Health and Social Care: A Report on Empowering Care UK Users

This report analyzes the practices of Care UK in empowering users within the health and social care sector. It explores how human rights and valuing individuals influence policies and procedures, and examines factors affecting an organization's ability to maximize service users' rights. The report also investigates effective communication strategies between workers and service users. Furthermore, it identifies factors contributing to vulnerability, and discusses ways to promote independence and participation. The study also highlights tensions faced by medical professionals, risk factors, and the effectiveness of managerial processes. It concludes with an assessment of current legislation, codes of practice, policies, and procedures for administering medication within Care UK, offering insights into the challenges and best practices within the health and social care environment.

EMPOWERING USERS IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Table of Contents
Introduction.....................................................................................................................................4
Task 1..............................................................................................................................................4
a) How human rights and valuing people influence and affect the policies and procedures .. .4
b) Factors that affect the ability of organization in promoting and maximizing the rights of
service users...............................................................................................................................5
c) Communication between workers and service users for promoting rights............................5
Task 2..............................................................................................................................................7
a) Factors that contribute to different types of vulnerable individuals.......................................7
b) Ways to promote independence and participation.................................................................8
c) Tensions that might face by medical professionals................................................................9
Task 3............................................................................................................................................10
a) Identification of risk factors.................................................................................................10
b) Effectiveness of the managerial processes...........................................................................11
Task 4............................................................................................................................................11
a) Current legislation, codes of practice and policy.................................................................11
b) Effectiveness of policies and procedures for administrating medication.............................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................14

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

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 (Scullion,
Somerville and Morris, 2015).
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 (El-Sayed, Nguyen and Sussman, 2015). 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 (Tang, 2016). 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 (Sahid Ullah, 2016).
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 (Dew, Gallego and
Griffiths, 2013).
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 (Im and Chiang, 2016). 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 (Estivill-
Castro, Hough and Islam, 2014).
 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 (Ginige, 2016). It is evident from my experience that
proper communication is not done sometimes by the nursing staff due to which casualties
arise in operation. 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) Communication between workers and service users for promoting rights
Effective communication is very important it helps to build strong relationship between
care workers and users (Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013). For instance for making the

coordination with 19 year old women, staff of care UK needs to take care the lady properly and
discuss each issue with the use of correct language. Impressive interaction assists to understand
the actual medical condition of he patients, thus, cited firm can provide them treatment
accordingly. Medical professionals of care UK should enhance their communication skills, they
haver to listen properly the view point of the woman and make her feel comfortable. It will help
to gain trust of the lady thus, it will make communication effective between both (Roberts,
2015).
Interaction techniques to reduce gap of communication
 Care workers of the cited firm have to use second language so that they can understand
their view point and can make her understand too. It will reduce misunderstanding in the
organization.
 Medical professionals and higher authorities need to take feedback time to time with the
care users so that they can know about the drawbacks and can improve working
efficiency (Househ, Borycki and Kushniruk, 2014).
 Inspection: Timely proper inspection by the senior team will help to improve the lacking
points of the care home to great extent.
 Involvement of all members and take suggestion: It is another effective technique of
communication, by this way care workers of care UK will be able to get good
recommendations by their medial professionals. It will help to wok in sink and to
enhance interaction with the 19 year old lady (Cameron, Lart and Coomber, 2014).
Procedure

Resourceful interaction between both of them assists to protect the rights of service
users. Care UK needs to give proper training to its staff members so that they can identify the
interaction gap and can improve his lacking point (Carey, 2014).
TASK 2
a) Factors that contribute to different types of vulnerable individuals
There are several elements which may cause vulnerability in the society.
 High dependence: Vulnerable persons have to depend on others for smaller activities.
Lack of independence creates a situation of fear for the suffered people. According to
scenario daughter has left her job for caring her parents. Now she was depended on her
family that might reduce her confidence and she can be unable to raise her voice against
abuse. When person is highly depended upon other than individual loss her capacity to
lead their life effectively and for small decisions they have to wait for others (Calvillo,
Román and Roa, 2015). Lack of education and skills: According to the given case individual was unable to get
job opportunity because of poor speaking English. This lack of skills are the major
factor and create the situation of non participation. Maximum people those who suffered
from abuse and vulnerability they are uneducated, as they have no knowledge about the
rights and legislation which can protect them. That is why they face abuse and do not
raise their voice. It may lead to condition of social exclusion as well (Steehler, Steehler
and Harley, 2013). Non participation in decision making: It is another factor that contribute to social
exclusion to great extent. As many students get bullied at schools that is why they lost
their confidence start getting afraid. That creates problem for them and in case of
vulnerability they feel unable to raise their voice. Due to tease by others, individual feel
dishearten and do not participate in decision making process (2010 to 2015 government
policy: drug misuse and dependency, 2015).

