All staff are to follow the procedures set out in this policy as information getting into the wrong hands can put service users at risk and result in disciplinary action. The codes of practice inform and give support/guidance to each company of the safe ways to handle and store the confidential information and
Assignment 204 Task a – Short Answer Questions ai Explain what a social care worker must do if they become aware of unsafe practice. If a social care worker is told by a service user that they are being abused, then they must believe what is being said and must listen to the individual, give reassurance and explain that you must take the matter further to protect them. If a social care worker witnesses abuse taking place, they must not ignore what they have seen and contact their manager or a senior colleague as soon as possible. Some service users may tell you they are being abused, but then ask you not to tell anybody else and this is something we cannot do. There are four main priorities in responding to concerns or allegations of abuse: 1.
Asking your employees what they think after you have observed the area, can be a great way of insuring you haven’t missed any potential hazards.If you don’t identify hazards in the setting/environment you will be putting yourself and everyone else within the building at risk and also your business. Everyone should feel safe when entering a building which is why it’s important that you do a good risk assessment on identifying the hazards. STEP 2- Decide who might be harmed and how...Who might be harmed? You need to think about people within the setting and people who entre in and out of the setting for examples; you, employees, friends, family, children and members of the public. Once you have observed the area Look at how the hazards might harm you and others.It’s important to look at who might be harmed so you can predict the level of the risk, and how the most efficient way of removing the hazard.
If your client were to confide in you that he or she were getting emotionally abused by a family member but wanted you to keep it a secret and you agreed to do so, imagine if that client went on to suffer major trauma as a result from you not voicing your concerns, resulting in further abuse by that family member. It is extremely important that you do not give your client false hope. They must understand that you are there to support and listen to them if need be, however if they stress alarming concerns, such as abuse, they then must be made aware that you have no other choice but to report it back to your line manager where such information will be dealt in a confidential and professional manner. In the long run, it all comes down to protecting yourself and those you work for and with. This can include either your clients or colleagues.
The company and you will have a duty of care to ensure that the service users you care for are safe and protected from abuse by other service users, staff, carers, friends and family. You will need to work within the safeguarding policies and procedures and it is important that you ensure you receive adequate training in order you can recognise and understand signs of abuse. You will be expected to record all relevant information when an accident or incident occurs in the workplace and it would also be your responsibility to report any improper conduct or suspicion that you believe could lead to abuse. The
Explain the correct actions to take if you suspect an individual is being abused: Do stay calm and remain non-judgmental. Put your own feelings aside and try not to communicate shock, disgust, embarrassment, or disbelief. Do be supportive. Stay close to the alleged victim immediately after the disclosure to provide some sense of physical security. Do assure the individual that he/she did the right thing by telling you about the allegations.
If you suspect unsafe practice you should follow company policy and once you have ensured the individuals safety you can then report to your line manager. You should preserve any evidence and if recording then record as is told to you, there may be the need to use a body map which should be labelled correctly. If you have the need to report such an issue and there is no response you would need to take it to the next level. Your company should have a clear safeguarding procedure. If you still feel there is an issue being ignored then you can seek advice from an outside source.
Principles for implementing duty of Care Outcome 1 Understand how duty of care contributes to safe practice Duty of care as a domiciliary care worker is to put each individuals needs first ensuring that their needs are met, ensuring no harm can come to them as a direct result of my actions acting within the level of my ability under the polices the government has in place. My employer also has a duty of care to me ensuring a safe working environment and that all equipment is maintained correctly. Duty of care safe guards individuals when they are at their lowest in their lives and can not do it for themselves where they are at a risk of injury to themselves abuse by others where it be by family friends anyone they come into contact with. We need to
It is my duty of care to safeguard individuals from harm. All employees should report any concerns of abuse they have. These might include evidence or suspicions of bad practice by colleagues and managers, or abuse by another individual, another worker or an individual’s family or friends. If you do not work in this way, you could be considered negligent or incompetent. If you are in any doubt at any time, you must discuss any issues you have with your supervisor / manager.
This is why the NHS policy is very clear that staff have a duty to inform their manager or some other designated person; Matron or Ward Manager. If we suspect or have been told about a report of abuse regardless if it is trivial, then we must report it. If we delay or fail to report abuse, then it puts the service user or patient at greater risk of much greater harm. First priority would be to ensure the safety and protection of my patient. It is the responsibility of that individual to act on any suspicion, evidence of abuse or neglect by raising an alarm and incident report.