Every health and social care practitioner has a responsibility towards the service users called a Duty of Care, this ensures that the service user is supported on how they live their lives and ensures they’re in the maximum amount of control. The practitioners Duty of Care comes under inclusive practice which is based around making sure the “Individuals are included and involved in all aspects of life and that they are not excluded or discriminated against because of their differences.” (Lynda Wyatt, pg. 16). A practitioners Duty of Care towards a service user puts in place policies and procedures to reduce the risk of harm to the service user and anyone else, and also to ensure that the service user’s best interest and needs are put first before their own needs.
Another way that practitioners have a responsibility to help meet service user’s needs no matter what it is or how different from the practitioner they are comes under the “Human Rights Act 1998” (Lynda Wyatt, pg. 16), this act states that it is against the law to go against the wishes and needs of service users based on their physical or mental state, this act also sets standards worldwide to ensure that a person’s needs no matter how simple or complex, are being fully recognised and met to the highest standard. However, it is not just the Human Rights Act that covers the responsibility practitioners have, it is also the “Care Act 2014” http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/introduction (Date Accessed 30/01/19).
This piece of legislation states that the needs of a service user must be supported and that all physical, mental and emotional needs should be taken into account and be included in part of the supporting process. Based on all legislation they are required to understand fully and on the Duty of Care that practitioners took, it is their responsibility to meet the needs of service users.
127 our experts are availableright now
One method of effective practice that can support the health and wellbeing of service users in relation to the responsibility of practitioners is good communication. For example, verbal communication using clear speech is vital when working with service users who have difficulty earing or understanding certain words/ phrases, speaking clearly allows the service user to absorb the information being shared with them and also allows the service user to lip read more clearly if they have a hearing or learning difficulty.
Verbal communication is mainly in the form of communication between two or more people using spoken word, good communicating can come from using pace, tone and pitch, certain service users will find it harder to understand sentences or words when said in a fast pace for example or a low tone and it is important to consider this, “It is possible to say the same words in a different tone or pitch of voice, perhaps with a slight emphasis on some words rather than others, and yet convey a different meaning.” https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/getattachment/subjects/health-social-care/series-pages/btec-assessment-guides/series-boxes/sample-chapters/unit-3-effective-communication-in-health-and-social-care.pdf.aspx (Accessed: 30/01/19).
Even non-verbal communication can support the wellbeing of service users by recognising appropriate use of touch and personal space; if for example a service user is having a panic attack, then giving them the space they need to breath and calm down is the responsibility of the practitioner and will ultimately benefit their wellbeing, “Awareness of Personal space (a.k.a. Personal distance and Proxemics), which is a part of your Body Language, will make your receiver or audience more comfortable and thereby better listeners.” http://www.hwaoconsulting.com/communication/personal-space (accessed: 30/01/19).
This would also work similarly for non-threatening use of body language, the less threatening a practitioner’s body language is, the more professional, trustworthy and calm they seem which could reduce tension or stress in service users. Both non-verbal and verbal communication are really effective practices and so to keep service users calm, safe and secure it is down to the practitioner to ensure that these methods are being used to support the service user with their needs.
The difference between a policy and a procedure is that “A policy is a guiding principle used to set direction in an organization.” https://www.bizmanualz.com/write-better-policies/whats-the-difference-between-policies-and-procedures.html (Date Accessed 30/01/18), whereas a procedure is a number of steps that are required to be followed in a certain way and also a certain order to create the outcome without mistakes.
One example of a policy that relates to the responsibility practitioners have to meet the needs of service users is the Safeguarding Policy, this is put into place to make sure all service users are being treated with respect, dignity and that their safety needs are being fully met. Practitioners don’t just have a responsibility to meet the medical needs of service users but to meet the safety requirements as well, “This policy sets out the key principles that all staff and workers working in NHS England should be complying with safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk of harm or abuse.” https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/safeguard-policy.pdf (Date Accessed 31/01/19).
The safeguarding policy must be well-known by all staff members who are responsible for managing safety in a workspace, without the knowledge on the safeguarding policy, service users are being put at potential risk and their needs are not being met correctly.
A procedure that shows relation to the responsibility practitioners have to meet the service user’s needs is the procedure taken when reporting accidents, recording and reporting incidents that take place is a legal requirement. Most professional environments that work with healthcare will have what is called an incident book, this book contains break in/ robberies, an intruder entering the property without permission, death of a staff worker or service user on the property, fire/ flood/ gas leak/ weather damage or electrical failure, the attack of a patient or staff member either on site or nearby, an injury caused by things within the workspace and threats of/ or real terrorist attacks. “In the incident book we record the date and time of the incident, nature of the event, who was effected, what was done about it – or if it was reported to the police, and if so a crime number.” http://elns.co.uk/policy/3_6_accidents.htm (Date Accessed: 30/01/19).
Another example of a policy or procedure that relates to the responsibility practitioners have to meet the needs of service user’s is the Health and Social Care Act 2012, this act promotes working within Health and Social Care alongside other services to improve the quality of work regarding the effectiveness of care and support that everyone receives.
This links in to the title because it coincides with the Duty of Care, a key standard that is to be met in the Health Care environment, “CCGs are responsible for safeguarding both children and adults who access Health and Social Care services, i.e. including responding to abuse and neglect that takes place.” (Lynda Wyatt, pg. 41). CCGs are ‘Clinical Commissioning Groups’ were introduced following the Health and Social Care Act 2012; they are clinically-led members of the NHS who are responsible for the planning and authorizing Health Care services within their local area.
