Principles of Practice in ABC Care Home - Term Paper Example

PRINCIPLES OF PRACTICE REPORT Name: Instructor: Date: 1.1 How principles of support are applied in abc care home to ensure service users are cared for. The principles of support for people living in a care home demand that these clients be treated with dignity by being respected by care home carers. As such, as much as the physical condition and mental condition allow, service users are entitled to living full lives and have full rights as citizens. Failure to achieve this achievement makes the home like a prison sentence and service users spend the remaining part of their lives in fear, pain and isolation. ABC Care Home is an exceptional home where the fundamental principle of support is applied. In this home, residents are treated with exclusive dignity and respect; their independence is upheld, and their self-esteem is maintained. Service users enjoy autonomy in decision making and are allowed to make independent choices. In addition, all service users are given equal opportunities regardless of their diversity (Department of Health, Social services and Public Safety, 2006). Notably, service users’ uniqueness and personal needs are recognized by carers, and effort is made to ensure that residents have access to knowledge and information which helps them in making informed decisions. They are supplied with information about keeping themselves safe and protecting themselves from abuse. Practical help in the protection is also accorded to them. Every effort is put to make sure that service users live void of any fear of violence or abuse of any form. To develop their self-esteem and sense of independence, residents are allowed to have their money, goods and possessions. They also have equivalent protection for themselves and their property through the law (Department of health, 2013). Guidance and assistance are offered to service users in seeking help in case of abuse. Support is given to service users in making their decisions about the steps to in case of abuse. They are also made to know that their decisions will only be over-ruled if it is deemed indispensable for their own safety and that of others. Support is given to residents in reporting situations of any abuse to CQC and to make a complaint under current procedure. Purported, assumed and confirmed cases of abuse are scrutinized urgently, and service users are allowed to seek legal advice and representation on their behalf and residents are allowed to seek redress through CQC. In addition, the right to have their family, advocates and informal carers act on their behalf as appropriate is highly respected (Department of Health, Social services and Public Safety, 2006). 1.2 The procedures that are adopted in ABC care home for protecting clients and colleagues from harm. Harm to clients comes in many ways that include physical, sexual, financial and discriminatory abuse and neglect. As such home care providers must ensure that all clients are protected from harm of any form. ABC care home is no exception and has, therefore, adopted specific procedures to ensure that residents are protected. Firstly, the management has worked to providing an enabling environment for residents’ independence, choice and control. This procedure is directed at ensuring that the residents are protected from psychological abuse. Secondly, ABC care home has ensured that clients feel able to make complaints with no fear of retribution. This procedure instills a sense of security and trust in the resident and creates a conducive environment for residents to air complaints to relevant authorities. In addition, all professionals in ABC care home tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding vulnerable adults in the home are supplied with adequate necessary skills and knowledge to perform this task. Carers are assigned to residents who have the appropriate skills to handle their particular needs. By so doing, the cases of abuse arising from the mismatch of skills are minimized. Also, safeguarding of residents has been integrated into the advancement and delivery of services in ABC care home in the UK. The management has ensured that carers and residents in the care home prioritize the safety and protection from abuse of vulnerable adults in all activities undertaken in the home. Moreover, the promotion of the wellbeing, security and safety of clients in a way consistent with their rights, personal abilities and capacity is yet another method adopted by ABC care home to see to it that vulnerable adults in the home obtain protection from abuse. Abuse is prevented from occurring wherever there is a possibility of it happening. The care home has taken a preventive approach as opposed to curative strategy when the abuse has already occurred. This procedure has developed a sense of security in the residents. These procedures have been implemented through six strategies namely accountability, partnership, proportionality, prevention, protection and empowerment. The key strategy adopted by ABC care home is the partnership that brings all parties involved in the provision of the social services on board in detecting and reporting neglect and abuse. Empowerment is a strategy aimed at the long-term protection of residents in the home (Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board, 2013). 1.3 The benefit of following a person-centred approach with the service users of ABC care home A person-centered approach focuses on the service user and is individual to and owned by him. It is centered on authenticity and realness, non-judgmental respect and acceptance, and empathy. As such, from employing this approach, ABC care home will obtain the following benefits. Firstly, the approach will help ABC care home to develop user-focused service. The fact that this approach is concentrated on the service user will ensure that the services offered are in the best interest and preference of the user. Secondly, PCA will help ABC care home with much-needed information in the development of new services and activities. The inclusion of the user of the service in the process provides an avenue for them to provide ABC care home with helpful information concerning desired new services and operations (The National Care Forum Older People and Dementia Care Committee, 2007). In addition, PCA will come in handy