A3: Specific Responsibilities of People Who Work in Health and Social Care Settings

values of health and social care workers

• promoting anti-discriminatory practice

• empowering individuals

• ensuring staff safety

• maintaining confidentiality and privacy

• promoting good communication

code of practice

standards of behaviour and professional practice required of health and care practitioners set and monitored by professional bodies such as the GMC, NMC, or the HCPC

anti-discriminatory practice

care practice that ensures individual and different needs are met regardless of their race, age, disability, sex, or sexual orientation and that prejudices and unfair discrimination are challenged

core value outlines in the Equality Act 2010

prejudice

preconceived opinions or fixed attitudes about a social group that are not based on reason or evidence

protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010

• age

• disability

• gender reassignment

• marriage and civil partnerships

• pregnancy and maternity

• race

• religion or belief

• sex

• sexual orientation

right given to individuals by the Human Rights Act 1998

• life

• freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment

• freedom from slavery

• liberty and security of a person

• respect for a private and family life

• freedom of thought, conscience, and religion

• freedom of expression

• marry

• peaceful enjoyment of possessions

• access to education

promoting equal opportunities and challenging discrimination for service users

• address their own prejudices and adapt behaviour

• understand and meet the individual needs

• celebrate diversity

• challenge discrimination

• ensure a welcoming and accessible environment

• compensate for negative effects of discrimination

empowerment

supporting people to take control of their lives and futures y taking a full part in discussions and decisions about their care and treatment

individualised care

care tailored to meet the particular and specific needs of each service user

self-esteem

the confidence a person has in their own worth or value

multi-cultural society

a population made up of people from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds and cultural traditions

importance of empowerment

• service users understand choices

• person-centred care

• boosts self esteem

• treated as individuals

• diversity is celebrated

challenges of diversity for care providers

• language barriers - more translators and resources needed

• wide range of foods needed

• religious needs e.g. muslims need a prayer room

support for service users to explain needs and preferences

• translators and interpreters

• signers

• advocates

• family and friends

translators and interpreters

communicate one language to another including BSL or Makaton

signers

ensure people with hearing impairments can fully participate in meetings and communicate their preferences and care needs

advocate

a person who speaks for someone else and represents their views and preferences

potential conflicts

• different preferences of service users e.g. music choice

• clients right to choice and protecting their safety e.g. dementia patient wanting to live alone vs fire risks

• different rights e.g. confidentiality and protection from harm if a service user discloses incidents of abuse

• respect for culture and religious values and promoting health and wellbeing e.g. Jehovah’s Witness don’t believe in blood transfusions but it may be essential for survival

lone workers policy

• guidance and procedures to ensure people working alone are safe

• important when providing domiciliary care

• in place to protect the carer

• also provides additional protection for service users

skills for dealing with conflict

• never behave aggressively

• listen carefully

• try to see both sides

• stay calm

what to do if a situation may lead to violence

• know where doors or exit points are

• remove anything that can be used as a weapon

• allow aggressor personal space

• get help as soon as possible

the health and safety at work act (1974)

requires employers and employees to ensure they maintain a safe working environment for all

risk assessment

identifying and evaluating the possible consequences of hazards and the level of risk that the hazard will cause harm

risk

the likelihood that a person will be harmed by a hazard

hazards

anything that could cause harm e.g. wet floors, cables, etc

health and safety at work act for employers

• ensure there is a health and safety policy

• do risk assessments

• provide up to date information on health and safety issues

• provide equipment for procedures and treatments

• provide health and safety training

• record all accidents

health and safety at work act for employees

• take care of their own safety and others in the workplace

• cooperate with employer to carry out the agreed and required health and safety policies

• not intentionally damage health and safety equipment

assessing the likelihood of risk

1 - most unlikely

2 - unlikely

3 - likely

4 - very likely

assessing the severity of the injury

1 - harm would be small and could be dealt with by an untrained person

2 - slight injuries e.g. catching a cold or needing a few stitches

3 - serious physical or psychological injuries that may take months or years to heal

