A2: The Responsibilities of people Who Work in Health and Social Care Settings

STARTER

  1. Name 3 types of specialist fields for a Doctor.

    • Cardiologist

    • Neurologist

    • Oncologist

  2. What is the role of a nurse practitioner?

    An advanced practiced registered nurse who provides primary and specialised healthcare, including diagnosing, treating and managing patients’ health conditions

  3. What is the role of a healthcare assistant?

    They support nurses and other healthcare professionals by providing basic patient care, such as helping with daily activities, monitoring vital signs and offering comfort and support.

  4. What is the role of a youth worker?

    Supports young people’s personal, social and emotional development by providing guidance, activities and safe spaces to help them reach their potential.

  5. What is the role of a care assistant?

    Helps people with daily living tasks, personal care and emotional support to improve their comfort and quality of life.

Policies: usually contain an outline of the values and principles of the organisation and an overview of organisational procedures that staff must follow with regard to particular issues e.g. whistleblowing, safeguarding, GDPR (Data Protection), confidentiality, health and safety (risk assessments, lone working policy, fire evacuation, RIDDOR, COSHH), and complaints.

Procedures: detailed instructions for the actions that workers must take in a given scenario (e.g. step by step guidance on how to raise safeguarding issues)

It is crucial that health and social. are workers follow the policies and procedures of an organisation, as these are put into place to protect service users.

UNIT 2 PAPER:

Scenario 1: Ill health

Scenario 2: Learning disability

Scenario 3: Physical/Sensory Disabilities

Scenario 4: Age-related Needs

Each section contains, 2, 4, 6 and 8 marker questions

HEALING AND SUPPORTING RECOVERY

There are many different strategies used to support the recovery of people who are ill. The support needed will depend upon the service user’s condition snd their wider social and emotional needs.

The range of treatments and care procedures used in healthcare setting may include:

  • Medication: Drugs prescribed by a qualifies professional to treat a condition.

  • Surgery: A medical procedure that involves removing/altering body parts.

  • Radiotherapy: Using radiation to kill cancerous cells and stop cancer spreading.

  • Organ transplant: Replacing a damaged or missing organ.

  • Lifestyle change support: Support to develop to healthier lifestyle (e.g. stop smoking clinics).

  • Talking therapies: Help people to overcome and cope with mental distress.

ENABLING REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation: returning to previous levels of functioning after illness or injury

Complementary therapy: alternative approaches to treatment (e.g. aromatherapy).

  • Supporting someone’s rehabilitation involves helping someone to get back to living a normal life following illness, injury, or the receipt of a medical procedure.

  • Rehabilitation may involve support with regaining mobility and/or independence, and ensuring that daily living tasks can be done.

  • Rehabilitation should take a holistic approach, and may involve the provision of psychotherapy and/or complementary therapies, depending on the need.

PROVIDING EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTATIONS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE TO BE INDEPENDENT

EQUIPMENT TO INCREASE MOBILITY:

  • Wheelchair (manual or electric)

  • Walking frame / Zimmer frame

  • Crutches

  • Walking stick

  • Mobility scooter

APPLIANCES THAT SUPPORT DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES:

  • Adapted cutlery (easy-grip knives, forks, spoons)

  • Kettle tippers

  • Bath lifts or shower chairs

  • Grab rails and handrails

  • Adjustable beds and riser recliner chairs

TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

  • Voice to text software

  • Screen readers and magnifiers

  • Hearing aids / FM systems in classrooms

  • Tablets or laptops with accessibility settings

  • Specialised learning apps or educational software

PROVIDING PERSONAL CARE

Personal care means helping someone with things like washing, going to the toilet, or eating. This can be hard for people with disabilities or illnesses, especially if they have trouble moving or learning.

Good hygiene is important because it keeps people healthy and makes them feel respected and confident.

Because personal care is very private, it should always be done with respect and professionalism.

It’s also important to follow the person’s usual routines and to encourage them to do as much as they can for themselves.

  • Domiciliary care workers: provide care for people living in their own homes.

  • Care assistants: provide support in residential homes.

  • Health care assistants: provide support in hospitals.

Healthcare professionals must also be aware of religious and cultural preferences relating to personal cleanliness and dietary requirements (e.g. halal, kosher, gluten-free, allergies, etc).

SUPPORTING ROUTINES

Many service users have a holistic range of needs. A holistic approach to care means looking at the whole person and every aspect of their life (PIES).

When supporting someone, you need to think about all their needs, such as family life, leisure, education and employment.

These needs are linked, so meeting them all is essential. By getting to know service users and their circumstances, you can give better-quality care and help them live a more fulfilling life.

ASSESSMENT AND CARE AND SUPPORT PLANNING

Health and care professionals’ skills are wide and ranging and cover many specialities, but they take a similar approach to planning and evaluating care.

The care planning cycle involves:

  • Assessing the individual healthcare needs of service users

  • Agreeing a care plan that promotes the service user’s health and wellbeing.

  • Evaluating the effectiveness of the care implemented

The care is cyclical, and interventions and changes may be introduced at any point.

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