in the creation of action plans used to monitor and provide good practice for ABC care home. Also, it will aid in the identification of areas for improvement. Moreover, this approach will encourage creativity for ABC care home and residents in the facility while still enabling the residents to plan and set direction for their life. Person-centered approach, through involving clients in the decision-making process, will help the individual residents to be responsible for their life (World health organisation, 2007) 1.4 Ethical dilemmas and conflict that may have arisen when providing care, support and protection to the elderly clients in ABC care home The ethical dilemma cited in Mrs. Z’s case scenario involves making a choice between the best interest of Mrs. Z and her obligation to do no harm. On one hand, social service cares professional ethics provides for the respect of the privacy of Mrs. Z. On the other hand, carers in ABC home have an obligation to ensure that other residents are protected from any harm arising from Mrs. Z’s behavior (Kadushin and Egan, 2001) The case scenario also involves a dilemma in deciding between the effectiveness of service to ABC care home clients and Mrs. Z’s privacy (Fant, 2013). The management has to trade-off between providing efficient service to other clients in the care home and respecting the privacy of Mrs. Z. 2.1 The implementation of policies, legislation, regulations and codes of practice that are relevant to own work in ABC Care Home. ABC care home mainly deals with the elderly people and, therefore, only policies, regulations, legislation and codes of practice pertinent to the elderly people are implemented in this care home. ABC Care Home has rendered itself to implementing the tenets of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Mostly ABC care home has taken steps to implement the policy on valuing of people. This policy in part states that individuals with learning disabilities deserve the right to the same aspirations and life chances as other people (Rethink Mental Illness, 2012). Based on this policy and in reference to the dilemma scenario presented, ABC care home has ensured that Mrs. Z’s rights are respected and provided for. Although she feels that she has not been involved in decision-making, she has the freedom of movement and association. ABC care home has maintained a good relationship between service providers (carers) and the residents as well as with other stakeholders. Mrs. Z’s family and relatives have an avenue to complain to the manager concerning their feeling that Mrs. Z privacy has been intruded. This is in line with the policies on social and health care as maintained in the Health and Social Care Act 2012. ABC care home manager is accountable to all parties involved including the family and relatives of Mrs. Z and the bodies governing social care in the UK, for instance, the National Health Services (NHS). By so doing, ABC care home implements the policy of professional accountability. ABC care home has also implemented the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers as stipulated by the General Social Care Council. Notably, the independence of the residents is promoted while being protected as far as possible from danger from danger or harm. Mrs. Z’s rights are respected while seeking to ensure that her fire loving behavior does not harm her or other people in the care home. An addition ABC management is accountable for the quality of service the care home offers to the residents (Victorian Government, 2010). 2.2 How policies and procedures can be developed in ABC care home in accordance with national policy requirements. ABC care home has fallen short in many ways from meeting the threshold set by federal policy requirements. Therefore, there is a necessity to develop policies and procedures to meet the threshold. ABC care home should work towards creating and maintaining public trust and confidence in the social care services it offers. The public confidence is already limping as illustrated in the dilemma scenario presented earlier. Mrs. Z’s family and relatives feel that the services offered to her by ABC home care infringe on her privacy rights. In addition, ABC care home management should have written policies and procedures in place in order to enable its employees to meet the code of practice set out. Training should be undertaken for the carers to develop their skills in handling residents and ensure that their skills match the standards stipulated by professional bodies in the UK such as NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council). 2.3 The impact of policy, legislation, regulation, and codes of practice on policies and practices of ABC care home. Policy, legislation, regulation, and codes of practice have had a substantial impact on the policies and practices of ABC care home. The nature of the reform, in that it seeks to protect the residents, as well as the carers, has caused ABC care home management to modify the services they offer to meet the national standards. The standards of ABC care home’s practices must be current, relevant, and the management must make sure that they are clearly understood and practiced by both residents and carers. Residents in the care home must be kept safely, and carers must uphold ethical care for them. 3.1 The theories that underpin your work as care worker in ABC Care Home. All practice in health and social care service is directed by theory. Legislation and policy reform is dictated by the general theories and models used in the system. There are three theories that govern health and social care in the UK. Humanistic theory lays emphasis on the needs of the individual while designing care services, and protection of a client’s rights, dignity and autonomy. This theory is the source of the person-centered model of care. Mrs. Z’s individual right and exclusive communication are of utmost importance while making decisions concerning care services accorded to her by ABC care home. Social learning theory underscores the input of observation and modeling to learning through adhering to a care plan. Through understanding this theory the management of ABC care home can empower Mrs. Z and other clients and can also provide quality services to residents from diverse backgrounds. Anti-oppressive theory and anti-discriminatory practice cement