 Emotional factors: It is another main factor that contribute in three types of vulnerable
persons. As due to high affection with the family and friends, some time individual feel
unable to say against the person. That creates critical situation and that may lead to non
participation and social exclusion.
b) Ways to promote independence and participation
There are several ways through which Care UK can promote empowerment in the
organization:
Empowering individuals: It is the great way to promote independence and participation for
elderly individuals. By giving the power to take decisions organization will be able to encourage
them and they will support the care workers well (Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated
Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 12, 2014). Cited firm can enhance the service quality
of he medical services and by delivery impressive treatment to users, organization can increase
their participation. By this way elderly individuals will not be depended on other and they will
be able to take decisions by own.
Ensuring performance of medical professionals: It is another way through which participation
and involvement of the people can be increased. By evaluating the performance of staff
member's organization can boost their energy by this way they will be able to provide better care
to learning disability young people. Such type of service users are not that much ability to take
any decisions they have to be depended upon others. Senior doctors should give them proper
training and motivation so that they can improve their performance. It will help to deliver
effective care to such type of suffered persons (Carey, 2014). This method can help to promote
empowerment in the workplace.
Source of information or awareness: It is another way through which care UK can promote
participation of staff members. Seniors need to give them timely information about the latest

machineries, their rights etc. This aware and relevant information will boost their energy and
people will be loyal towards the organization. It will promote participation to great extent (Calvillo,
Román and Roa, 2015).
Further, it is required that health and social care must focus on independence and
participation of each individual as part of human rights. For this, consent can be taken by nurse
and also communication through action and gestures can be done. Further, decision should be
taken by individual in order to respect their individuality. This way, coordination among service-
users and staff member will enhance.
c) Tensions that might face by medical professionals
Human being have rights to take their own decisions, no one can bound them or force
them to change their decisions. For instance if person with moderate learning disability wants to
join job and live independently then individual has right to live alone but due to the medical
problems for the persons. Being a social worker, medical professionals can not allow the people
to live alone that can cause conflict situation in the organization between care workers and
service users (Carey, 2014). The possible tension can be termed as safety versus independence.
As the the medical condition of learning disable person, doctors can not give him permission, as
it can be risky for the individual. The poor health person can not live alone, individual has to
bring someone with him. But he has right to live alone so this tension may occurred with the
care workers.
It is the responsibility of the care workers of the Care UK that to take care patients well.
For instance if frail person demand to live alone and if any injury take place then family
members will blame the doctors of such particular care home that they have not fulfil their
duties well (Roberts, 2015). But in case there is no fault of the side of service providers and that

is why it creates the situation of conflict between care users and providers. It is fact that frail
patients can harm own self or other too. So that can lead the tension in the organization. Rights
and responsibilities are two contradict parts, it is the right of patients to leave alone but also it is
the duty of the medical professional to take care of users and supervise individuals condition
time to time because they can harm own self. By this way conflict can arise between both of
them.
Task 3
a) Identification of risk factors
According to the case study there are several risk factors are attached with Ms. P, these
are as following:
Physical harm: As per the scenario, ms. P is suffering from learning disability and she
requested for living independently. As she was unable to take care of own self, as she can harm
own self or others as well (Im and Chiang, 2016). This is the major hazard attached with the
lady. Apart from this due to learning disability problem she was unaware from her rights so she
can suffer from abuse as well. She was needed support otherwise she could face isolation from
the society which may cause abuse.
Emotional abuse: As it is found that Ms. P easily talks with her close friends so she can
get emotional abuse. That is why her parents are also concerned. As she was alone so if she
shares information with friends then they may try to harm her. They can take advantage of her
situation and can emotionally abuse her (Sahid Ullah, 2016).

Mental harm: As Ms. P was suffering from learning disability so she was unable to
participate actively in social events. Thus, due to aloneness she may face distress and fear as
well.
b) Effectiveness of the managerial processes
Medical professionals of the care home must protect Ms. P and should give her effective
care. So that she would not suffer from the harm and abuse. Proper following of legislations can
help to minimize the unacceptable risk. By involving her in social gathering her harm can be
reduced to great extent. This is very effective managerial process as by this way Ms. P will be
protected and will be able to interact more in the social events (Tang, 2016).
By resolving complains of the lady immediately, care home can fulfil their responsibility
impressively. Policy of interdependency is very effective by this way moral of the lady can be
increased and she can raise her voice against the abuse. By this way her condition may get
improved (Sahid Ullah, 2016). Procedure of the health care organization such as taking
feedback, risk assessment can help to influence the condition of Ms. P. As managers of the care
home review in four weeks and they monitor the situation of the lady time to time. By this way
if any risk is associated with her then they can protect her easily. As the managerial approach of
giving her protection so that she would not be isolated is very effective. By this way she can
develop strategies to minimize or face risks strongly (Dew, Gallego and Griffiths, 2013).
Task 4
a) Current legislation, codes of practice and policy
UK government has made several legislation for handling medication. Description of
these laws are discussed as below:

Medicine act 1968: This act is very effective and ensures that all drug handlers should have
license of business, without license they can not sell drugs in the market. Apart from this,
legislation ensures that all license being renewed every year, after expiry they can not operate
their business. This act bounds nurses, doctors to keep records of each medicine so that no
expiry drug can get circulated in the market (Im and Chiang, 2016). Some medicine are for the
limited time period so medical professionals and drug handlers have to consider this point as be
attentive before selling any medicine.
Drug act 2005 and misuse of drug act 1986: This is effective law in which if any drug dealer
is misusing the medicine then government can take strong action against the defaulter. This
legislation ensures that supplier gives accurate amount of drug as the medical condition of the
persons because over dose can impact badly on individual situation (Estivill-Castro, Hough and
Islam, 2014).
Care act 2008: It is another legislation made by UK government, it ensures that medical
professionals give effective care to patients. In case of poor treatment authorities can cancel
license of the hospital immediately (Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities)
Regulations 2014: Regulation 12, 2014).
It is very necessary to follow all these legislation by all medical firms, care UK needs to
follow all these acts strictly. These laws will help the cited firm to handle medication in the
workplace.
b) Effectiveness of policies and procedures for administrating medication
There are different types of policies that create major impact on care UK. Following
legislation can be considered within firm: