. The advice given by the animal-welfare body should be properly documented and open to scrutiny during inspections.
• In A working document on Animal Welfare Bodies and National Committees to fulfil the requirements under the Directive, there is a section entitled Fostering a Culture of Care on 'establishing and maintaining an appropriate climate of care, often called in practice, and subsequently referred to in this document as, a "culture of care", among the animal user community.' It is listed as one of the benefits of an effective Animal Welfare Body. The section states:

'Ensuring an appropriate culture of care is in everyone’s interests, as it will promote improved animal welfare and therefore enhanced scientific outcomes, and give all those involved in the establishment confidence that delivering high quality animal care and use practices is an important priority.

Simply having animal facilities and resources which meet the requirements of the legislation will not ensure that appropriate animal welfare, care and use practices will automatically follow. All those involved in the care and use of animals should be committed to the Three Rs principles and demonstrate a caring and respectful attitude towards the animals bred or used for scientific procedures. Without an appropriate culture of care within an establishment, it is unlikely that welfare and scientific outcomes will be optimised.

The key factors which blend together to foster the appropriate culture of care within an establishment include:

• Appropriate behaviour and attitude towards animal research from all key personnel is of critical importance.
  Management should be knowledgeable of animal care and use issues with a commitment to provide high animal welfare standards; staff who work diligently, accept individual responsibility at all levels, and are willing to take the initiative to resolve problems should any arise. In summary, an attitude that is not based on complying with the rules alone but on an individual's positive and proactive mind-set and approach to animal welfare and humane science;
• A corporate expectation of high standards with respect to the legal, welfare, Three Rs and ethical aspects of the use of animals, operated and endorsed at all levels throughout the establishment; The establishment will maintain animal facilities to a high standard, and have established policies on animal welfare. Animals will be provided with good veterinary and technical care by well trained staff;
• Shared responsibility (without loss of individual responsibility) towards animal care, welfare and use;
• A pro-active approach towards improving standards, rather than merely reacting to problems when they arise;
• Effective communication throughout the establishment on animal welfare, care and use issues and the relation of these to good science;
• The importance of compliance is understood and effected;
• Those with specified roles know their responsibility and tasks;
• Empowered care staff and veterinarians - Animal care and technical staff are respected and listened to and their roles and work are supported throughout the establishment;
• All voices and concerns are heard and dealt with positively. Personnel at all levels throughout the organisation should be encouraged to raise issues of concern (i.e. there should be a “no blame culture”), and good interaction and communication between researchers and animal care staff should also be encouraged.

How can a good culture of care be developed?
Although, the culture of care should permeate throughout all levels of the establishment, it is essential that senior staff should take the lead, and visibly demonstrate their commitment to, and support for, a good culture of care within the establishment.
Selection of staff utilising tailored recruitment processes which assist recognition of the desired traits. These processes should preferably apply to selection of all those involved in the care and use of animals.
Management should acknowledge and appreciate efforts of staff to promote an effective culture of care, for example as part of staff appraisal criteria or by developing award programmes for Three R initiatives.
Expectations of the establishment with regard to welfare and care practices should be communicated to all personnel, not just those directly involved with animal care and use. These should be further emphasised and expanded in the induction and ongoing training programmes for all those using and caring for animals.
Encourage development of formal and informal communication channels between researchers and care and technical staff for mutual benefit with respect to science and animal welfare. Encourage links with outside establishments to develop and share good practices, for example inviting in guest lecturers or arranging exchange visits for staff.

Later in the document, it states that the National Committee can contribute to the Culture of Care by:

• 'Organisation of a national forum to allow sharing of good practice;
• Ensuring sharing of good practices through the establishment of a national framework

  to collect, store and disseminate information on good practices;

• Promoting the importance and relevance of a good culture of care to good scientific and animal welfare outcomes;

• Making AWBs aware of, and supporting their role as, the promoter of a good culture of care;

• Utilising the benefits of personal contacts and interactions, in contrast to impersonal 'newsletters' to emphasise the importance of good culture of care.'

Other EU Guidance Documents

Further advice on how to promote a culture of care is given in the Guidance Document entitled Inspections and Enforcement, and in the Document entitled Education and Training Framework.

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