Review of Health and Safety Policies in Aspen Court Care Home

This report provides an in-depth analysis of health and safety policies and practices within Aspen Court Care Home. It reviews the systems for communicating health and safety information as per legislative requirements, assesses the responsibilities of different stakeholders, and analyzes health and safety priorities specific to the care home setting. The report also examines how risk assessments inform care planning, the impact of health and safety policies, and how dilemmas in implementing these policies can be addressed. Furthermore, it evaluates the monitoring and reviewing of health and safety policies, their effectiveness in promoting a positive safety culture, and the individual contributions to prioritizing the health and safety needs of individuals.

Health and Safety
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1 A.............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Reviewing systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and
safety in the health and social care workplace as per the legislative requirements.........................3
1.2 Assessment of the responsibilities for different stakeholders as specified in legislation, in
promoting effective health and safety practices at workplace in the health and social care settings
.........................................................................................................................................................4
TASK 1 B.............................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Analysing health and safety priorities that are appropriate for a specific health and social care
workplace setting.............................................................................................................................5
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Analysis of how information from risk assessments informs care planning for individual and
organizational decision making.......................................................................................................6
2.2 Analyzing the impact or significance of one aspect of any health and safety policy................6
2.3 Explain how dilemma encountered in implementing health and safety policies can be
addressed..........................................................................................................................................7
2.4 Analyzing the effects and implications of noncompliance with health and safety legislation in
the health and social care workplace...............................................................................................8
TASK 3.................................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Explaining how health and safety policies and practices are monitored and reviewed in Aspen
Court Care Home workplace...........................................................................................................8
3.2 Analyse the effectiveness of health and safety policies and practices in Aspen Court Care
Home in promoting a positive health and safe culture....................................................................9
3.3 Evaluation of own contributions to placing the health and safety needs of individuals at the
centre of own practice......................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
In an organization, a serious workplace accident or injury or death of an employee changes
lives of its related people such as friends, families, communities etc for forever. In this situation, it
becomes immeasurable for the companies. To deal with the occurrence of different kinds of hazards
at the workplace, firms are using various health and safety policies for well-being of the staff
members (What you need to do about health and safety, 2016). Present research is based on health
and safety and to understand its importance, Aspen Court Care Home is taking into the
consideration. As per the given case study, it has determined that manager of the cited care home
want to review and update current health and safety workplace policies. With the regards,
management send his one of the care workers to attain the training courses provided by the Health
and Safety Executives (HSE). The reason of taking such kind of step by Aspen Court Care Home is
to minimize the risks and incidence of serious injury and death. The current study will cover some
objectives such as implication of health and safety legislation at workplace, impact of these of
service users and health care workers and review of health and safety frameworks of care home.
TASK 1 A
1.1 Reviewing systems, policies and procedures for communicating information on health and
safety in the health and social care workplace as per the legislative requirements
As per the given case scenario of Aspen Court Care Home, it has determined that Health and
Safety Regulation 1981 has imposed by the management for safety and security of care workers. As
per the law, it is the duty of the employer to inform his employees regarding the arrangement made
by the company in connection with first aid. It should include the location of equipment, personnel
involve in this and facilities in provision of first aid. In this context, review of different systems,
policies and procedures for communicating information about the health and safety at Aspen Court
Care Home as per Health and Safety Regulation 1981 is as follows:
Care planning: Aspen Court Care Home has used this method for communicating health
and safety information at the workplace to the care workers. With the help of this, it has become
easy for the care organization to meet requirements of both health care workers and patients in
terms of well-being, security and safety (Frieden, 2013).
Dilemmas: In every organization, effective communication related to health and safety at the
workplace has generally affected from various dilemmas and challenges. In the case of Aspen Court
Care Home, management has tried to deal with variety of dilemmas such as personal risk, risk
benefit analysis, implications of use of resources, stakeholder priorities etc. This step has assisted
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the care organization to effectively communicate health and safety information at the workplace
(Health and safety in care homes, 2014).
Own practices: At the time of communicating and implementing health and safety
processes, some strategies needed to be follow which vary from one organization to another. By
considering the case study of Aspen Court Care Home, there are some authorities have given to
health care workers by the management. Under this, individual has got the power to adopt the
changes in practices, develop good relationship between clients and care workers etc so that they
can effectively communicate health and safety information at the workplace (Guzman and et.al.,
2015).
