It is always my duty and responsibility as a care worker to

It is always my duty and responsibility as a care worker to first treat the individuals I’m looking after with dignity and respect. Also, to assist clients with anything they require on daily basis, including personal care. Also, to ensure everyone’s nutritional requirements are met, assist with feeding and meal planning and preparation. Other responsibilities include cleaning and taking residents out for walks or to go shopping. Prompting and administering medication is also a duty of a care worker once medication training has been completed.

It is responsibility of the care workers to make sure that the individuals maintain good general health and make sure that any abnormalities are being reported straight away so they can be taken care of on urgent basis. More responsibilities include: following companies’ policies and procedures and making sure that my own training is up to date to meet the standards required to carry out my work role.

1.2 Explain expectations about own work role as expressed in relevant standards

It is expected of me to understand relevant policies and procedures as well as standards and laws when working as a support worker.

I can gain this understanding by undertaking training or attending refresher courses. I must always know where all the policies and procedures are kept in my workplace and make sure I follow them and know exactly what they are for. For example: under the health and safety policy I must always record any accidents in the relevant accident book. Look out for any hazards and check all the equipment before it’s been put back to use by service users.

Get quality help now

Marrie pro writer

Verified

Proficient in: Character Traits

5 (204)

“ She followed all my directions. It was really easy to contact her and respond very fast as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

I must record all faulty equipment in the maintenance book and make sure no one has got access to it before it’s fixed. Reading through the National Minimum Standards and the National Occupational Standards, Code of Conduct as well as staff hand book will help me to get a better understanding of how I should be doing my job properly to ensure I work effectively and provide the best care for people I look after.

1.3 Describe how to work effectively with others

To work effectively with others, you must first accept that there are many different people with their own views, beliefs and opinions out there. You must learn how to communicate openly and honestly and at appropriate times. You need to make sure that you are flexible in your approach and open to new ideas as it is very important if you can listen to others and take into consideration their ideas and perhaps combine all into one. It is essential that you are willing to fully participate in anything that has been decided in the group and to move towards group goals.

2.1 Explain the importance of reflective practice in continuously improving the quality of service provided

When working in care, it is important to look at back at how you do things and how you approach different situations as this is one way how to improve the quality of care we provide on daily basis. Care industry is the one that changes a lot in short period of time so we must make sure that we identify areas that we may need to improve by looking back at our work and asking question about how it could be done better? Possibly consider beginning new courses in appropriate subjects to gain better understanding and improve our work.

2.3 Describe how own values, belief systems and experiences may affect working practice

Working in care setting we cannot allow our own personal values and beliefs to affect the way we work. If that would happen none of the individuals, we look after would get fair and equal treatment and could be classed as neglect under The Equality Act 2010. We must remember that some of the colleagues, service users or their families may hold very different values and beliefs to you, and you will need to accept that as well as not push your own beliefs onto others while at work. It becomes especially important when we are looking after the service users to be able to see problems from all sides and without a judgement. Sometimes you might find the situation you are in quite overwhelming and emotional so it’s best to ask a colleague to replace you. It’s worth to have a chat with your supervisor or manager on how to deal with emotions and see if you can manage any conflicts, as they will have some advice and guidance for you.

As with your values and beliefs, your experiences may also affect your working practice, but it is important that you stay positive and cheerful and avoid any unnecessarily criticism and remember that everyone has started their experience in different setting to yours perhaps. If your colleagues first experience in care was at home looking after a family member but yours in a care home, don’t judge the way they work because it’s slightly different, instead help them, guide them and share your experiences together.

3.1 Evaluate own knowledge, performances and understanding against relevant standards

To evaluate my own knowledge, performances and understanding I must first reflect on the work I do and the way I do it. Once I have identified this, I can look at the more beneficial way of working; for example, under the Standard 8, of National Minimum Standards: one morning at work I noticed spilled tea on the floor and assumed my work colleague that was there at the time was aware of it and would clean it up. However, after reflecting on this I can see I shouldn’t assume anything and as soon as noticed it should have been cleaned up to ensure no accident happens. Under the Standard 9, of National Minimum Standards: Very busy day at work, new admission coming to the home and I have been given a task to get the individuals care plan sorted and be ready for when she will be arriving. As I sit in the staff office with mountain of papers of medical history, family connections and other sensitive information my colleague calls me for help. I rush of and leave the system on computer open and logged in and papers everywhere for everyone to see. But when I reflect on this I should have logged out of the system and collect all the paperwork and put it away where its appropriate before leaving to help my colleague. And finally, under the Standard 6, of National Minimum Standards: A resident with depression and anxiety on daily basis with the past of self-harming has shown new skin tears and bruising on different parts of the body. After letting the nurses know about it, they suspected that it’s the resident harming itself once again, no investigation is done, and no questions asked. When reflecting on this I should have never ignore nurses’ action as no one was there to see exactly what happened. I should have approached the resident and offer my support and listen to the individual and what it has to say. Manager should have been informed urgently and matters should have been taken further.