4 - could be permanent disability or death

safeguarding individuals from abuse

• follow the settings safeguarding policies

• listen carefully and avoid asking questions

• let them tell he story in their own words

• explain that the information must be shared with someone senior

• provide a written record of what you have been told

clinical waste

waste contaminated by blood, urine, saliva, or other body fluids which could be infectious

requirements to protect from infection

• washing hands before starting work, leaving work, eating, using the toilet, coughing, and coming into contact with clinical waste

• safe handling and disposing of sharps to avoid needle-stick injuries

• keeping soiled linen in designated laundry bags

• wearing PPE

• cleaning equipment

hazardous waste

waste containing substances that can cause serious harm to people or equipment e.g. items contaminated with bodily fluids, explosives, flammable materials, etc

Control of Substances hazardous to Health (COSHH)

provide guidance approved by the Health and safety Executive for the safe disposal of hazardous waste

types of waste and methods of disposal

• clinical waste - yellow bag: waste is burned in controlled settings

• needles and syringes - sealed yellow ‘sharps’ box: waste is burned in controlled settings

• bodily fluids - flushed down a sluice drain: area is then cleaned and disinfected

• soiled linen - red laundry bag: washed at appropriate temperature

• recyclable equipment - blue bag: returned to the Central Sterilisation Services (CSSD) for sterilising and reuse

examples of notifiable illnesses

• food poisoning

• tuberculosis

• German measles

examples of notifiable incidents

• broken bones

• serious burns

• death

notifiable deaths, injuries, or diseases

particular illnesses, diseases, and serious accidents that must be officially reported

accident forms

• used to report details of all accidents

• required by law and are checked during inspections

provision of first aid

• should be adequate and appropriate

• varies between settings

• all first aid incidents must be recorded

first aid reports

• the name of the casualty

• nature of the incident

• date, time, and location of incident

• record of treatment

• must be truthful and accurate

• may be used in court

complaints procedures

• checked during inspections

• if someone complaints they have a right to:

  • have complaints dealt with quickly and efficiently

  • have an investigation of their concerns

  • know the outcome

  • review the facts if the action is unlawful

  • receive compensation if harmed due to the situation they’re complaining about

data protection act 1998

• rules about processing and use of personal information

• covers information stored digitally and on paper

• against the law to have photographs without permission

data protection act states data must:

• be accurate and up to date

• be collected honestly and fairly

• be used only for the reasons its been given

• meet the needs of the organisation

• not be passed on to other organisations without permission

• not be kept longer than necessary

• be kept safe and secure

• not be passed to countries without data protection laws

policies for storing information

• stored in locked filing cabinets in a locked room

• information help digitally should be protected by a secure password

policies for accessing information

• people allowed to access information should be clearly identified

• staff should never have access to information they don’t need to know

• if stored digitally only relevant staff should have the password

policies for sharing information

only shared with other professionals who have a need and right to know it

data protection act legal and workplace requirements

• all employees and volunteers are responsible for maintaining confidentiality

• must actively promote respect for confidentiality

accountability to professional organisations

• standards of practice are monitored by professional bodies

• specific regulations vary according to profession

• all monitor:

  • level and content of education and training

  • ongoing professional development and requirement to keep up to date and complete further training

  • standards of professional practice

  • standards of personal conduct

codes of practice

• must be followed

• outlines formal procedures used following complaints or concerns about qualifications or professional practice

• includes whistleblowing

whistleblowing

when an employee reports poor or dangerous practice at their workplace

continuing professional development

• training on use of new procedures or treatments

• training on the use of new equipment

• providing evidence that a registered person reviews and learns from their own practice

the care certificate

• voluntary

• provides a set of standards to follow at work

care certificate code of conduct

• accountable to answer for actions

• promote and uphold privacy, dignity, rights, health, and well-being

• collaborate with colleagues to ensure high quality care

• communicate openly and efficiently

• respect rights to confidentiality

• strive to improve quality of care

• uphold and promote equality, diversity, and inclusion