LO A Pt 2

Question 1

Who can prescribe medication?

Answer 1

Prescribing medication – Traditionally a doctor’s role however some trained nurses can now take on the role. Other professionals who can prescribe medication include: dentists, chiropractors and physiotherapists

Question 2

What role does Surgery have in helping people to recover from illness

Answer 2

Surgery – Can play a vital role in the recovery of an individual from physical disorders and illness. People in the health and social care setting play a vital role in supporting the time in which an individual recovers from surgery. This may include home visits from district nurses to monitor progress and provide treatments including changing dressings. Physiotherapists and occupational therapists support mobility and promote independence in carrying out daily life activities.

Question 3

What is Radiotherapy?

Answer 3

Radiotherapy – A treatment using high-energy radiation. Treatment is planned by trained, skilled radiotherapists. They work alongside a team which can include radiographers and specially trained nurses. On completion of treatment, patients may need support from their GP to ensure full healing. Radiotherapy side effects can include itchiness, peeling or blistering of the skin.

Question 4

Describe organ transplants.

What can be transplanted?

Answer 4

Organ transplant – It involves either moving a body part or organ from one person’s body to an another, also known as allograft, or from one part of a persons to another location in their body, also known as autograft. The reason for organ transplant is to replace the patients damaged or absent organ. There are many organs that can be transplanted, these include, heart, kidney, liver, lungs, pancreas and intestines. Amongst these the most commonly transplanted organs are the kidney, followed by the liver and the heart. A living donor can give one kidney, part of their liver and some other tissues, such as bone marrow. Other transplants come from donors who have recently died, so following surgery the person receiving the transplant may need the support of a counsellor. Many specialists are involved in preparing the patient both physically and mentally before and after the transplant. Some of these specialists include, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapist, counsellors, and social workers. They help to provide post-operative support.

Question 5

What does the phrase “lifestyle changes” mean?

Answer 5

Support for lifestyle changes – to change the pattern of daily routines and habits which are damaging to health can be challenging for an individual. Implementing things such as the support of self-help groups and counselling can be vital to sustaining lifestyle changes.

Question 6

What does the phrase “aids and adaptions” mean?

Answer 6

Equipment is used to allow individuals to be more independent in their lives, their needs are usually assessed by an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, doctors and nurses will usually refer the individual to one of these specialists for assessment. Ongoing support when using this equipment is usually offered by care assistants.
This equipment may be given to people who have arthritis, basic mobility issues or progressive diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Equipment may include walking sticks, walking frames, wheel chairs, adapted shopping trollies, stair lifts and adapted cars. Equipment used to assist an individual in everyday home activities include special cutlery, feeding cups, special gadgets, dining chairs, bathing aids, raised toilet seats and adapted computer screens/chairs. Some people may require specialized equipment like those with kidney failure may require a dialysis machine

Question 7

What is assistive technology?

Answer 7

Many equipment such as assistive technology is available to help those with illnesses within their education. These include adapted computers, signers and other communication devices, wheelchair access, additional time in exams and enlarged text.

Question 8

What do support staff need to think about when providing personal care?

Answer 8

Everyday tasks such as using the toilet can be a great difficulty for those who are ill and can damage the individual’s confidence and self-esteem which is why it is important for health care workers to target these areas with lots of care. Careers must discuss the individual’s personal preferences for example they may prefer showering over bathing. Independence is always encouraged however where needed, the dignity of the individual should always be respected so toilet doors and shower curtains must always be shut. Domiciliary care workers provide this support for those living in their own home, care workers provide this support in residential homes and care assistants provide this support for those in hospitals.

Equipment for assisting people in being as independent as possible include walk in baths, showers for wheelchairs, non-slip bath mats, baths and shower seats, hand rails, bath lifts, adapted taps, bed pans, female and male urinal and adapted bathrooms.

Question 9

What do support staff need to think about when supporting a person to eat and drink?

Answer 9

People must also be aware of those of religions and cultures for example, Muslims and Hindus prefer to wash in running water, Sikhs don’t usually cut their hair and Hindus and Muslims prefer to be treated by somebody of the same sex.
Eating is a fundamental part of life and eating areas must be clean and hygienic, although most people who are ill won’t have issues feeding themselves, those who will may feel self-conscious and depressed within the setting and find it difficult to eat.
Most people may need some equipment for eating and some people have special dietary needs that need to be followed like vegetarians, vegans, Muslims and Jewish people who don’t eat pork and require their meat to be killed in specific ways or people with allergic reactions.

Question 10

Why do care staff need to think holistically about the people they are supporting?

