Unit 7: Principles of safe practice in health and social care.
Keeping people safe: task 1
This essay will examine how a duty of care contributes to safe practice in
health and social care settings and show an understanding of how to recognise
and respond to concerns using case study 3 and 4.
P1- Duty of care is defined simply as a legal obligation to always act in the best
interest of individuals and others. SCIE (2012) It is important because it leads
to a safe practice in health and social care environments, as it guarantees that
people are able to provide good quality care to the best of their abilities. This
means that vulnerable patients are safe from any risks or harm when accessing
the healthcare services.
In the Firs residence case study, the facility did not meet their duty of care
because the garden gate was broken which led to residents like Elise who has
dementia, to wander out and get lost putting them at risk. The residence had a
duty of care to protect and safeguard everyone who lives there and have failed
to do so. Another reason is that the day manager is very irresponsible as they
didn’t bother to help Elise look for her money that was missing and
dismissively recorded it as being found. Despite Elise feeling distressed and
taken advantage of, the staff were unable to provide high quality care to the
best of their ability in order to satisfy Elise.
In the ‘going forward’ case study, the training centre has not met their duty of
care because they had a responsibility to look after young adults who have
learning disabilities and have failed to fulfil their duty of care. They would need
to make sure that the staff who are delivering the medication are authorised to
ensure the correct medication and dosage is being given. The team would
need to keep a record of the time that people take their medication. By doing
this in a timely manner, it would prevent individuals such as Sally from having a
seizure.
P2 – Complaints and appeal processes resolve inability to fulfil a duty of care
by improving the concerns that a service user may have in a health and social
care sector. For example, any organisation that is inspected and regulated by
the Quality Care Commission must have a complaint process in place to make a
, complaint regarding their care and service. CQC complaints matter report
(2014)
The complaint procedure of case study 4 is inefficient because service users
with learning difficulties might not be offered support to make a complaint.
This organisation would need to improve their complaints procedures so that it
is accessible to everyone regardless of their disabilities and should be offered
support when needed. They could make their complaints procedure less
complicated, for instance provide a form in person as well as online so that it
is convenient and to enhance the quality of care for service users. In case study
4, Sally’s mother could contact a local government ombudsman about the way
her complaint was handled so that they could look into complaints that are
being made about the organisation.
P3 – Abuse and neglect is treating others with cruelty or aggression,
particularly frequently or repeatedly, which results in a breach of duty due to
carelessness. Oxford languages (2021)
The types of abuse and neglect that may be experienced by different
individuals is physical abuse, vulnerable people are mostly victims of abuse as
they rely on others. Signs could include no explanation for injuries, bruising,
cuts and burns, and unexplained falls.
Psychological abuse is also known as emotional abuse. It is a form of abuse
characterised by a professional, family member or friend. It can cause distress,
fear, and isolation, as well as long term psychological trauma including chronic
depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity when individuals use force, making
threats or taking advantage of victims. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse
include shock, fear or disbelief. Signs may include torn, stained or bloody
underclothing, unusual difficulty and bruising to the thighs and upper arms.
Financial abuse is unauthorised use of a person's property, money, pension
book or other valuables. Possible indicators of financial abuse could be
unexplained lack of money, inability to maintain lifestyle and missing personal
possessions
Keeping people safe: task 1
This essay will examine how a duty of care contributes to safe practice in
health and social care settings and show an understanding of how to recognise
and respond to concerns using case study 3 and 4.
P1- Duty of care is defined simply as a legal obligation to always act in the best
interest of individuals and others. SCIE (2012) It is important because it leads
to a safe practice in health and social care environments, as it guarantees that
people are able to provide good quality care to the best of their abilities. This
means that vulnerable patients are safe from any risks or harm when accessing
the healthcare services.
In the Firs residence case study, the facility did not meet their duty of care
because the garden gate was broken which led to residents like Elise who has
dementia, to wander out and get lost putting them at risk. The residence had a
duty of care to protect and safeguard everyone who lives there and have failed
to do so. Another reason is that the day manager is very irresponsible as they
didn’t bother to help Elise look for her money that was missing and
dismissively recorded it as being found. Despite Elise feeling distressed and
taken advantage of, the staff were unable to provide high quality care to the
best of their ability in order to satisfy Elise.
In the ‘going forward’ case study, the training centre has not met their duty of
care because they had a responsibility to look after young adults who have
learning disabilities and have failed to fulfil their duty of care. They would need
to make sure that the staff who are delivering the medication are authorised to
ensure the correct medication and dosage is being given. The team would
need to keep a record of the time that people take their medication. By doing
this in a timely manner, it would prevent individuals such as Sally from having a
seizure.
P2 – Complaints and appeal processes resolve inability to fulfil a duty of care
by improving the concerns that a service user may have in a health and social
care sector. For example, any organisation that is inspected and regulated by
the Quality Care Commission must have a complaint process in place to make a
, complaint regarding their care and service. CQC complaints matter report
(2014)
The complaint procedure of case study 4 is inefficient because service users
with learning difficulties might not be offered support to make a complaint.
This organisation would need to improve their complaints procedures so that it
is accessible to everyone regardless of their disabilities and should be offered
support when needed. They could make their complaints procedure less
complicated, for instance provide a form in person as well as online so that it
is convenient and to enhance the quality of care for service users. In case study
4, Sally’s mother could contact a local government ombudsman about the way
her complaint was handled so that they could look into complaints that are
being made about the organisation.
P3 – Abuse and neglect is treating others with cruelty or aggression,
particularly frequently or repeatedly, which results in a breach of duty due to
carelessness. Oxford languages (2021)
The types of abuse and neglect that may be experienced by different
individuals is physical abuse, vulnerable people are mostly victims of abuse as
they rely on others. Signs could include no explanation for injuries, bruising,
cuts and burns, and unexplained falls.
Psychological abuse is also known as emotional abuse. It is a form of abuse
characterised by a professional, family member or friend. It can cause distress,
fear, and isolation, as well as long term psychological trauma including chronic
depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Sexual abuse is unwanted sexual activity when individuals use force, making
threats or taking advantage of victims. Immediate reactions to sexual abuse
include shock, fear or disbelief. Signs may include torn, stained or bloody
underclothing, unusual difficulty and bruising to the thighs and upper arms.
Financial abuse is unauthorised use of a person's property, money, pension
book or other valuables. Possible indicators of financial abuse could be
unexplained lack of money, inability to maintain lifestyle and missing personal
possessions
