A3 Specific responsibilities of people who work in health and social care settings Flashcards
What is anti-discriminatory practice?
In health and social care , anti-discriminatory practice involves promoting equal opportunities for all and challenge discrimination at work.
* Address their own prejudices and adapt their behaviour to ensure the needs are met, whatever the client’s ethnic background , age, disability, or sexual orientation.
* Understand and meet the individual needs of the service users, including people from diverse cultures, whenever the client’s ethnic background, age , (physical and learning) disability, religion, or sexual orientation, mental health issues.
* Celebrate the contribution that a wide and diverse range of people can bring in a setting, and to society.
* Actively challenge both intentional and unintentional service user discrimination
* Ensure the setting is welcoming and accessible for all
* Compensate for negative effects of discrimination in society
What is empowering individuals?
Empowerment means ensuring the service users take full part in discussions and decisions about personal care and treatment, where possible and appropriate, they’re included in discussions of policy and provision in the care setting. Empowering service users will ensure that meeting individual needs is at the head of the service provision.
What does empowering individuals include?
o putting the individual at the heart of service provision and promoting individualised
care
o promoting and supporting individuals’ rights to dignity and independence
o providing active support consistent with beliefs, cultures, and preferences of health
and social care service users
o supporting individuals who need health and social care services to express their
needs and preferences.
o promoting the rights, choices and wellbeing of individuals who use health and social
care services
o balancing individual rights to health and social care services with the rights of other
service users and staff
o dealing with conflict in specific health and social care settings
What is ensuring safety in health and social care settings?
Risk Assessments
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure the health and safety of all who work for their company or organisation. Employers are responsible for safety of volunteers, learners on work placement and all visitors ( Technical or professional services: plumbers, electricians and visiting care professionals)
The health and safety work act (1979) governs the requirement of employers and employees to ensure they maintain a safe working environment for al
What are employer responsibilities?
Ensure that the organisation has a robust health and safety policy and there’s someone responsible for health and safety at the setting.
Undertake a risk assessment to identify risks and hazards at the workplace, take action to reduce likelihood of harm and injury
Provide up to date information on health and safety issues
Provide health and safety equipment and training
Keep a record of all accidents and incidents
When employers carry out risk assessments, these examine all the procedures and activities that take place in their organisation and assess the level of risk involved.
In a care home, for example, this will range from risks associated with routine care procedures to organising social events and taking people on outings.
The responsibility for risk assessments will be delegated to senior staff member of staff or supervisor, for example a senior care assistant in a residential home may have responsibilities for assessing the risks associated with bathing of new resident. It is the responsibility of the care home manager to ensure that the senior care assistant has had the training to carry out the task.
What are employee responsibilities?
Take reasonable care of safety of themselves and others in the setting
Co-operate with their employer to carry out agreed and required health and safety procedures in the workplace
Not intentionally damage health and safety equipment at the settings (Hoists and lifts)
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What is safeguarding and protecting individuals from abuse?
If a child or adult raises information which raises concerns of abuse or abuse is stated, you should follow the safeguarding policy. You should let the service user speak in their own way and words, while carefully listening, you should explain to the service user that this information must be shared towards someone senior.
All cares settings have a safeguarding officer who will ask for a written record of information.
What policies may be used to protect individuals from infection?
Working in a health and social care environment requires all staff and volunteers to ensure that they maintain a clean and hygienic working environment and minimise the likelihood of passing an infection in order to keep yourself and service users safe from infection. You must ensure that you are familiar with the policies and procedures in place at the setting to minimise the spread of infection procedures are likely to include the following requirements.
Washing your hands before you start working before you leave work before eating after using the toilet and after coughing or sneezing and before and after you carry out any personal care particularly if this involves contact for bodily fluids clinical waste or dirty linen. Alcohol hand rubs are further effective and swift procedure to ensure that the hands are clean and provide by further protection from contamination.
Handling and disposal of sharp articles such as needles and syringes to avoid needle-stick injuries and to ensure that infections are not passed on through viruses carried on in a blood and bacteria.
Keeping all soiled linen in the designated laundry bags, or bin, and not leaving it on the floor. Soiled linen should always be washed in a designated laundry room, where protective apron/gloves should be worn and hands must be thoroughly washed after handling. Separate trolleys should be used for soiled and clean laundry to avoid cross-contamination and spread of diseases.
Wearing protective, disposable gloves/aprons when you gave contact with body fluids, may be due to open wounds, rashes, or pressure ulcers
Cleaning all equipment according to procedures of setting
Wearing protective clothing for any activities that involve close personal care or contact with bodily fluids
What is provision of first-aid health facilities?
The provision of first aid in health and care settings is governed by the health and safety (First aid) regulations (1981). Provision for first aid should be adequate and appropriate, this will vary between settings. In September 2016, all newly qualified early-years practitioners must complete paediatric first-aid training.
All first- aid incidents occurring in care settings must be recorded in the accident book or form.
The report should include:
* Name of casualty
* Nature of accident/ Injury
* Date, time, location of incident
* Record of the treatment given
These records must be truthful and accurate. They may be used in courts of law for compensation of injury.