Answer 10

As many health and care staff have brilliant understanding and high-level expertise in special areas, they may try to deal with the wider personal needs that could come out whilst working with their service users.
For instance, a nurse not just present for a service user’s physical needs, but aware of their wider social, emotional, spiritual and educational needs.
In addressing the needs of the entire person, health and care professionals will want to support patients in having a fulfilling and satisfying daily life.
This will involve being aware of the community in which the client lives, their job, their family situations, their financial position and their interests, hobbies.
It involves being aware of the support provided by their informal carers – family friends neighbours.
These can be as important to a person’s rehabilitation as treatments and other clinical involvements.

Question 11

What is a care plan?

Answer 11

Assessment and care and support planning, involving service users and their families:
Regardless of the differences in skills, experience and expert understanding, all health and care professionals are likely to take a similar approach to planning and evaluating care.
Frequently known as the care planning cycle, it involves; assessing the individual healthcare needs of their service user, agreeing a care plan that promotes the service user’s health and wellbeing and evaluating the effectiveness of the care implemented.
The system is cyclical, interventions and adjustments may be announced at any point in the system.
Alterations may be necessary, such as response to variations in the patient’s health or social situations, the help that is available, the exact expertise of the staff or multi-disciplinary team or various extent of support from informal carers.

Question 12

Name some policies that people who work in care need to be aware of.

Answer 12

People working in health and care settings are required to work to a high professional standards. They are required to follow agreed policies and procedures and actively promote the health and well being of those in their care.
The value system underpinning this is committed to;
Promoting anti-discriminatory practice
Empowering Individuals
Ensuring the safety of staff and the people for whom they care
Maintaining confidentiality and privacy
Promoting good communication

Question 13

Name the professional bodies and who they are responsible for.

Answer 13

GMC – The General Medical Council – Doctors
NMC – The Nursing and Midwifery Council – Nurses and Midwives
HCPC – The Health and Care Professional Council – Social Workers and a range of other professionals e.g Occupational Therapists, Paramedics, Speech Therapists, Physiotherapists

Question 14

What is anti discriminatory practice?

Answer 14

Anti-discriminatory practice is a core value and principle that guides the work of health and care professionals, it is a legal requirement, underpins the policies and practices of care settings and the codes of practice of all care professionals.
Despite the legislation that underpins the policies, procedures and codes of practice governing professional practice and the care provided in health and care settings the world is not free from prejudice and discrimination.
Health and care workers are required to;
Address their own prejudice and adapt their behaviour to ensure all clients needs are met
Understand and meet the individual needs of all service users
Celebrate the contribution that a wide and diverse range of people can bring
Actively challenge intentional and non-intentional discrimination
Ensure that the setting in welcoming and accessible to all

In order to ensure that service users individual needs are met provision has to be adapted according to their needs;
Ensure that people who use wheelchairs have full access to and movement within the setting – ramps, widened doors, adapted toilet, kitchen etc
If service users have hearing impairments – written and visual communication, quiet area for important conversations, signer
If service user speaks little/no English – info available in multiple languages
In a multi-cultural setting – Dietary requirements met, religious and cultural festivals respected and observed.

Question 15

What is empowerment?

Answer 15

The importance of fostering and supporting the empowerment of service users in health and care settings can often be overlooked. Empowerment means ensuring that service users take a full part in discussions and decisions about their personal care and treatment and that, where possible and appropriate, they are included in discussion of overall policy and provision at the care setting. Empowering service users will help to ensure that meeting individual needs is at the heart of service provision.

Promoting individualised care;
Empowerment enables service users to understand the choices that they can make about their care, contribute to the decision making and take control of their lives. When service users are feeling unwell or anxious about their future, there is a tendency to allow the experts to take over and for the service user to just do as they are told. This can lead to service users becoming passive and over-dependant on their care workers. In most situations, practitioners are required to gain their clients consent before carrying out a care procedure, a treatment or making arrangements for a clients care. If service users are empowered they will be fully involved in decisions surrounding their care and understand the options available to them.

Promoting right to dignity;
Dignity – being worthy of and treated with respect. When dignity and independence are promoted self-esteem is boosted.

Support consistent with beliefs, cultures and preferences of service users;
Health and care provision in a multi-cultural society must address the specific needs of people from diverse backgrounds – beliefs, languages, traditions, diets

Supporting individuals to express their needs and preferences;
Not all service users will have the confidence, personal skills or ability to participate fully in their care. Some may need specific support to enable them to explain their needs and preferences – Translators, Signers, Advocates, Family and friends

Balancing the rights of all;
It will not always be as straight forward as providing a service user with the care or treatment of their choice, even when the preferences are clear and apparently reasonable. The preference of one service user comes into conflict with that of another, The clients right to choice and protecting their personal safety, The respect for the cultural or religious values of a service user and promoting their health and wellbeing

Question 16

Define Conflict in Health and Social Care?

