Unit 3 Health and safety in health and social care sample

Unit 3 Health and safety in health and social care

Task 1

Poster:

Implementation of Health and safety legislation in the health and social care workplace

 

1.1 Review systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and social care workplace in accordance with legislative requirements.   There are various procedures, systems, policies and other mechanism which can be used to communicate information on health and social care at workplace. There are also various legislations which mandate communication of information regarding health and social care practices at workplace. In the present case, the health and social care issue which has been highlighted is the wet floor which has caused injuries and several falls of the health and social care staff during their duty. As per RIDDOR or reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulation, the trust is required to inform the number of injuries to the Employees through several forums (Stavans, 2010).   I think that in the present case that wet floors are an important issue which has resulted in several injuries and falls to various health and social care personals while conducting their duties and as a result of the same the director needs to implement policies and procedures so as to ensure the health and safety of the employees of the trust. I find that the implementation of the usage of microfiber mop had been Highly Effective in reducing the number of injuries due to wet floors and most importantly the objective of the housekeeping department of his keeping the ward clean has been fulfilled. However, I felt that the director should have been more expeditors in implementing the solution of wet floors and introducing the micro fibre mops even earlier so as the safety of the employees of the trust can be insured in a more effective manner (Stavans, 2010). In this regard, the system of providing information as per RIDDOR has shown the effectiveness of the process of implementing microfiber Mop in reducing the number of injuries to the employees of the trust as well as cleaning the ward. With regard to communication of information, I feel that the new director has done a good job in informing about the new policies of Housekeeping and introduction of microfiber maps to the housekeeping staff and ensuring that it is being implemented properly. It is also evident that the number of injuries has reduced substantially as a result of implementation of the new systems and policies and also the communication has also improved drastically subsequently.

1.2 Assess the responsibilities in a specific health and social care work place for the management of health and safety in relation to organizational structure.   North staffordshire NHS trust has to shoulder several responsibilities towards his employees for maintaining health and social care and discharge is responsibilities towards its care seekers as well. In maintaining the health and safety of its employees, it has been found that the issue of wet floors had caused several falls and injuries to the Employees.   In order to discharge the responsibilities towards health and safety of the employees of the trust the review meeting has been conducted which not only looked at various aspects of Health and safety but also suggested various measures which would address the issues regarding wet floor and other health and safety issues that have caused injuries to the staff.   I found that the strategy adopted by the management of the trust in order to ensure the health and safety of the employees are quite satisfactory since the problems of workflows had been address through a series of suggestions that evolved during the review meeting. The policy of reviewing the health and safety issues of the employees is done through a review committee that considers a Holistic approach towards solving the health and safety challenges towards employees. I think that in the present contest the structure of the organisation permits such review committee which can give effective solution to the challenges regarding health and safety of the employees. Hence, the duty of the management towards discharging is responsibility towards the employees of the trust had been handling quite satisfactory as a result of the same, numbers of injuries arising out of wet floors have reduced substantially.

1.3 Analyse health and safety priorities appropriate for a specific health and social care work place   One of the most important area of service is providing health and social care for elderly with regard to North staffordshire NHS trust. The health and safety is an important consideration while providing health and social care towards the elderly and the Cursed has identified it safe to priorities with regard to provision of Health and social care towards elderly.   With regard to the present case, the trust has given priority to maintaining the ward clean and ensures that the floors are not saturated so as there are no injuries caused to the personal as well as the care seekers. The trust has also implemented online risk assessment tools and other mechanisms to understand the risks pertaining to the injuries and other health and safety issue in consideration to provision of Health and social care services towards the elderly. I think that the priority regarding health and safety has also been given towards maintenance and operation of equipments and also training of staff while providing services to the elderly. The trust has effectively controlled the risk of wet floors by introduction of microfiber mop and regular monitoring of its implementation. Similarly, the first also give priority towards training and development of it staff and also maintenance as well as oxidation office equipments so as the health and safety considerations towards provision of services to elderly can be maintained effectively (Nolan and Pritchatt, 2006).   I've also felt that as per the risk assessment system of the trust, the safety priority in terms of the employees are also considered and training and development is also provided to the housekeeping staff as well so that they can execute the duties of keeping the section screen and avoid instances of injuries due to falls as a result of wet floors.