4.1 Identify sources of support for planning and reviewing own development

There are many ways and many sources how I can gain information’s and help myself when reviewing my own development. I would say manager is the strongest one as I can use the experience and knowledge of my manager to help me plan my career. Also, regular supervisions where you can talk about trainings that you may need, or you could benefit from. Here are some more sources of support and planning:

o Staff meetings where everyone can discuss work and learn from one another.

o Colleagues are always handy to have a chat with as you can discuss your own work and get guidance on things, you can also shadow them to give you idea of how things can be done differently.

o Policies & Procedures – they will give you better understanding about your role and how health sector works in general.

o Experience – the best guide you will get. Doing your job on day to day basis and dealing with different situations every day will teach you different and perhaps the best and most effective ways of working.

o Own research of course is out there for you to do in your own time and will always come helpful when you not sure about something.

5.1 Evaluate how learning activities have affected practice

5.2 Explain how reflective practice has led to improved ways of working

5.3 Explain why continuing professional development is important

Continuing professional development is important as it allows you to see what it would mean to be a professional. It gives you an insight of what you could achieve in a long run. It helps you maintain and gain more knowledge in your chosen profession. It helps you become more effective in your workplace and gives you bigger appreciation of the work you do. CPD goes on for the rest of professional’s career and guarantees you continue to be skilled in your profession.

302. Promote health, safety and wellbeing in care setting

1.1 Identify legislation relating to health and safety in a care setting

o Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

o Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

o Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

o Health and Social Care Act 2008

o Food Standards Act 1999

o Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)

o Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)

1.2 Explain the main points of health and safety policies and procedures agreed with the employer

Health and safety policies and procedures in my work place set out that there are risk assessments in place for all the residents and appropriate training is given to staff and refreshed regularly. It also states that all equipment should be safe to use and tested on regular bases and it gives you information on how and where to report any faulty equipment and to whom. It sets out things that must be done to keep the place of work safe and meet the requirements of relevant legislations. All doors (entrances and exits) must always be kept clear.

1.3a Analyse the main health and safety responsibilities of self

My main health and safety responsibilities are to make sure I have enough training and that its relevant and refreshed regularly. I must work together with others when it comes to health and safety. It is also my responsibility to make sure I use personal protective equipment and use correct moving and handling techniques as well as deal with spillages and disposal of waste appropriately. It is essential that I look out for any hazards around me and others and remove them where possible. Also, I must make sure that my own health and hygiene does not pose a threat to others.

1.3b Analyse the main health and safety responsibilities of the employer or manager

It is my managers responsibility to provide safe working environment for all the staff and residents and other visitors. It is also their responsibility to provide staff with relevant training as well as appropriate welfare provisions. They need to ensure safe use, handling and storage of dangerous substances. My employer is also responsible to ensure that every employee know about safe working practices.

1.3c Analyse the main health and safety responsibilities of others in the work setting

Any other person in the building needs to ensure that they follow safe working practices and reports any hazards or accidents to the manager urgently. Other members of staff are required to take part in training as it is essential that everyone is up to date with the latest health and safety legislations and they change (if any). Everyone should be aware of what to do if an emergency takes place. And finally, everyone is to make sure that their actions are not the ones to put others in danger.

1.4 Identify specific tasks in the work setting that should not be carried out without special training

o Moving and assisting which will include the use of slings and hoists

o Preparing ad assisting with nutritional needs which will include cooking and feeding

o Manual handling of objects such boxes, furniture.

o First aid

o Fire safety

o Giving out medication

o Handling chemical substances such as strong cleaning products

3.1 Describe different types of accidents and sudden illness that may occur in own work setting

It is very important that employees know exactly what to do if sudden illness or accident occurs. In most cases employers will have a policy that will outline on what to do in cases like this (RIDDOR). You should, however, never attempt to do anything that you haven’t been trained to do. Here are examples of sudden illnesses:

o Slips, trips and falls – are the most common accident that will take place in care setting. They might not sound all that serious but can lead to serious injuries including dislocations of bones and broken bones

o Food poisoning or allergy – when the food passes its use by date it becomes almost crucial to human ingesting or perhaps it could be allergy for instance to nuts, wheat or milk

o Seizures – where the individual will have a temporary confusion or complete loss of consciousness or awareness and in most cases will also suffer from uncontrollable shaking movements of the arms and legs

o Cardiac arrest – this is a very common type of sudden illness in a care setting. It is when the individual’s heart will stop pumping blood around their body. This will then starve their brain of oxygen and make the individual fall unconscious and stop breathing.

o Stroke – which is basically a brain attack. It is also quite common in people over 50 years of age as it is caused by lack of activity, being overweight, excessive drinking or smoking and personal or family history of stroke perhaps.