Enhancing Health and Safety Culture in Care Organizations: A Guide for Managers

The assignment content highlights the importance of promoting a positive safety culture within an organisation, specifically a care home. The content emphasizes the need to raise the profile of health and safety through the use of a safety climate tool, which can help identify perceptions, attitudes, and suggestions from staff members about existing policies and practices. This information can be used to improve processes and develop benchmarks for performance comparison with similar care homes in the country. Furthermore, as a care practitioner, evaluating one's own contribution to placing health and safety needs of individual patients is crucial for delivering quality services and promoting overall well-being.

Health and safety
in health and
social care
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INTRODUCTION
In every business organisation, there is some possibility of accident or harm which may
affect employee’s health. Thus, organisation's top authority is required to manage uncertain hazard
in such manner so as employees can safely carry their business performance and activities(Greener,
2009). In addition to this, health and safety is significant to protect employees in the organisation.
Furthermore, government has developed various legislation functions and code of conduct which
assist in protecting health of employees in the organisation. In this project report, various systems,
policies, procedures for communicating information have been discussed. In addition to this,
responsibilities regarding health and safety at each level of organisation structure has also
mentioned in this report. Moreover, the risk assessment factors through which organisation can
provide protection to workforce is also studied in this project. The major objective of this report is
to understand the role of health and safety legislation in the health and social care organisation.
TASK 1
1.1 Review of systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and safety
in the case setting
Health and safety is essential in the health and social care organisation. The safety of health
experts and staff member is the major responsibility of the top management. In health care
organization, there are various types of system, policies; procedures which are used for
communicating information of health and safety in the care setting.
Some code of conducts and regulations related to employee’s health and safety in the health care
organisation are as follows- Health and safety at work act 1974- As per this act, general duties of employer, employees,
and contractors have to maintain all process and system of working at workplace so as
uncertain accident and hazard can decrease. The major objective of this act is to protect
person against risks to health or safety arising out of or in connection with the activities of
person at the work (Henderson, Chalesworth and Martin,2010). In addition to this,
mentioned provision stated that no person shall intentionally or recklessly interfere with or
misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety, welfare for employees. With
assistance of this act in the health and care organisation, management is able to define the
responsibility towards health care experts, staff members and other assistants at the working
area by taking care their health and safety. For example if employees injured at workplace
then it is responsibility to organisation for pay the remedies and expenses to that particular
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employees. Health and safety regulation 1981- This health and safety act provides adequate, appropriate
and immediate equipments, facilities to employees related to their health and safety if they
are injured at the workplace. This act is related to first aid facility for the workers and staff
members in every business organisation (Greener, 2009). In health and social care
organisation, if any care probationers and worker are injured or face any physical accident
then hospital is responsible to provide medical facility to them. For example, a care worker
has injured during handling the heavy equipment or machine then in this case the
organisation has to provide initial treatment and medical facilities to that care worker.
 Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations- According to this
act, the information about death, major injuries caused by accidents at work should be
reported to the respective member of the government.
1.2 Assessment of responsibilities for the management of health and safety at each level within the
organisation structure
In the health and social care organisation, there are major responsibility of employees and
employer to manage health and safety. Various roles and responsibility of employees and employer
for managing health and safety at workplace are as follows-
Responsibility of employer- As per the UK government, management of health and social
care organisation have major role to protect their employees at the workplace from uncertain
hazards and accidents. In this manner, they are required to provide effective training programs so
that the workers can be able to learn criteria for handling heavy equipments, machineries and other
resources which arise an accident. (Acton, 2013) Furthermore, organisation has to conduct the risk
assessment process every year so as that the probability of hazard may decrease. Moreover,
management should provide booklets to the care workers related to health and safety (Henderson,
Chalesworth and Martin, 2010). This booklet assist in giving the guidance to the practitioners while
rendering the health care services to the patients.
Responsibility of employees- Employees are also responsible for protecting their health and
safety in the organisation. In the health and care organisation, health practitioners and care workers
are responsible for delivering right health care services to the patients by ensuring health and safety.