 

Task 2

2.1 Analyse how information from risk assessments informs care planning for individuals and organizational decision making about policies and procedures.

Risk assessment is an important consideration with regard to providing service patients suffering from obesity and in this relation a comprehensive bariatric policy is required. The risk assessment would comprise of understanding of different level of risk parameters and the consequences which may happen to the patients as well as the organisation as a result of such risks.

I have understood from the perspective of the care seekers that the organisation lacks a comprehensive bariatric policy which is required to deliver effective services towards the patient suffering from obesity and also provide them with suitable environment and diagnosis. The risk assessment and the comprehension of various risk which is associated with provision of Health and social care services to the patients as well as to the health and social care service providers needs to be undertaken as per the mandate of various legislations including health and safety act 1974.

The risk assessment in the present case would assist in care planning for individual as well as organisational decision making about policies and procedures which would improve in handling patients suffering from obesity and comprehensively care about bariatric patients as well as carers (Krause, 2006).

The present case I have found that there are several risks which encompasses various serious consequences while providing care services to the bariatric patients and I feel that the organisation is not suitable effect to provide such health and social care services. The trust in the present case do not have a comprehensive bariatric policy and as a result of which there is no planning, evaluation process and Manual handling management of bariatric patients. In this regard it is essential that considering the risks the organisation should develop and train efficient staff, install suitable machineries and equipments and most importantly develop medium for inter agency as well as intra agency communication to get such risks.

The organisation should also considered various Spatial risk factors regarding design and development of vehicle so that various ambulances and specialist vehicles ad equipped with suitable instruments and they are able to respond to patients in inaccessible areas and various risks with regard to safety can be addressed as a result thereof (Scriven and Garman, 2007).

Hence the risk assessment shows bariatric risks and spatial risks which cause hindrance to providing services to patients with obesity. I think that in order to mitigate such risks training and development of stuff, installation of equipments not just in the premises but also in ambulances and other vehicles comma development of communication and formulation of comprehensive bariatric plan would help in mitigation of substantial amount of risks arising in providing care services to thepatients suffering from obesity.

2.2 Analyse the impact of one aspect of health and safety policy on health and social care practice and its customers.

 

The health and social care policy has essential impact on improving and handling the health and social care practices not only on the organisation but also on the users. In the present context the health and social care policy comprise development of comprehensive bariatric policy and as well as policy to implement upgradation of instruments and equipment to help patients with obesity.

In the policy of Health and social care one of the important aspect is the training and development of the employees or the caregivers who are going to provide suitable health and social care services to the patients suffering from obesity. The health and social care policy comprise of an important aspect regarding training and development of employees who provide health and social care services to the patients with obesity in such manner that they can understand the requirement of the patients and provide suitable care services (Mandelstam, 2002).

Apart from comprehension of the requirements of the patients, the employees also need to understand the handling of various equipments and instruments required to provide appropriate health and social care services which fulfill the needs of the patients. It is essential that in this case several instruments as well as vehicles do not have the requisite calibre to deliver adequate health and social care services to the patients suffering from obesity and a comprehensive bariatric policy is missing.

Therefore, the impact of Health and social care policy and consequent training and development of employees and staff with regard to providing of services to patients suffering from obesity in terms of the comprehensive bariatric policy as well would ensure that the patients are provided with adequate care as per their requirements and also the equipments are handled appropriately while providing such care (Mandelstam, 2002).

2.3. Discuss how dilemmas encountered in relation to implementing systems and policies for health, safety and security may be addressed.

 

The health and social care policy would require development of a comprehensive bariatric policy so as to understand the requirements of patients suffering from obesity and also installation of important and essential equipments which would deliver requisite services to the care seekers.

In this regard, while implementing the health and social care policy or a comprehensive bariatric policy there are several dilemmas which may be faced by the health and social care providers.Such dilemmas can arise in terms of handling of machineries, disputes in terms of ideas and concepts and also difference of views in handling a situation. Moreover, in terms of understanding the requirements of the patient and fulfilling the needs of the patient as per the wishes of such patient may also cause dilemma in terms of perception. The dilemma may also arise in terms of communicating information with other care provider while providing care services to bariatric patient (Ashton, 2007).

While handling bariatric patient care provider needs to handle various equipments and communication information to other care provided as well. In this regard it is important that all confusions and conflicts are addressed properly through training and development. It is important that why providing training and development all care providers develop concept in the same manner such that while handling equipments are communicating information there is no scope of conflict or dispute in terms of perception on concept. In several cases with me so happened that while handling and equipment differences in terms of understanding also requirements of the patient and concept about using of the instrument made result in wrong diagnosis

Therefore, the dilemma may result in severe consequences if they are not addressed properlyand training and development can result in mitigation of the dilemma that may arise while providing services to the patients suffering from obesity (Haugen and Musser, 2012).

2.4 Analyse the effects of non-compliance with health and safety legislation in a health and social care work place.

 

In the health and social care workplace comma the mandates of Health and social legislations holds high importance and they need to be complied stringently.The event of failures in compliance with legal regulations pertaining to the health and social care, severe consequences lies ahead. The health and social care registrations require the organisation to ensure that the life and property of the organisation as well as his employees and maintained and at the same time the patients are provided with suitable health and social care services as per their needs (Wilkinson, 2001).

The non compliance of Health and social care legislation would result in delivery of improper health and social care services and as a result their of injurious to life and property towards the patient as well as the employee can take place. The non compliance can also result in wrong diagnosis and can cause severe effect on the health of the patient as well as a care provider in short term as well as long term context.

In terms of the trust or organisation, the non compliance can result in loss of reputation and the patients would lose faith in the organisation in terms of providing suitable health and social care services. The organisation may also face substantial amount of penalties and other punitive actions while the care providers may also jail term in the event there is loss of life in extreme cases (Cowan, 2009).

Hence it is important that the organisation, care providers follow the requirements of the health and social care regulations and carry out such processes and implement such procedure which is required to provide health and social care services to the patients up on comprehension of the requirements.

Task 3

3.1 Explain how health and safety policies and practices are monitored and reviewed.

The health and social care services in present context can be monitored through periodical audit by the committee comprising of personals from various departments and background.In the present case the senior back care advisor conducted the audit by way of a working group consisting of Trust board member, finance manager, tissue viability nurse nurse manager, infection control nurse and representative from estates, therapies and partnering.

As a result of comprehensive audit of beds, trolleys, couches, mattresses, hoists and other equipments several deficiencies and other shortcomings were revealed.  Therefore it goes on to show that audit by working group comprising of people from different backgrounds can help in revealing shortcomings in the instruments and other operational ideas which can improve the health and safety policy of the organisation (Cowan, 2009).

The Audit should also be followed up by control measures as a part of monitoring and review mechanism which would not only help in understanding the shortcomings of the systems and the equipments what also help in development of such measures which would mitigate the shortcomings and improve the health and safety policy in the long run.

The health and safety policy can also be for the improved through implementation of better procedures and techniques which would help the organisation in realising savings as well as efficient processes. Consequently the savings arising from such processes can be used in development of other areas of operation. Finally and most importantly Audit and control mechanisms used to develop the health and safety policy would also result in substantial reduction of injuries and adverse effect of the existing processes and eventual loss of life as is evident from the present case study (Peloso, 2002).