Therefore, from the above discussion, it has been understand that Aspen Court Care Home
has communicated right health and safety information to the staffs, business clients, investors,
patients as per the legislative requirements.
1.2 Assessment of the responsibilities for different stakeholders as specified in legislation, in
promoting effective health and safety practices at workplace in the health and social care settings
By considering Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it has found that it is an employer duty
to protect the health, welfare and safety of the employees as well as other people who might be
affected by the business. On the other hand, it is employee duty to take care of own health and
safety and other people who may be affected by his actions at workplace (Health and Safety at Work
etc Act, 1974, 2016). In the case of Aspen Court Care Home, different stakeholders have their some
responsibilities towards promoting effective health and safety practices at the workplace.
Assessment of those accountabilities of stakeholders of cited organization is as follows:
Employer: Aspen Court Care Home employer has promoted health and safety practices at
workplace by developing several legislations and policies related to health and safety. For this,
several safety awareness activities have organized by employer time to time so that various
stakeholders can get the information about health and safety practices of care home (Hughes and
Ferrett, 2011).
Health care workers: Social workers of Aspen Court Care Home have kept the transparency
with the patients at the time of offering services. By being honest, they have communicated all
possible risks and safety measures to overcome the impact of those hazards to the customers during
care. So a proper and effective communication from care workers side to the service users has able
to promote effective health and safety practices at the workplace (Johnstone, Bluff and Clayton,
2012).
Patients: These have responsible to communicate the right health information to the care
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workers Aspen Court Care Home. For instance, patient should have to tell if there is an allergy or
risk of health while taking treatment to the health care workers so that they can find other
alternatives to treat the diseases (Kane and Kane, 2013).
TASK 1 B
1.3 Analysing health and safety priorities that are appropriate for a specific health and social care
workplace setting
In Aspen Court Care Home, management needs to priorities health and safety requirements
with the aim of specific health and social care workplace setting. Analysis of those safety main
concerns that require serious attention to safeguard the health and well-being of service user is as
follows:
Moving and handling: In the case homes, major accidents have happed because of improper
moving and handling of patients either by manual or equipments basis. In Aspen Court Care Home,
this thing can be considered as the top most health and safety priorities. The reason of giving it most
importance in health care setting is because poor handling and moving techniques may cause back
pain or musculoskeletal disorders in patients and health workers (Karjalainen, Blencowe and
Lillsunde, 2012). Due to this, it may be responsible for disability in service users and care workers
to perform the work.
Equipment safety: Use of old technologies to deliver the care services to the patients, it
becomes responsible for occurrence of accidents. So, it is important for Aspen Court Care Home to
consider this issue in health and safety priority at the time of health and social care workplace
settings. Its essentialness can be understood from an example. Poor installation of electric supplies
in care home or open switchgear at electric outlet has the sign of danger for accidents. So, in this
case, it becomes important for Aspen Court Care Home to look towards equipment safety to ensure
the health and safety of the staffs and patients (Kondo, South and Branas, 2015).
Bed rails: These are the site or cot rails of beds which are attached with it to present the
human from fall. But something, it may be a cause of accident or injury for its users. In Aspen Court
Care Home, has needed to be considering this problem at the time of setting of health and safety
priorities. For instance, at the time of sleeping of bed, if neck, limbs or chest of patient stuck in poor
fitted rails on bed then it may cause asphyxiation situation. This creates the question over the health
and safety of the patients. Therefore, Aspen Court Care Home should consider the safety of the
users from bed rails (Lowes and Hulatt, 2013).
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TASK 2
2.1 Analysis of how information from risk assessments informs care planning for individual and
organizational decision making
On the basis of the given case study, it has determined that Aspen Court Care Home is
planning for preparation for admission of new residents. Before implement the following plan, a
complete risk assessment and care planning must be needed. In this context, from evaluation of risk
assessment principles in the context of Aspen Court Care Home, some essential information has
determined which has as followed:
 All kinds of health and safety facilities have provided to the services users from the care
workers side (Martin, Lippitt and Prothero, 2013).
 Adopted methods have able to determine hazards and their possible impact on health of both
service users and care workers.
 It has effectively evaluated different control measures to measure the overall impact of risks
over the adopted health and safety policies.
 This has helped in to determine those changes which are not effective and support the safety
features of care home (McCarthy and Rose, 2010).