In this context, care workers has to take care of own health while treating the patients. In addition to
this, care worker can improve the health and safety at the workplace by taking proper training and
following policies of health and safety (Moonie, 2000). Health practitioner and staff members in the
care organisation should adopt all precautions while delivering care services to the patients.
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1.3 Analysis of health and safety priorities appropriate for UK HealthCare organization
In order to maintain effective health and safety in the health and care organisation, the major
priority of the management is to provide an appropriate training to health practitioners and care
workers so that they can effectively supply care services to the patients. By proper guidance and
direction, care workers can manage their performance and deliver quality services to the service
users. By this, health and safety can render in the care organisation and improve the treatment of
patients. On the other hand, management have priority to maintain cleanliness which assists in
decreasing chances of infections at the workplace. In addition to this, management have to adopt an
appropriate practice of housekeeping through which services users as well as care workers can be
protected infections and diseases.(Morath, and Turnbull, 2004. ) Moreover, management should
throw out the wastages such as used bandages, injections, bloody clothes, used costumes etc. By
this, management can able to deliver a safe and effective working environment in the health and
care organisation. Another priority of management is to manage the risk at workplace. For this, they
can use risk assessment process through which they can overcome hazards during the work in the
health and care organisation. On the other hand, management have priority to adopt and install
various health and safety methods to keep the place secure, safe and effective. For example if in the
organisation if patients desires the effective services and improvement in exiusting operation then it
is priority for management to provide proper services and guidance to employees.
TASK 2
2.1
As per the given case scenario, service user Connor Slade house has died on 4the 2013 after having
been found submerged in his bath. Connor is the age of 18 year adult and who was epileptic (brain
disorder).Due to the mental disorder and autistic traits, he was admitted in the health acre
organisation. In the mentioned case of Connor, the risk assessment process has required to protect
the Connor.
Generally, a risk assessment is a process under which potential harm and hazards can
identified. This process assist in protecting staff members as well as service users in the health and
care organisation. By use of this risk assessment process, staff members can communicate the
important information which assist in overcome the uncertainty of hazards.
In the case of Connor, Slade house required to collect the information about the Connor disability
and develop a proper and effective care planning in order to provide facility and treatment. As per
the given case it is cleared that it is the ineffectiveness or carelessness of Slade house organisation
which has not properly take care of Connor so that he has died due to submerge in the bath.
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In this manner, cited organisation should properly develop a plan in order to deliver an
appropriate care services to Connor. (Niles, 2010.) In this manner, risk assessment process assist in
conveying a systematic planning for protecting service users from uncertain hazards. Cited
organisation should maintain the good standards of housekeeping, repair the damaged floor and
provide the suitable footwear and costumes for service users, clean bath and wash rooms etc. In the
case of Connor, cited organisation should maintain the infrastructure according to the suitability of
mental disorder patients so as they can safely carry their routine work. By following these things in
the care organisation, management can overcome the chances of harms and hazards (Nolan, 2005).
On the other hand, another information has been founded from the risk assessment that Slade house
has not properly consider on the facilities and arrangement for mental disorder patients. Thus,
carron has died due to the submerged in his bath. This following information can be used by the
organisation to formulate the policies and procedure regarding the safety of service users. For
example, collect the information about the patients disability and according to them the
infrastructure facility and arrangement should provided. Hence, it can be said that risk assessment
assist in communicating the important information to the patients and care workers in the health and
care organisation.
2.2 Impact of health and safety policy aspect on health and social care practices and home's
customers
As per the given case scenario, it has been founded that Connor died in the Slade house due
to the mental disorder. In this aspect, there was essentially required risk assessment policies and
procedures so as connor can able to get proper care and treatment from health care experts and staff
members. By this risk assessment policies and procedure, organisation can provide an effective
treatment and operations to all patients. There have positive impact of this policies and practices on
the health of service users.