3.2 Analyse the effectiveness of health and safety policies and practices in the workplace in promoting a positive health and safety culture.

 

Health and safety policy is an important parameter in promoting positive health and safety culture in the workplace. The health and safety policy implements such practices which would be imperative in maintaining safety at the workplace and at the same time ensure that the health as well as safety of the employees as well as the care seekers are maintained.

It is perceived that a comprehensive that in compass is mitigation of every risk helps in ensuring safety of the employees and reduces the occurrences of accidents and other mishaps in the organisation while providing health and social care services and also to the care seekers (Aldridge, 2004).

In the present case it can be seen that a comprehensive health and safety policy which reviews the equipments, machineries, instruments and other processes engaged in the organisation helps in reducing injuries and improving diagnosis towards the care seekers. Hence it can be observed that a comprehensive health and safety policy not only enhances the safety of the employees of the organisation but also helps in improving the services provided to the patients and other care seekers.

The health and safety policy has two important aspect firstly in terms of training and development of the employees which improves the safety of the employees while handling important equipments and instruments and secondly in terms of providing information regarding injuries as per the requirements of RIDDOR (Aldridge, 2004).

The comprehensiveness of the health and safety policy and sure that the improvement in the health and safety of the employees design should through proper dissemination of Information and effective implementation of processes and training and development to not only secured the health and safety of the employees and the care secret but also to develop the delivery of services.

3.3 Evaluate own contribution to placing the health and safety needs of individuals at the Centre of practice.

I would like to evaluate my own contribution towards implementation and development of Health and safety practices considering the requirement of the individuals and care seekers at the organisation.

In terms of implementing health and social care practices, I had been engaged in an organisation wearing I had implemented safety practices in terms of handling of equipments, wet floor and fire safety. I developed a comprehensive guideline which constitutes all aspects of risks and the consequences of such risk which may arise out of the mishaps due to safety challenges.

For this purpose I have firstly understood the comprehensive requirement of the organisation in terms of safety and have chosen three aspects which were quite important in terms of ensuring the health and safety of the employees and the care seekers. I have identified that fire safety, handling of equipments and wet floors are important in this regard (Hunnicutt, 2010).

Considering the aspects of this risk I have provided training and development to the Employees so as to ensure avoidance of the risks and usage of various equipments including fire extinguishers. I have also implemented processes regarding saturation of mops and cleaning of floors so as to avoid the chances of injuries resulting after wet floor.

However I think that my contribution towards implementation of the health and safety measures such has provision of training and development had been delayed in certain cases. In terms of acquisition of various machineries and equipments and providing training in such connection took a lot of time which resulted in safety issues and challenges in many cases. Even though I have done my best to gather all possible resources for the purpose of development and implementation of Health and safety policy I feel there are a lot to be done in this regard to make the health and safety policy more comprehensive and implemented in such manner to avoid all situation of risks and injuries to employees as well as care seekers (Hunnicutt, 2010).

References

Aldridge, D. (2004). Health, the individual, and integrated medicine. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Ashton, Y. (2007). Health, safety & security. Clayton South, Vic.: Blake Education.

Cowan, D. (2009). Research issues in health and social care. Keswick, Cumbria: M & K Update Ltd.

Haugen, D. and Musser, S. (2012). Health care. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.

Hunnicutt, S. (2010). Universal health care. Detroit: Greenhaven Press.

Krause, A. (2006). Risk management. Bradford, England: Emerald Group Pub.

Mandelstam, M. (2002). Manual handling in health and social care. London, England: Jessica Kingsley.

Nolan, Y. and Pritchatt, N. (2006). Health & social care. Oxford: Heinemann.

Peloso, J. (2002). Health care. New York: H.W. Wilson.

Scriven, A. and Garman, S. (2007). Public health. Maidenhead, Eng.: Open University Press.

Stavans, I. (2010). Health care. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood.

Wilkinson, C. (2001). Fundamentals of health at work. London: Taylor & Francis.