Principles for Implementing Duty of Care in Health and Social Care

665 Words3 Pages
How Duty of Care Contributes to Safe Practice Every individual should be supported and enabled to live in an environment which is free from prejudice and safe from abuse. My responsibilities under the duty of care are to do everything reasonable within the definition of my job role to make this happen. Duty of Care means providing care and support for individuals within the law and also within the policies, procedures and agreed ways of working with my employer. It is about avoiding abuse and injury to individuals, their friends and family and their property. In my role I have a duty of care to raise any concerns that I may have about any aspect of work. These can range from inadequate working conditions, poor equipment, poor practice by other staff to raising concerns about potential abuse cases and situations of neglect. 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. Addressing Conflicts or Dilemmas That May Arise Between an Individual’s Rights and Duty of Care In situations where there is a conflict of interest or a dilemma between an individual’s rights and my duty of care, it is best practice to make sure the individual is aware of the consequences of their choice and that they have the mental capacity to understand the risks involved in their choice. It is their right as an individual to be able to make informed choices about their own lives even if you disagree with their choice. It is the right of every individual in my care to make choices and take risks. It is my role to assist them in making those choices and reducing the risks without compromising their rights. An individual may be restricted if
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