In the case of Connor, in order to provide effective treatment and care service to him, Slade house
organisation should develop an effective policies and practices. The major objective of this
organisation is to render an effective care services to patients so as they can able to overcome their
health issues and improve their health. To achieve this objective, the management of health care
organisation have to bring some changes such as maintain hygiene environment, install the fire
alarm, smoke detector within the care home.
On the other hand, health and safety policies and practices assist in overcome the hazards and
uncertain accidents in the health and care organisation. By this service users and their family can
escape from the risk (Bowen, Privitera and Bowie, 2011). For example, in order to provide
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awareness in the patients and their family members, the hospital has to show the posters and
pictures at the different place. The posters and boards are related to the information about the safety
and security in the health care organisation. By use of the health safety policies and practices in the
organisation, patients and their family members can highly beneficial because they can able to gain
effective and quality treatment and improve their health. On the other hand family member can
acquire the awareness about uncertain accidents and hazards in the organisation.
2.3 Dilemmas encountered in relation to implementing systems and policies of health, safety and
security
In the simple word, dilemma is a situation in which a difficult choice has to made between
two or more alternatives. It is a situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem
equally unfavourable or unsatisfactory. In the health care organisation Slade house, while
implementing systems and policies for health, safety and security then there are various dilemmas
occurred. In this context, social moral and ethical dilemmas occupied which are commonly related
to the system, policies for health and safety in the organisation (Ellenbecker and Tsai, 2015). In the
case of Slade house, the care practitioners and staff members have responsibility to deliver each and
every medical facilities and treatment which Connor is required. Connor is a patient of epileptic and
had autistic traits so he was unable to take their own decision regarding their daily routine works.
He was also unable to think for their safety and security in the health care organisation. In such
case, it is duty of care practitioners and staff member to properly take care of him and properly
arrange all their facility related to daily routine work. If carer worker has properly arrange their
daily routine work then he will never die to submerged in the bath.
In this case, Connor was facing the mental disorder so he was to having sense of taking any
kind of decision. In this case if he want to take their bath on their own so care workers and staff
members of Slade house have no right to stop the Connor. If they stop him to access the human
right then it becomes illegal. But according to the health and safety legislation perspective, the
health experts and care workers can stop Cannor to take bath on their own on the behalf of the act of
Mental Capacity act 2005.
2.4 Effects of non-compliance of health and safety legislation
Under the RIDDOR (The reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences
regulation 1995) there is a legal duty of the health and care organisation or any other corporation in
control of work premises to report and record some work related accidents and injuries. This
regulation has developed by the UK government in order to get knowledge about the accidents and
injuries in the organisation. Further, by this reporting, government provide the remedies to that
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particular person and his family (Haas and Yorio, 2016). If in case, organisation is failure to report
the information about the accidents then it becomes a criminal offence and that particular
organisation's owner can be sentenced in the Magistrates court with a fine up to 20000 or in the
crown court with an unlimited fine. In addition to this, organisation's owner deemed responsible for
non reporting can also face a period of imprisonment for up to two years.
There are various work related accident which should be reported to the government these are as
follows-
 Death
 Major injuries, including but not limited to fractures, dislocation of the shoulder, hip, knee
etc.
 Disease including but not limited to certain musculoskeletal disorders.
It can be said that if the health care services are not followed the rules, regulations and guidance
related to health and safety which have already approved by government then it will take a strict
action against the particular organisation's owners (Hadad and et.al., 2013). Further, if the care
centre has not followed this health and safety acts and policies then it will make the negative effects
of the non compliance. For example, if care practitioners has not provided proper treatments and
facilities to the mental disorder patients then the probability of the injury or hazards may occur at
the organisation. By this disarrangement, service users in the health a d care organisation may face
the negative impact of non compliance.
