Duty of Care in Adult Social Care Worker’s Daily Role: Analytical Essay

1.2) Outline how duty of care might apply to the adult social care worker’s daily role.

Duty of care might apply to the adult social workers in the following ways: –

• Safeguarding – The carers have a ‘duty of care’ in safeguarding the patients from any kind of abuse or injury. If they notice a sudden change in the patient’s behaviour or something unusual, then they should report as soon as possible abiding by the rules and policies.
• Personal care – The carers may need to help the client with bathing, dressing up and toileting if the client needs help with this. Here, the carers ‘duty of care’ would be to make sure that the patient is clean and hygienic at all times.
• Preparing meals -When carers prepare food for the client, then they have a ‘duty of care’ to ensure that the food does not cause any kind of allergies to the patient. They should check if the kitchen and the equipment’s are thoroughly washed and cleaned.

In some cases, the carer has to feed the patient, so they have a ‘duty of care’ to wash their hands before feeding and maintain full hygiene.

Patients with dementia often forget to eat their food so their food stays on the table and becomes cold. The ‘duty of care’ would be to sit with the patient when they are eating so they finish their food.

• Cleaning and laundry – The carers have a ‘duty of care’ to make sure that the patient house is clean and free from any kind of harm or danger. They have a ‘duty of care’ to wash their clothes if they are stained. If the patient wears unclean clothes, then they will not feel confident.
• Mobility – the carers ‘duty of care’ with the patients having moving difficulties would be to support them by helping them to change positions when they have problems while they are resting, sleeping or sitting; helping them with positioning their chairs. Example: – An older person who has a back problem finds it difficult to move without help; a disable person who cannot move himself.
• Medications- The carer has a ‘duty of care’ to provide the patient with their medicines on time and apply them ointments if they have any rashes or burns.
• Reporting – The carers is the first one to notice any behavioural changes with their patient. Their ‘duty of care’ would be to report it to their managers or any senior person in charge.
• Cognitive mental health – the carers ‘duty of care ‘would be to promote and support good mental health by maintaining a good and healthy relationship with the patient and treating their symptoms early.
• Risk management-The carers should use risk assessment before using any equipment. Example – before trying a wheelchair for the patients, their ‘duty of care’ would be to ensure that the parts are properly fixed. If not, then the patient might fall from the wheelchair which could be dangerous.
• Recordkeeping – The carers have a ‘duty of care ‘to record all the accidents or complaints and take proper measures in order to prevent further accidents.
• Confidentiality – The carers have a ‘duty of care’ to keep the personal information of the patient safe and not share with their colleagues or others.
• Give information and advice – The carer has a ‘duty of care’ to provide proper information and advice which can help the patient. Example – a disabled person might want to try physical activity, then the carer has a ‘duty of care’ to explain him about the choice he has made and what risks could it bring to his health. So, they should carry a risk assessment in order to provide him support with this.

1.3) Give examples of how to provide person–centred support when supporting individuals in day-to-day activities.

Some examples of person-centered approach when supporting individuals in day to day activities are below: –

• Preparing meals or cooking- when a carer prepares food, they need to ask their patient what they would like to have for their meals. If they prefer to eat vegetarian, they should prepare veg meals. When the patient is too tired and wants to take some rest and it is mealtime, then the carers should not force them to eat, rather they should allow them to eat a bit later keeping their preferences on mind.
• Medications – When giving medicines the carer should ask the patient if they need any assistance with medications. If the patient says no, then the carer should respect their decision and allow them to have by themselves. This will allow them their independence.
• Monitoring patients – The carers should monitor the patient pulses and temperature only when the patient feels physically comfortable. The carers should encourage the patient to ask questions regarding their health and ask for feedback while monitoring the patients.
• Social activities – The carer should ask them about their favourite activities that they might be interested in doing. So, they should give their patients the options to choose so that the patient can make a choice. Example: – they can ask if they want to paint or draw.
• Personal care – With personal care, the carer should ask the patient if they need any help with dressing or toileting and if the patient is not comfortable then they should allow them their privacy and respect their dignity.
• Working in partnership – the carers need to work in partnership with their clients and do things according to their needs and preferences so that it helps to provide better care and support.
• Maintaining proper records – when working in adult social care, the carer needs to maintain proper records of their patients by recording all their needs, beliefs and attitudes; likes and dislikes so that their other colleagues also treats them according to the patients wish. The records should be kept in a confidential manner and should be accessible only to authorised people.
• Emotional well-being – Some patients experience bad situations in their life, so the carer should treat them with respect and kindness and not judge them. They should always be willing to support them. The carers should encourage them to live their life independently and support them to engage with the community.
• Limited mobility – a patient with limited mobility might find it difficult to move or position themselves, so the carer should recognise that the patient needs support and help them feel comfortable by positioning them and that too only with the patients consent.
• Sleep and rest – When the patients want to sleep, and the carer knows that the patient likes to sleep in dim light and without noise. Then the carer should always ask them and pull off the curtains for them and switch off the TV or music which could disturb the patients sleep. Whatever a carer does they should always ask the patient before doing or recognise their needs by the patient’s behaviour.

Bibliography

The sources that have been used to carry out the research are

1. https://dsdweb.co.uk/care-certificate/standard-1-understand-your-role/1-1a-describe-your-main-duties-responsibilities/
2. https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/7722/relationships_btw_staff_and_the_people_they_support_-r_-_241110-42608.pdf
3. https://socialcare.wales/cms_assets/file-uploads/Professional-boundaries-A-resource-for-managers.pdf
4. https://dsdweb.co.uk/care-certificate/standard-1-understand-your-role/1-3c-describe-different-working-relationships-in-health-and-social-care-settings/
5. https://www.ssaspb.org.uk/Guidance/Chapter-Two-Reporting-Abuse-and-Neglect.pdf
6. https://activesocialcare.com/handbook/duty-of-care/duty-of-care-2
7. https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Documents/Learning-and-development/Care-Certificate/Standard-5.pdf