Health and Safety in Healthcare: Fleetwood Hall Care Home Case Study

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HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
WORKPLACE
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Table of Contents
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Introduction
The care workers of a health and social care unit are crucially responsible for maintaining safety
and security of the care users. Proper maintenance of health and safety within a health and social
care unit is the priority of the healthcare management. The study effectively describes about the
policies and procedures that are required to be implemented within the healthcare unit. Along
with this, it has also been discussed about responsibilities of the care providers towards service
users. Additionally, it has also been taken into consideration the analysing of risk assessment and
impact of health and safety policies on the service users.
Task 1
LO1
1.1
‘Reviewing policies, systems and procedures’
It was the common incidence where the records were not maintained properly at the end of the
staffs. For example, if someone is disabled and needed the medication on the time, it was ignored
and the column of medication was left blank for it. The provided service was not safe as the
discrepancies made by the staff and were not audited on time by the management.
RIDDOR
As per the RIDDOR regulations 1995, it was required from the management and the staff of the
Fleetwood to report about the incidents that occurred at the Fleetwood but the case was not the
same as the staff who were employed there had no proper training for it and thus whenever
anything happened .For example, any injury to the patients or, accidents. They were unable to
handle the situation. Further, the records on these mishaps were also neglected. The columns
made for this case were left blank and the register was nit used to identify such cases (Tompa et
al., 2016).
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MH)
The disabled patients were not attended properly for lifting them to their bed. For example, when
a woman went to a men ward, by mistake, one of the man available there tried one her. The level
of staffing was inadequate to manage the safety procedures effectively. The training of the
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available staffs was not done properly to handle their duty. Thus lack in the supervision,
appraisal and training was present at Fleetwood. There were not specific bathrooms for women
or, a dedicated lounge at the mental health unit for men (Handford et al., 2015).
Health and Safety Regulations 1981
As per the regulation of Health and Safety Regulations 1981.it was required from the Fleetwood
to provide the appropriate and adequate equipments for the treatment of the patients, providing
the facilities that were needed to ensure the immediate attention towards the patients especially
the ladies were not available. The procedure of complaints and process were in place as the
services offered by the Fleetwood were not responsive. People complained about the boring they
had due to absence of recreational plans. The number of frequent changes in the management led
to inadequate maintenance of the services monitoring related to safety and security at Fleetwood.
Some of the common were in the forms of feedback systems and checks and audits (Jaafar et al.,
2018).
1.2
‘Assessing the responsibilities for managing health and safety’
It is the most important responsibility of the care providers to ensure that the service users are
treated in a better way and thus are provided with all the services according to their preferences
(Foo et al., 2017).
In reference to the case study of Fleetwood Hall care home, there was CQC inspection that stated
the care home required improvement in their services for the care users. It has been found that
the care home accommodated a mental health unit with women and men suffering from mental
illness, care sector for dementia sufferers were also there accommodating six men and women
and general nursing had 14 men and women.
● Health and Safety Executive
In relevance to the case scenario of Fleetwood Hall care home, it has been observed that the
services that were catered to the care users were not up to the mark and were inadequate. There
was also less number of staffs that resulted in inadequate services to the care users.
● Employers and Employees
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The care providers and management of a healthcare unit are required to wor5k in collaboration
so as to fulfil the requirements of the acre users and provide them treatment according to their
requirements (Kimerling et al., 2016). It has been observed that due to ineffective
communication and lack of communication, the care providers were not able to serve the service
users according to their needs.
● Manager
In Fleetwood hall care home, the registered manager registered the care home with Care Quality
Commission to manage the services. Manager did not provide any attention towards the
maintenance of the services within the healthcare unit. It was necessary for the registered staffs
to implement the principles of Health and Social Care Act 2008 to support the care users.
1.3
‘Analysing health and safety priorities’
Care providers are required to be cautious for the health and safety priorities of the care users. It
is the core responsibilities of the care providers to pay appropriate attention to the care users of
the respective care home accommodating dementia and mental health sufferers (Wykes et al.,
2018).
● RIDDOR
RIDDOR states about reporting of different incidents, accidents and injuries taking place within
a healthcare unit (Selix et al., 2017). In relation to the case scenario of Fleetwood hall care home,
it has been observed that the care providers did not maintain a proper information register for
recordkeeping. The mental health column was either empty or registered with other information.
It has also been found that the women of the care unit complained that they were not feeling safe
at the place. The regulation of RIDDOR requires proper staff member who can report about the
injuries and control the premises of the care unit from certain incidents.
● COSHH
COSHH is the abbreviation for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations that
assists the staff members to report about exposure of different hazardous incidents or substances
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in order to prevent ill health of the care users (Tambuyzer and Van Audenhove, 2015).
According to Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH, 2002), it has
been observed that care providers are required to prevent or reduce the chance of being ill treated
of the care users. COSHH can also be referred to as the way of risk assessment that helps in
analysing about the hazardous substances that can impose harm to the care users.
● Manual handling
Manual handling Operations Regulations 1992 (MHOR) emphasises on proper handling of the
care users and supporting their load that includes helping them through lifting, putting down,
carrying or moving (Artiga and Hinton, 2018). In Fleetwood hall care home, it has been observed
that none of the staffs were active enough to supervise or appraise the care users. The process of
manual handling of the care users or helping them was very poor. One of the care users also
complained about lack in safeguarding, moving and handling of the care users.
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Task 2
LO2
2.1
‘Analysing information from risk assessment informs care planning’
In a healthcare unit, there are certain risks that are encountered by the care providers and the care
users. This is necessary to be overcome by the care givers so that they are able to provide
effective services to their service users of the respective care unit (Blumenthal and McGinnis,
2015). There are different steps that are involved in risk assessment.
Steps of risk assessment
● Identification of the hazard
Identification of hazard states that the care providers are required to analyse the factors that can
expose the care users to risk (Chung et al., 2016). In context to the case study of Fleetwood hall
care home, it has been deciphered that the care users do not pay proper attention to the service
users. As an instance, it can be considered that the women were not feeling safe at the place and
thus one of them also suffered from harassment by a man. It is necessary for the care providers to
pay proper attention to such incidents and report it to RIDDOR.
● Deciding who might be harmed and how
The next concern of the care providers must be about analysing the factors that are causing risk
to the service providers (Giles-Corti, et al., 2016). Along with this, it is also important for the
service providers to understand reason of the risk caused. In case of Fleetwood hall care home,
the care providers must have taken initiatives to solve the issues that were faced by the women
and stop their harassment.
● Evaluating risk and deciding controlling measures
Care providers are required to evaluate the factors that are responsible for the risk caused and
take controlling measures against it. This can help them to develop their services against the
services users and provide them services according to their preferences (Hardyman et al., 2015)
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● Recording findings and implementing them
In Fleetwood hall care home, the care providers are required to record the incidents and injury
cases that were occurring in the care unit and inform to management. The care providers are
required to follow and implement principles of Health and Social Care Act 2008. In addition to
this, it is also necessary for the care providers to implement the strategies that were adopted by
them to mitigate the risk.
● Reviewing assessment and updating
The care providers must also review the strategies that were being implemented by them to
overcome the risk. Along with this, it is also necessary for the management of the care unit to
assess the methods and techniques and update them if required (Hignett et al., 2016). This can
help the management of the care unit to help the service users get services accordingly.
2.2
‘Impact of aspect of practice to individuals in relation to health and safety policies’
It is significant for the care providers to ensure that there is a proper implementation of the health
and safety policies for preventing the data breaches that occur in the respective healthcare unit
(Johnson et al., 2015). Care providers are required to ensure that proper services are being
provided to service users that also include manual handling supporting the service users.
Manual handling
Manual handling refers to supporting the care users by transporting load. This is also inclusive of
lifting, pulling down, pushing and moving a load from place to another (Phillips, 2016). In
relevance to the case scenario of Fleetwood hall care home, it has been evidenced that none of
the staff members were active to entertain the issue of manual handling that is being encountered
by the care users of the unit.
