CHCCOM005 Portfolio: Health or Community Services Communication

This portfolio assignment, completed for the CHCCOM005 unit, addresses the principles of communication and work practices within health and community services. It begins by outlining ethical decision-making guidelines, emphasizing values such as dignity, social justice, and integrity. The assignment then analyzes a case study involving a care worker's breach of privacy and negligence, detailing reporting procedures. It explores the Health and Social Care Act's definition of confidential personal information and related principles. Additionally, the portfolio examines codes of practice, care worker rights, and strategies to avoid conflicts of interest. Part 2 of the portfolio focuses on the roles of various professionals in an aged care facility, including managers, supervisors, registered nurses, and care workers, with a detailed description of their responsibilities. The assignment also addresses how a care worker should handle tasks outside of their job role and mentions relevant legislation like The Care Act 2014 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulations 2012.

Running head: COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY
SERVICES
COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY SERVICES
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY SERVICES
Part 1
a. The ethical decision making guidelines sets forth the following values that are needed
to be considered to address the ethical complexities. These include respecting the
dignity of the person along with the inherent worth. There should be pursuit for Social
justice. Service to humanity should be provided. Integrity should be preserved in
professional practise along with maintenance of confidentiality1.
b. The care worker seen the case study has not been complying to duties since the
caseworker was observing negligence towards the client along with disrespecting the
privacy of the client.
c. A care worker might report a breach to a person who is authorised by the management
of the organization. The breach can be reported either verbally or through writing.
However in case of minor breaches, the issue can be raised with the managers of the
organization.
d. The health and social care act helps in defining the 'confidential personal information'.
This information is gained by the commission that is related to the circumstances that
are needed to be taken place in confidence. This related to identified individuals.
Certain principles should be followed to maintain the confidentiality like the personal
information will be obtained only when it is of utmost importance. The individuals
will be always informed and consent will be taken in such cases.
e. Several codes are followed like the SSSC code of practise for delivering respect to the
service users. This includes treating each person like an individual, respecting cultural
diversity and values, promotion of independence of the clients through work
practices.
1Lillemoen, Lillian, and Reidar Pedersen. "Ethical challenges and how to develop ethics support in primary
health care." Nursing ethics 20, no. 1 (2013): 96-108.

2COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY SERVICES
f. As an employee, the rights of the care workers include right in the workplace which
include privacy rights, fair compensation and no discrimination. A national minimum
wage that is decided by the governing body must be paid.
The employer rights include right to appoint or dismiss workers only on justified
grounds, with proper procedures. The employers should have liability towards the
employees2.
g. To avoid conflict of interest in the workplace, awareness is required. One should also
seek advice from others and be one step ahead.
Part 2
The manger has a front line leadership role in an aged care facility. The manager is
responsible for overseeing the day to day operations that include staff recruitment along with
budget management. In addition to this, it is the duty of the managers of a aged care facility
to ensure the quality of the services that are provided in order to meet the standards of
national care. The managers try to make sure that the cafe services that are available in the
facility, is integrated in the community as a local resource.
The supervisor plays a role as a point of communication between the customers, the care
workers and the coordinators involved in service provision. The supervisor makes sure that
the nurses and the other staffs of the department are able to meet the goals of the department.
They also make efforts to coach and educate the staff members for managing the patients
with acute conditions.
Registered nurses are involved in carrying out routine care for the patients. They regularly
check the vital signs of the patient like temperature, oxygen rate, heart rate and other such
signs. The registered nurses are also involved in providing nursing leadership in an aged
2Boris, Eileen, and Jennifer Klein. Caring for America: Home health workers in the shadow of the welfare state.
Oxford University Press, 2015.

3COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY SERVICES
healthcare facility. They provide an approach which is person-centred, that involves
providing along with management and overseeing of the care services.
Being a care worker at an aged care facility the job roles include knowing the
client and their needs. Help is required to be provided for personal care like using toilet,
dressing, feeding and washing. In addition to this, the job role involves rehabilitation after
any injury or surgery and illness. Physical therapy is also required to be conducted in some
cases. The older adults generally suffered from impaired mobility; hence they might need
help like lifting or being moved using special equipments. Care is often required during
respite care. They are in 24/7 service with the patient. The job role also requires working in
coordination with other health professionals.
In situations where I am asked to do a task that is not in my job role, I would
politely decline it by providing a justified reason. The reason is that most of the time it is
unethical since it is out of my expertise, which in turn might take a toll on the wellbeing of
the service user. In such cases I might approach the managers and the supervisors of the
facility and explain the situation to them. If the situation is such that the job might not be
turned down, the supervisor can advise on how to address the job and take responsibility.
Acts that might impact the work as a care worker include The Care Act 2014, The
Care Quality Commission) and Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulations 2012 and others
like The Care Quality Commission Regulations 20123. Other rights of the care workers
include the Affordable Care Act, the Immigration reform and the Family Act.
3Anderson, Amy. "The impact of the Affordable Care Act on the health care workforce." The Heritage
Foundation (2014).

4COMMUNICATE AND WORK IN HEALTH OR COMMUNITY SERVICES
References
Anderson, Amy. "The impact of the Affordable Care Act on the health care workforce." The
Heritage Foundation (2014).
Boris, Eileen, and Jennifer Klein. Caring for America: Home health workers in the shadow of
the welfare state. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Lillemoen, Lillian, and Reidar Pedersen. "Ethical challenges and how to develop ethics
support in primary health care." Nursing ethics 20, no. 1 (2013): 96-108.