7/A.P1 Explain the implications of a duty of care in a selected health or social care
setting.
duty of care is widely known as “a legal duty to provide a reasonable standard of
care to your patients and to act in ways that protect their safety.” (chartered society
of physiotherapy december 2020) A duty of care exists when it could reasonably be
expected that a person's actions, or failure to act, might cause injury to another
person. Examples of this can include upholding rights which essentially means all
individuals have the right to be treated fair and equal. Promoting interest which
means to take action that can benefit the rights of a particular person. As a health or
social care worker you owe a duty of care to service users, colleagues, your
employer and yourself. In essence the duty of care applies to all staff of all
occupations and levels
Duty of care applies to many different people but in short it applies to all staff of all
occupations and levels. Duty of care is important in the workplace because it makes
sure that there is a safe environment for all those that have to use the care services
and it also ensures that there is a high quality of care for all those who use the
services. In my first scenario the health professionals of merryvale residence have a
duty to the residents of the facility, this includes the 10 older men and women.
In the cherry trees children's centre the health professionals or volunteers in this
case have a duty towards the children that attend the centre to take care of them and
give the children any medication they require.
In the merryvale residence the staff have failed to meet their duty of care this is done
in many ways for example two of the members there who happen to be in a same
sex relationship have been discriminated against by staff members. Similar to this
the residence is working with less than the legal requirement of staff. In the cherry
trees children's centre none of the volunteers have had training and are not aware of
any safety procedures that are intended if there is an evacuation. Along with this
there was damage to equipment that has not been fixed.
The consequences of breaching duty of care obligations are typically financial and
reputational which can place an organisation or an individual under severe pressure.
Financial settlements can be made under a personal agreement, but are more likely to be
decided in courts of law. However other consequences of this can be that users of facilities
are being abused and getting away with it which can cause users to develop ill mental
health. In terms of the merryvale residence if a duty of care is not up holded it can result in
the same sex relationship women may feel like they need to hide their relationship which can
cause ill mental health also due to the fact there is a low number of workers in the residence
it can lead to a poor amount of work being done or a lack of effort which can have a negative
effect on the workers. In terms of the cherry trees children centre if the workers do not
uphold the duty of care it can result in the children that attend becoming ill or getting hurt.
setting.
duty of care is widely known as “a legal duty to provide a reasonable standard of
care to your patients and to act in ways that protect their safety.” (chartered society
of physiotherapy december 2020) A duty of care exists when it could reasonably be
expected that a person's actions, or failure to act, might cause injury to another
person. Examples of this can include upholding rights which essentially means all
individuals have the right to be treated fair and equal. Promoting interest which
means to take action that can benefit the rights of a particular person. As a health or
social care worker you owe a duty of care to service users, colleagues, your
employer and yourself. In essence the duty of care applies to all staff of all
occupations and levels
Duty of care applies to many different people but in short it applies to all staff of all
occupations and levels. Duty of care is important in the workplace because it makes
sure that there is a safe environment for all those that have to use the care services
and it also ensures that there is a high quality of care for all those who use the
services. In my first scenario the health professionals of merryvale residence have a
duty to the residents of the facility, this includes the 10 older men and women.
In the cherry trees children's centre the health professionals or volunteers in this
case have a duty towards the children that attend the centre to take care of them and
give the children any medication they require.
In the merryvale residence the staff have failed to meet their duty of care this is done
in many ways for example two of the members there who happen to be in a same
sex relationship have been discriminated against by staff members. Similar to this
the residence is working with less than the legal requirement of staff. In the cherry
trees children's centre none of the volunteers have had training and are not aware of
any safety procedures that are intended if there is an evacuation. Along with this
there was damage to equipment that has not been fixed.
The consequences of breaching duty of care obligations are typically financial and
reputational which can place an organisation or an individual under severe pressure.
Financial settlements can be made under a personal agreement, but are more likely to be
decided in courts of law. However other consequences of this can be that users of facilities
are being abused and getting away with it which can cause users to develop ill mental
health. In terms of the merryvale residence if a duty of care is not up holded it can result in
the same sex relationship women may feel like they need to hide their relationship which can
cause ill mental health also due to the fact there is a low number of workers in the residence
it can lead to a poor amount of work being done or a lack of effort which can have a negative
effect on the workers. In terms of the cherry trees children centre if the workers do not
uphold the duty of care it can result in the children that attend becoming ill or getting hurt.
