Unit 7 - Principles of safe practice
in Health and Social Care
P1: Explain the implications of duty of care in a selected health and social
care
... [Show More] setting
Introduction:
The duty of care is a responsibility that by law an individual has to avoid any actions
or behaviours that can put any service users or themselves at risk of any possible
harm, while they use many health and social care services such as care homes,
hospitals and GP’s to keep their service users satisfied and keep their best interest.
It is essential as it ensures that the care provided by the professionals to the service
users is sustaining their human rights, supporting and encouraging their uniqueness,
keeping the service user safe and healthy, and preventing any risks or harm that
could possibly occur at the setting. All health and social care professionals must
ensure that they follow ALL of the seven principles of safe practice which are;
The legal obligation as stated by Billingham M et.al (2016) p298 is a duty to not
perform or perform a specific action. The legal obligation is to protect health and
wellbeing as well as to prevent any possible harm, support the rights and promote
the interests of the service users who are victims of neglect and abuse, protect their
health and wellbeing, ensuring and encouraging safe practice, following the code of
conduct, balancing individual rights with risks and acting in the service user’s best
interest to make sure that service users are getting the best care that they require.
The professional has the obligation to work in a service users best interest and to
protect them from any harm that could possibly occur. Sometimes, health and social
care professionals have to distance themselves and sightly detach themselves from
the service user to avoid the formation of bonds and relationships that are similar to
family and friends, this is because they want to promote equality and prevent
discrimination from occuring.
Upholding the rights and promoting the interests of individuals experiencing abuse
and neglect; This is when a professional becomes an advocate on behalf of their
service user. An advocate is a person who will speak on behalf of a service user to
give them the best possible advice and outcomes that could potentially improve their
quality of life. An advocate may be needed due to many reasons such as the service
user being in danger, or because the service user is scared of another service user
or even potentially a staff member. The advocate will then speak on behalf of the
service user to ensure that the issue gets dealt with. In addition, the advocate will
also make sure that the service users rights and individuality is maintained.
Protecting health , safety and wellbeing is when the service user is being observed
by professionals to ensure that they are at no risk of any harm or danger. It is the
professionals duty of care to ensure that their service user is kept safe, and to make
sure the service user is not being bullied or intimidated by anyone as well as not
being discriminated against. By law it is the service providers duty of care to make
sure that their service user is getting the most out of their services.
Ensuring safe practice is when the professional has an obligation to follow all rules,
policies and guidelines and well as policy procedures to guarantee that no harm is
done to the service user as well as the service provider. To ensure safe practice, also [Show Less]