Empowering Users in Health and Social Care

This research study focuses on the importance of human rights and valuing people in health and social care. It discusses how these factors influence policies and procedures and explores the factors that affect the ability of organizations to promote and maximize the rights of service users. The case study is based on Care UK, a healthcare service provider.

EMPOWERING USERS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

INTRODUCTION
The main aim of good quality domiciliary care services is to promote a way of life for
service users which allows them to manage their rights and obligations in best possible manner
and this is also essential in terms of promoting and protecting individual human rights. The
present research study has been made on Care UK which provides health care services.
TASK 1
a) How human rights and valuing people influence and affect the policies and procedures
Human Rights are essential to be implemented in care for the purpose of providing
support, dignity and respect to the patients. It is protected by European Convention on Human
Rights; hence it includes all the major rights and obligations of the patients in different
perspectives. The Human Rights Act 1998 sets out the fundamental rights and freedom of
everyone who resides in UK. The act includes basic three effects such as:
 It incorporate the rights set out in European Convention on Human Rights into domestic
British law. It means that if human rights of patients are breached in health care entity,
then the case can be forwarded to a British court rather seeking justice from the European
Court of Human Rights. Hence, stating this it can be said that it has enhanced the legal
obligations of Care UK and more concern is required to be given on human interest.
 It requires all public bodies to carry out all the public functions with respect and dignity
so as to protect human rights.
 It also needs to ensure that new laws are compatible with the rights that are determined in
the European Convention on Human Rights.
Valuing people is crucial for Care UK because that maximizes the satisfaction level of
clients and at the same time, it also results in enhancing the organizational effectiveness.
Moreover, it can be said that Care UK should emphasize on valuing the clients and practitioners
both so that overall efficacy of service delivery procedure can be enhanced.

b) Factors that affect the ability of organization in promoting and maximizing the rights of
service users
There are several factors that could impede the health and social care organization to
promote and maximize the rights of service users. The example has been taken with Care UK
which is an independent health care entity serving health care amenities to the patients. Care UK
is focused towards the promotion of rights of service users; however the below mentioned factors
often affect the ability of the health care entity.
 Staffing levels: Staff members must have the capability to promote the rights and
responsibilities of service users; however unavailability of such thing could generate
many issues and challenges. Moreover, it has also been observed that some staff
members of Care UK do not prefer to engage service users in health care dimensions
which not only affects the care provision; but also changes the productivity of Care UK.
However, on the contrary if staff members are aware about the rights and responsibilities
of service users; then this provision can underpin the sector in effective manner.
 The changing health status of service users: Service users are getting more concerned
about their health perspectives and this is the reason they are highly aware about their
health rights and obligations. It is essential for Care UK to provide appropriate
information to the service users about their health dimensions because they are liable to
acquire knowledge on the same. However, most often interference of service users affect
the service effectiveness; hence in this respect practitioners of Care UK avoid to involve
all the patients in decision making process.
c)