Answer 16

Conflict in Health and Care Settings

Tension and conflict between service users and between service users and their carers is common. Challenging behaviour can be defined as any behaviour that puts the service user or anybody else in the setting at risk or significantly affects their quality of life.

Conflict can erupt in any health and care setting and professional carers and other staff should be trained in how to deal with conflict.

If working alone there should be a lone worker policy in place with specific guidance for dealing with any situation in which you feel vulnerable e.g. when conflict or aggressive behaviour occurs.

If a situation seems like it may lead to violence, wherever possible;
Know where the doors or other exit points are
Remove anything that could be used as a weapon
Allow the aggressor personal space, do not stand to close
Summon help as soon as possible, using the panic alarm, shouting for help, phoning police/security

Question 17

How do we ensure Health and Safety in HSC?

Answer 17

Ensuring Safety in Health and Care Settings
Risk Assessments;
The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) governs the requirements of employers and employees to ensure that they maintain a safe working environment for all.
Employers must:
Ensure there is a robust health and safety policy and that there is someone with official responsibility for health and safety at the setting
Undertake a risk assessment to identify the risks and hazards and take action to reduce the likeliness of harm or injury (usually undertaken by a senior member of staff or a supervisor)
Provide up-to-date information on health and safety issues
Provide health and safety equipment to carry out all procedures and treatments
Provide health and safety training
Keep a record of all accidents and incidents

Employees must:
Take reasonable care of their own safety and that of others (service users, colleagues, visitors)
Cooperate with their employer to carry out the agreed and required health and safety procedures of the workplace
Not intentionally damage health and safety equipment at the setting e.g. hoists

Question 18

How do we ensure that service users are safeguarded?

Answer 18

Safeguarding and protecting individuals from harm:
If a child or vulnerable adult shares information that raises concerns about their personal safety, or disclose abuse, you should follow the settings safeguarding policies. You should listen carefully, avoid asking questions, let them tell their story in their own way and their own words.
You must explain that the information must be shared with someone more senior – every setting will have designated safeguarding officers who will take over responsibility. You will need to provide a written record of what you have been told.
Use of DBS checks

Question 19

How do we protect individual from infection?

Answer 19

Protecting service users, staff and volunteers from infection;
All staff and volunteers must ensure they maintain a clean and hygienic work environment and minimise likelihood of passing on infection. You must ensure you are familiar with the policies and procedures in place to minimise spread of infection. These are likely to include;
Washing hands before you start and leave work, before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing/sneezing, before and after carrying out personal care. Alcohol hand rubs are a further effective and swift way to ensure hygiene
Safe handling and disposal of sharp objects such as needles and syringes to avoid needle-stick injuries and to ensure infection is not passed on
Keeping all soiled linen in the designated bags, not leaving these on the floor. Soiled linen should be washed in a designated laundry room and protective equipment should be worn. Separate trolleys should be used for soiled and clean laundry.
Wearing protective disposable gloves and apron when you have contact with bodily fluids, open wounds, rashes, pressure ulcers etc.
Cleaning all equipment to the agreed procedure of the setting

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations (2002) provide guidance approved by the Health and Safety Executive for the safe disposal of hazardous waste. The policies and procedures used in a care setting will be based on this.

Question 20

Does HSC have to report accidents and illnesses?

Answer 20

Reporting and recording accidents and incidents:
There are particular illnesses, diseases and serious accidents that health and care providers must officially report, for example – food poisoning, rubella, tuberculosis and notifiable incidents occurring at work such as broken bones, serious burns and death. These are called ‘notifiable deaths, injuries or diseases’ and are covered by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) (2013).
Less serious accidents must also be recorded e.g. slipping on a wet floor . A record must be made regardless of whether there was an injury or not. Providers of health and care services use accident forms to report the details of these incidents which are then recorded in an accident book. These reports are required by law and are checked when settings are inspected.

Question 21

What is required in the provision of first aid regulations?

Answer 21

Provision of first-aid facilities:
This is governed by the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations (1981). Provision for first aid should be adequate and appropriate (though this can differ between settings).
All first-aid incidents must be recorded. The records must be truthful and accurate as they can be used as evidence in courts of law. The report should include;
The name of the casualty
The nature of the incident/injury
The date, time and location of the incident
The treatment given

Question 22

What is the aim of having a complaints procedure?

Answer 22

Complaints Procedure:
All care organisations must have a complaints procedure, and these are checked when a setting is inspected. Complaints should not be treated as a negative activity but rather as a way to gain information to improve services. If a service user, member of staff or volunteer complains, they have a right to;
Have their complaint dealt with swiftly and efficiently
Have a proper and careful investigation of their concerns
Know the outcomes of the investigations
Have a judicial review of the facts if they think the action or decision is unlawful
Receive compensation if they have been harmed in any way as a result of the situation about which they are complaining.