Advantages:
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● Manual handling training is highly recommended by the Management service so that the staff
members get appropriate idea about handling the care users and instil confidence regarding
safe working posture and work procedures (Valentine et al., 2015)
● This also contributes towards improvising the work skills and efficiency; identify risks and
risk of injury.
Disadvantages:
● The major disadvantage of manual handling system is that it can be labour-intensive to
operate and also seeks for regular monitoring and ensure about every ongoing activities of
the healthcare unit (Chung et al., 2016).
● There is a high rate of risk if not handled properly. In association to the case study of
Fleetwood care home, it has been observed that the care providers were not available for
supervision. Thus, this has lead to certain serious injuries of the care users.
2.3
‘Dilemma encountered in relation to implementing systems and policies for health, safety and
security’
It is the major responsibility of the care providers to look after the needs and requirements of the
service users. Along with this, security of the care users must also be the priority of the service
providers of the care unit (Wykes et al., 2018).
In relevance to the case scenario of Mrs Y, it has been deciphered that she was suffering from
Alzheimer and walking issues. She also undergoes through dilemma that constrained her to
develop her condition.
● Training staff
It is necessary to have trained staff members so that they are able to work in collaboration with
other care providers as well. In case of Mrs Y, it has been found that the care provider who was
assisting her was not trained well and that resulted in negligence of her health.
● Carrying out risk assessment
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In case of Mrs Y, dilemma is about the straps that is necessary to be used but Mrs Y did not
allow using it as those straps caused bruises on her legs. Using the straps would prevent Mrs Y
from getting hurt but Mrs Y was against using the straps. Mrs. Y felt that the straps are degrading
and causing her injury. However, her ill condition can also be due to wrong treatment or lack of
proper care. Susan told the care worker to have the straps whether Mrs Y allows or not.
2.4
‘Analysing the effects of non-compliance with health and safety legislation’
Non-compliance of health and safety legislations can lay optimistic and pessimistic impact on
the health condition of the care users. The paramount purpose of following the principles of
legislation is to smoothen the flow of communication among care users and care providers.
Negative effects:
● Fine and imprisonment
The care providers of Fleetwood care home were not providing enough care to the sufferers of
Dementia and Alzheimer. This can make the care providers imprisoned or management has to
pay huge fine for this negligence.
● Damage to reputation of the organisation
Care providers’ negligence can lead to downfall of the prestige of Fleetwood care home. This
can adversely affect the management of the organisation (Foo et al., 2017).
Positive effects:
● RIDDOR
The regulation of RIDDOR requires proper staff member who can report about the injuries and
control the premises of the care unit from certain incidents (Kimerling et al., 2016). In context of
the case study of Fleetwood care home, it has been found that the care unit required intense and
overall enhancement for betterment of the care users. The care workers were not providing
adequate assistance to the care users and also breached the regulations of Health and Social care
act 2008.
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● Training staffs
There must be proper training of the staffs so that they are able to communicate well with the
care users and deliver them services according to their preferences. This can also enhance the
communication process among the care users (Selix et al., 2017).
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Task 3
LO3
3.1
‘Monitoring and reviewing health and safety practices’
It is of great priority to monitor and review the health and safety practices for the betterment of
the service users (Tambuyzer and Van Audenhove, 2015). It is the most important responsibility
of the service providers to ensure that the policies and procedures are implemented in a proper
way.
● Active monitoring and reactive monitoring
In the Fleetwood hall care home, as per the CQC inspection report, it has been deciphered that
staff members were not monitoring the ongoing activities within the healthcare unit. Along with
this, service providers are needed to follow proper communication policy so that they are able to
communicate with the care users properly and deliver those services according to their
requirements.
● Spot Check
Care providers are assigned with doing proper maintenance of record keeping so that the care
providers get to know about the issues and troubles faced by the service users (Artiga and
Hinton, 2018).
● Use of questionnaire
Using questionnaires can be an effective way to communicate with the care users. The service
providers can give their feedback according to the questions that would be asked by the care
providers.
3.2
‘Analysing effectiveness of Health and Safety policies and practices’
In a healthcare unit, it is paramount to maintain a positive, healthy and safe ambience to support
the care users.
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