TASK 3
3.1 Methods of monitored and reviewed health and safety policies and practices in UK HealthCare
In order to monitor and review of health and safety policies and practices, health care organisation
can use the various methods. These methods are as follows- Audit of risk- By conducting audit in the health and social care organisation, management
can improve the standards of health and safety. By this, each care practitioner are bounded
to follow each and every legislation and policies of health and safety in the organisation. For
example, by using health and safety management system, UK government can identify
whether the organisation used the legislation and polices or not in order to render the safety
to patients and service provider (Harris, Olsen and Walker, 2012). While, organisation
conduct the auditing then it will assist in improving the quality of care services because
management can identify whether the policies and process are implement of not. Thus,
organisation can access the improperness in the procedure of medical services. Measure the effectiveness- This is the best method to monitor and review the health and
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safety policies and practices in the organisation. Under this, the existing hazards and risk can
identify so as management can easily improve the process of medical services. In this
context the available hazards and risk and their impact on the service usesr as well as care
practitioners may define the effectiveness of health and safety policies (Healy, 2011)
 Risk assessment- Risk assessment is another effective method to monitor and review
policies and practices of health and safety in the care organisation. By this, management can
easily identified that how many hazards and risk are available in the organisation. Thus,
management can improve the existing policies and practices of the care organisation. Beside
this, for the identified new area of hazards , the new policies and procedure can be
developed for the safety objective.
3.2 Analysis and priorities to specific aspects of health and safety at health and social care
workplace
In the health and social care organisation, the safety climate tool assist in measuring the
perception of care workers on health and safety issues. This tool provides a unique insight into the
organisation's safety culture, and evidence based suggestions for improving it. In the simple word it
can be said that this tool explores the employees attitudes and perception in the key areas of health a
and safety (Tributor, 2014.). This tool generates a written report and provides hints and tips that
assist manger to improve the organisation's safety culture. By use of this tool, care organisation can
raise the profile of health and safety. Further, management can develop benchmark about the
performance against the similar care home in the country.
In the context of health and care organisation, management can analyse the effectiveness of
policies and practices about health and safety. By this safety climate tool, management can identify
the perception and attitude of care practitioners and staff members about the policies and process of
health and safety (Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. 2016). Care practitioners and staff
member gives their different view, suggestions and opinion about the existing policies and practices.
If there is any ineffectiveness found related to policies then management can improve that. Further,
by identify the view and suggestion of care practitioners about care policies and practices,
management can improve the effectiveness of existing process.
3.3 Evaluation of own contribution to placing health and safety needs of individual
As a care practitioner in the health and care organisation, I have various roles and
responsibility to protect and deliver quality services to patients. My major objective is to deliver
such effective and quality care services and facility to service users so as they can easily improve
their health issues and disability. For this objective, I have to evaluate my own contribution thus I
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can coordinate and support with other staff members and improve the health of patients. In the
centre of practices, I have identified various policies and practices related to the health acre
organisation such as anti smoking, fire alarm, keep house clean and safe etc. In order to implement,
these policies and practices in the care organisation I have to prepare the documentation. This
documentation should be in an effective manner under which all policies and practices are included.
The objective of that document is to develop attention about preventing uncertain hazards and
accidents. On the other hand I have to conduct the risk assessment process under which I can
identify that how many hazards and risk are available in the care organisation and how the impact
on the health of care workers as well as patients. By maintaining this record related to hazards and
risk in the care organisation, I can control their negative impact on the health of people. Further
more, I can conduct the feedback process under which I can collect the feedback from service users
related to policies and practices of health and safety in the organisation. If there are any lacking then
I will communicate to manager for improve them. In addition to this, I have responsibility to check
the performance of many junior subordinate at workplace. Thus, I can improve the entire process of
delivering the health care services in the care home.
CONCLUSION
Health and safety of employees in the organisation is the prior duty of management, it is
major responsibility and priority of the management to develop and follow effective policies and
practices in order to render safety and security from uncertain hazards and accidents. From this
project report it has been founded that care organisation should follow the legislation and code of
practices in order to deliver effective care services to patients. It has also concluded that there has a
positive impact of the system, policies and legislative framework in regard of health and safety in
the organisation. It has recommended that Slade house should develop a proper planning related to
health and safety for their patients so as they can escape from the accidents in the organisation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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