1 - How policies protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential care.

CCEA GCE A2 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

What is a policy?

An effective way of promoting quality care

Why are policies effective in promoting quality care?

• Encourage reporting poor care, e.g. physical or emotional abuse so service users protected

• staff can be disciplined for failing to adhere to a policy, encourage to practice

• empower saff to report poor practice making it les likely to occur

• clear procedures in place so staff understand what to do to provide quality care

• make managers aware of their responsibility to regularly update staff training

• Recognise rights of service users

Why can policies fail?

• Can be in place in a setting, but staff not adequately trained in them

• Insufficient staffing levels

• Not accessible to all staff e.g. language barriers

• staff unaware policy exists

Describe the Confidentiality policy.

• Guides and informs staff regarding rules for maintaining confidentiality soo that all staff are clear about their roles and responsibilites

• The policy recognises and respects service users’ rights to privacy and dignity and makes this clear to all staff that all service users have the right to have their medical information, care plans and finacial details kept confidential.

• Sets out procedures for staff to folloe e.g. storing recors safelt on a computer

• Helps ensure information is not shared with unnecessary person.

• Help service user feel safe and content

• Sets out disciplinary procedures if confidentialty is breached - defers staff from breaching.

• Promotes a sense of trust between the staff and service users, better relationships lead to better care.

how does the whistle Blowing Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• Policy helps to guard against inappropriate treatment and bad practices - poor care, whether it be physical emotional or mental is mote likely to be reported by other staff members as they have been trained in their responsibilities under this policy

• Creates awareness among staff of the need to provide appropriate care and treatment at all times

• Helps create a safer environment for service users

• Provides staff a framework for tackling practice which is not appropriate

• Helps root out unsuitable practitioners, may lose job and be reported to police and regulatory body

• legal obligation for staff to report malpractice

• route for disciplinary action against those who are guilty of misconduct.

how does the Staff Training Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• Helps staff within the setting to understand their job roles and learn new skills so that they provide appropriate care to service users

• Staff gain confidence, benefit service user as they will feel cared for within the setting, all rights upheld and specific needs will be met

• Regular training essential to ensure quality care is provided

• helps staff learn quickly what is expected of them, what policies and procedures are in the setting. If mentored can learn new skills quickly and effectively, so provide quality care for service users

• encourages staff to understand and implement all other policies and procedures e.g. confidentiality policy, health and safety policy etc. Enhances wuality of care provided to the service user

• Helps to promote wuality care including anti-discriminatory practice, staff updqated on issues so can interact with service users in a positive and constructive way, demonstrating respect for culture and diversity

• Helps minimise risk of abuse, aware of signs and symptoms and are able to act to safeguard SUs.

• Helps ensure SUs are cared for safely and the risk of accidents minimised e.g. equipment such as hoists are used correctly when moving or handling SU.

how does the Complaints Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• encourages staff to provide quality care within setting, less likely to provide inappropriate or inadequate care.

• gives staff incentive to work harder as they want to avoid being complained about

• empowers service users as they know they can complain if they feel their needs are not being met

• Complaints from SUs and family help inform management of problems which enables them to improve the service offered.

• Gives clients a route for redress if they feel they are not being cared for properly or treated fairly. Tells them about it and instructions given on hoe to make a complaint.

• allow reoccurring problems to be highlighted e.g. same staff member reported by multiple individuals will call for investigation to implement necessary changes

• Makes clients feel safe and opinion valued, complain without any reperccusions.

how does the Health and Safety Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• Attempts to ensure physical environement is save for both SUs and staff e.g. no dangerous cleaning materials are used

• Tells staff and SUs what to do in case of emergency, what procedures to follow e.g. a fire breaks out

• Requires staff to be properly trained e.g. first-aiders to be on duty at all time - swift and appropriate action if someone injured

• Sets out reporting procedures for dealing with health and safety concerns - increases likelihood that problems will be reported and dealt with

how does The Safeguarding and Protection of Vulnerable Adults Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• Complies with legislation - Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) order 2007

• ensures all staff are safe to work with vulnerable adults in the setting as they have to be Access NI checked before commencing employment. Prevents service users from being cared for by inappropriate staff who could abuse and harm them

• Ensure staff follow their code of conduct - know what the can and cant do in the setting

• ensures staff are trained in protecting vulnerable adults.

• Helps staff staff and carers identify all forms of abuse

• Clearly outlines procedures for reporting abuse - who to and how to - giving confidence to do so to protect SU at risk

• Promotes security for SUs e.g. will feel they can report abuse in setting and so protected

• Consequences of abuse outlined

how does The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy protect service users with physical disabilities and illnesses in residential settings?

• Aims to protect children and sets out how staff can report any concerns they have about a child

• requires staff receive annual child protection training helping staff understand all forms of abuse e.g. physical, sexual, emotional, neglect and negligent treatment and sexual and commercial exploitation

• requires the setting have a designated Child Protection Officer that receive regular training and support for role

• Identifies signs and symptoms of different types of abuse so staff know what to do if they suspect a child is being abused, thus protecting them from danger.