Question 23

Why do we need the Data protection act?

how is it demonstrated in care?

Answer 23

The Data Protection Act (1998) sets out the rules surrounding the governing and processing of data, both electronically and on paper. This Act and the requirement for confidentiality are imbedded in the codes of practice of the GMC, NMC, HCPC
The DP Act covers policies, procedures and systems for;
Storing information – locked filing cabinet in a locked room of if electronic protected by a secure password
Accessing Information – those in the organisation allowed access to the information should be clearly identified and staff should never have access to information they don’t need to know
Sharing Information – should only be shared with other professionals who have a need/right to know it
All employees/volunteers in an organisation have a responsibility to ensure the confidentiality of service users’ information is protected. They also have a duty to actively promote respect for confidentiality including identifying weaknesses in procedures

Question 24

What is the care certificate?

Answer 24

In April 2015 a Care Certificate was introduced for newly appointed health and care workers who do not belong to the GMC, NMC or HCPC. New employees will be expected to meet its standards before they can work with patients.
The code of conduct incorporated into the new certificate requires that healthcare support workers and adult social care workers in England;
Are accountable, by making sure they can answer for their actions/omissions
Promote and uphold individuals privacy, dignity, rights, health and wellbeing
Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure they deliver high quality, safe and compassionate care
Communicate openly and effectively to promote health, safety and wellbeing
Respect confidentiality
Strive to improve quality through CPD
Uphold and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Question 25

Why are professionals accountable to professional bodies?

Answer 25

Accountability to professional organisations
Professionals working in health and care settings are regulated and monitored by a range of professional bodies – GMC, NMC, HCPC. The specific regulations vary according to the profession but each professional organisation monitors;
Level and content of the initial education and training of members of the profession
Ongoing professional development and the requirement to keep up to date and complete further training.
Standards of professional practice in their everyday work
Standards of personal conduct, both at work and in leisure time

Professional organisations publish codes of practice for members which must be followed. If there is accusation of failing to meet the standards it will be investigated and in extreme circumstances a member can be barred from practice. The professional organisations regulations outline the procedures to address these concerns including what whistleblowing (where an employee reports poor or dangerous practice about their colleague or the setting in which they work).
Each professional body has revalidation procedures and require its members to carry out CPD which can include – training on new procedures, new treatments, new equipment or evidence of learning from practice.

Question 26

What is an MDT?

Answer 26

Multi-disciplinary working in health and social care sector
Different care professionals often work together as a team to promote the health and wellbeing of their service users. When professionals co-operate in this way by working together as a team, it is called a multi-disciplinary team.

If a service user is known to and supported by a number of different agencies/professionals, it is essential they work as a team. There have been a number of high profile child abuse cases (Victoria Climbe, Baby P) where part of the reason for death was a lack of ‘joined-up working’

Question 27

Why should we include service users in planning care?

Answer 27

Involving service users, carers and advocates;
At formal team meetings it will be expected that, where possible, the service users (and any aid they need for empowerment) will be invited along with all professional staff who contribute to the support, planning and evaluation of the care provided.
The service users presence is key to ensuring their empowerment and provides opportunity for the service users to express their views and preferences and contribute to the planning and delivery of their support.

Question 28

How should an MDT be working to support the service user or client?

Answer 28

The work of a multi-disciplinary team ensures that a holistic approach is taken to planning and implementing a care programme. It means health and care professionals not only provide their specialist support but see it in the context of the wider needs of the service user.
At a care planning meeting the physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs of the service user will be considered. The care plan must meet the needs of the whole person

Question 29

How do we monitor people who work in HSC?

Answer 29

Monitoring the work of people in health and care settings

Line Management;
Health and care settings are normally hierarchal organisations and their work is monitored by senior members of staff. If staff performance falls short of the practice expected, it will be the line managers responsibility to address the issues with the staff concerned and take the appropriate action. In the first instance this may be an informal conversation or warning. If the concerns are serious or there is no improvement in performance more formal action may be taken which could lead to suspension or dismissal.

External Inspection agencies;
All health, care and early year settings in the UK are regularly inspected by independent, government-financed agencies. You only need to know about the English ones in your exam.
CQC – Care Quality Commission is responsible for monitoring and inspecting health services and adult social care services in England
Ofsted – inspect early years and education settings in England

Whistleblowing;
When a member of staff is aware that the quality of care at their workplace is dangerously poor and reports this to bring about change. They may inform the press or other powerful organisations outside of the setting they work e.g. police or a professional body.

Service User Feedback;
Regular meetings to report concerns, at larger settings a committee may be set up that consists of professionals, services users, carers, parents, a suggestion box

Criminal Investigation;
In extreme circumstances the police may investigate which can lead to health and care workers being barred from practice.