Unit 2 Lesson 5

-All staff and volunteers to ensure that they maintain a clean and hygienic working environment and minimise the likelihhod of passing on infection

-You must be familiar with policies and procedures in place at your setting to minimise the spread of infection 

1-Washing hands before and after work,after using the toilet,after coughing and sneezing,after carrying out personal care

2-Safe handling and disposal of sharp articles such as needlles and syringes to avoid needle stick injuries

3-Keeping all soiled linen in the designated laundry bag or bin. Dont leave around use protective apron and gloves 

4-Protective disposable gloves and aprons when you have contact with bodily fluids or when caring for someone with open wounds 

5-Clean all equipment 

-Clinical waste is yellow bag. It is disposed by burning in controlled settings

-Needles & syringes are yellow sharps box. This is burned in controlled settings

-Bodily fluids are flushed down a sluice drain

-Soiled linen is a red laundry bag. Laundered at an appropriate temperature

-Recyclable equipment/instruments are blue bag. Returned to the central sterilisation services for sterilising and reuse 

-Particular illnesses,diseases,serious accidents health and care provide must offficialy report

-They are called notifiable deaths,injuries or diseases and are covered by the Reporting of Injuries,Diseases and Dangerous Occurences Regulations (RIDDOR 2013)

-Notifiable illnesses include diptheria,food poisoning,rubella,TB

-Less serious accidents and incidents must also be recorded regardless whether there was an injury or not. 

-This will be recorded on an incident form recorded in an accident book 

-These reports are required by law to be checked when inspected 

- First aid provision is governed by Health and Safety Regulations (1981)

- First aid should be adequate and appropriate. This varies from setting to setting

- Incidents that occur in care setting must be recorded. They should include:

-name of casualty

-nature of incident or injury

-date, time and location of incident

-record of the treatment given

Must be truthful and accurate. They may be used in courts of law

-All care orgainsations must have a complaints procedure,this is checked when inspected

-Complaint procedures will vary for in different organisations but will follow similar format;

-Have their complaint dealth with swiflty and efficiently

-Have proper and careful investigation of their concerns 

-Know the outcome of those investigations

-Have a judicial review of the facts,if they think the action or decision is unlawful

-Recieve compensation if they have been harmed physically or psychologically as a result of the situation

-Health and social care organisations hold a wide range of diverse information about service users

-It is important that service users are able to trust that their personal information is treated as confidential and only shared with people who have e legitimate reason to know 

-The Data Protection Act 1998

-Rules that covern the processing and us of personal info in H/S care settings. The act covers information stored electronically on computers,mobile phones and on social medi sites.

-It also covers most paper based personal information. 

-It is against the law to have photographs of service users without their permission 

-The act covers 

-Storing information;Confidential information should be stored in locked filing cabinets,locked rooms,password protected 

-Accessing information;Members of staff in the org who are allowed access to the info should be clearly identifed. Staff should never have access to personal info that they dont need to know 

-Sharing information; Information should only be shared with other professionals who have a need and right to know

Legal & workplace requirements

-The principles and requirements of the data protection act and the requirements for confidentiality are within the policies and procedures of all health and social care settings. All employess and volunteers in org have a responsibility to ensure that the confidentiality of service users information is protected.If a weakness is spotted,they should feel confident to suggest improvements in the system and arrangements 

-Accountability to protessional organisations;

-Standards of professional practice expected of professionals working in H/S Care settings are monitored by a range of bodie such as GMC,NMC &HCPC

-The specific reggulations vary;

-Levels and content of the intitial education and training of members of their profession

-Ongoing professional development and training up to date 

-Standards of professional practice 

-Standards of personal conduct 

-Professional organisations publish codes of practice for members which must be followed.If a member fails to meet the standards set,this will be investigated and memebers can be removed from the professional register or banned from practice

-Organisations outline the formal procedure that will be used following a complaint or concern.This will include specific procedures to investigate unprofessional practice reported by professionals about their colleagues - known as whistleblowing

-Revalidation Procedures 

-Each professional body requires its members to complete regular CPD in order to remain on the register. This may include;

-Training on the use of new procedures or treatments 

-Training on new equipment 

-Providing evidence that a registered person reviews and learns from their own practice

-Include evidence that members have current and up to date understanding of safeguarding 

-Introduced for new appointed H/S care workers who are not members of a regulatory body

-For care assistant,support and homecare workers 

-NOT a statutory requirement=voluntary

-Provides standards H/S care workers should follow in their daily life

-Employers are expected to implement the care certificate for all new starters from April 2015

-The code of conduct in the new certificate requires that healthcare support workers and adult social care workers in England;

-Are accountable

-Promote and uphold the privacy,dignity,rights,health and wellbeing of service users 

-Work in collaboration with colleagues to ensure they deliver high quality,safe and compassionate support

-Communicate in an open and effective way

-Respect a persons right to confiddentiality 

-Strive to improve the quality of healthcare through CPD

-Uphold and promote equality,diversity and inclusion