on the importance of individual rights and social justice. Also, they define the nature of social work practice for clients from diverse backgrounds. Mrs. Z’s individual rights define the quality of the service offered to her in ABC care home. 3.2 How social processes impact on your service users in ABC Care Home User involvement is at the center of focus in informing policy reforms in social care in the UK (King’s Fund, 2011). A more patient-centered health care takes into account both residents and carers. Partnerships between residents and social care professionals in ABC care home can improve the inter-personal working environment. This would eradicate such complaints as made by Mrs. Z’s family and relatives. The engagement of users of social services and taking into account social process has caused a paradigm shift in service care from reactive-oriented to a proactive model (Hearnden, 2008). It has also eradicated the problem of social exclusion. Mrs. Z’s mild learning disability should not be the basis for seclusion in decision making. 3.3 The effectiveness of inter-professional working for your service users in ABC Care Home Inter-professional working is a policy that brings together professionals in social care service together to deliver better service to social service users. This policy has been incorporated into the NHS legislation governing social and health care services in the UK (Trodd & Chivers, 2011). The success of this model has been made possible by the accompaniment of collaborative educational model for social and health care services professionals (Trodd & Chivers, 2011). Inter-professional working has risen above professional boundaries through incorporation of collaboration between ABC care home colleagues. Responsibilities are shared, and conflicts arising from such boundaries are bypassed. Mrs. Z’s psychiatrist and ABC care home carers collaborate through sharing of information to ensure that a secure environment is provided for Mrs. Z and other residents. 4.1 Own role, responsibilities, accountabilities and duties in the context of your work as a Manager within and outside ABC Care Home to resolve the failings mentioned by CQC. The following are the roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and duties of ABC Manager to resolve the conflicts mentioned by CQC. First, I would work to protect the rights and uphold the interests of ABC care home service users. Mainly, I would treat each resident as an individual and respect the views of both residents and carers. Secondly I would seek to create and maintain trust and confidence in service users and other stakeholders. In particular, I would cultivate honesty and trustworthiness as well as accurate, open and straightforward communication. I would also respect private information and make clear agency policies about confidentiality to service users and carers in the home. Promoting independence for service users would be of central focus. I would cement on the already established procedures and processes by regulatory authorities to report and challenge discriminatory, dangerous and abusive behavior and practice. In addition, I would use these processes to keep the carers as well as service users safe from abusive and violent behavior. Also, I would help residents and other service users and carers to air complaints, take their complaints seriously and pass them to the appropriate authority. Still I would respect the rights of service users while ensuring that their conduct does not bring harm on themselves and others. I would make all necessary steps to protect service users from risk as opposed to dealing with actual risks when they happen. In addition, I would ensure that continuous risk assessment is undertaken by relevant authorities and necessary steps taken. Finally, I would ensure that I take the leading role to eradicate abuse neglect and service user exploitation and initiate inter-professional relationships. 4.2 Contribution to the development and implementation of organizational policy in ABC Care Home to rectify the shortcomings pointed out by CQC In the development of organizational policy and its implementation in ABC care home to resolve the faults highlighted by CQC, my contribution would be indispensable. Particularly, I would use the laid out systems and procedures correctly and report any gaps in those systems, procedures and equipment to the relevant authority such as CQC. Also, I would be aware of environmental hazards, those hazards related to equipment and materials and those connected with people before undertaking any task to ensure that safety for service users and other people is assured. Studying the changes in the environment that may cause distress to vulnerable people and conducting extra vigilance would be an essential responsibility. As well, risk assessment to ensure safety of self and service users would be of utmost importance. I would also continuously enhance my practice through formal and informal learning such as health and safety training, regulatory policies mastery and practice among others. Furthermore, I would embrace confidentiality of resident information. As ABC care home manager I would ensure that the facility is accessible, there are safe toilet facilities; transport is safe and accessible, and that people, property and travel documents are secure. Also, I would ensure that carers obtain instruction on the use of unfamiliar equipment, provide special diets and conduct fire safety checks occasionally. 4.3 Recommendations to develop own contributions to meeting good practice requirements in ABC care home in the future Professional development and education are vital ingredients in matching good practice requirements. As such, carers in ABC care home must continually receive training to sharpen their skills and be spot-on changing service needs. Also, the management of ABC care home should incorporate evidence into practice through conducting and reviewing research on service quality and market trends. REFERENCES Bandura, A. (1971) . Social learning theory General Learning. Press: New York. 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World health organisation (2007) People Centered care: A Policy framework. [Online] Available at: http://www.wpro.who.int/health_services/people_at_the_ centre_of_care/definition/en/. (Accessed on: 15/10/14) Read More