On the other hand, from the evaluation of care planning principles within the context of
cited organization, some important information has found. These have helped in developed
customized care plan for the patients. Collected information from the assessment is as follows:
 All care plans needs have personalized.
 Care planning processes have focused towards the needs of the service users.
 It has promoted independence at the workplace which has created a good bond between the
service users and care workers (McKitterick, 2012).
 This has brought the reduction in inequalities during allocation of role and responsibilities to
health care workers and service users at the time of consuming the services.
 Care planning has given empowerment to the care workers to develop several care plan as
per their working practices.
 It has promoted choice discussion with service users where the patients have able to select
one of the best care plans as per their requirements (Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013).
2.2 Analyzing the impact or significance of one aspect of any health and safety policy
Aspen Court Care Home has adopted various health and safety policies at workplace with
the aim of minimize the impacts and occurrence of hazards. In this context, one health and safety
framework can be analyzed to determine its impact or significance. Manual Handling Operations
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Regulations 1992 has one of the policies that have followed by the care home to ensure the safety of
the patients and health care workers. There is a reason behind adoption of following framework by
cited care organization. Employer and employees of Aspen Court Care Home has failed to follow
prescriptions of the manual handling. They have not taken any kind of training to perform manual
handling process (Reeves, Lewin and Espin, 2011). Absence of missing this aspect has increased the
number of accidents at the workplace with both service users and care workers. In this respect, it
has decided by Aspen Court Care Home to adopt Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 at
the workplace. From the investigation of the following policy, it has determined that it has some
significance for the care organization. This has avoided hazardous manual handling operations at
the workplace by the health care workers. Proper training has arranged by the employer of cited
care home to the staff members regarding how to perform manual handling (Bowen, Privitera and
Bowie, 2011). Along with this, this has assisted in carry out the evaluation of about any hazardous
manual handling operations that cannot be avoid by care home during perform the operations.
Further, it has brought the reduction in the risk of injuries and accidents from manual handling
process.
2.3 Explain how dilemma encountered in implementing health and safety policies can be addressed
Dilemma can be defined as a situation in which a difficult selection has to be made between
two or more options which are equally important. In health care sector, there is a right of service
users to access health care services without any barrier or discrimination. There are some areas
which have limited the right of the customers during access of care services such as self
determination, confidentiality, respect, dignity etc (Ellenbecker and Tsai, 2015). In the case of
Aspen Court Care Home, there are many of the situations in which health care workers have faced
several dilemmas that have affected the implementation of health and safety policies of organization
at the workplace. This can be understood from an example. There is a woman who has abused by
her son and one of the care workers of cited organization has known about it. That lady has said him
to do not share this information with anyone. The reason of this, if someone knows about her son
abuse activity and inform in police then he can go jail for his activity. On this topic, she doesn’t tell
anymore to her care worker as she doesn’t trust on him. As per the right to self determination act, it
is a legal right of people to decide their own destiny (Haas and Yorio, 2016). In the case of lady who
face abuse from her son side has does not want to teach him a lesson for his activity. But for the
health care worker, he wants that that woman should raise her voice against abuse and send her son
to jail for such kind of work. This situation has created dilemma in front of the care worker either
respect the right to self determination of that lady or save her from his son abuse by complain to
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police. So, these type of conditions have encountered in implementing health and safety policies at
Aspen Court Care Home.
2.4 Analyzing the effects and implications of noncompliance with health and safety legislation in
the health and social care workplace
Noncompliance means refusal or failure to obey rules at the time of performing the work.
When a person is unwilling to follow with something then this will count into non-compliance. This
is considering as a crime in the terms law (Tributor, 2014). By considering the case study of Aspen
Court Care Home, if care organization not follows health and safety legislation at the workplace for
service users and care then it comes under noncompliance with legislation. For example, if care
home has not provided the safety at the time of manual handling of patients or not using right safety
equipments at the time of offering the care services them it will increase the risk of happening of
accidents with both employees and customers. This will create a highly dissatisfaction level in the
visitors over the time and will create a negative image in their mind of Aspen Court Care Home.
These with the effects and implications of noncompliance with health and safety legislation in the
health and social care workplace of cited care organization (Hadad and et.al., 2013).
TASK 3
3.1 Explaining how health and safety policies and practices are monitored and reviewed in Aspen
Court Care Home workplace
Aspen Court Care Home has used various health and safety policies at the workplace with
the aim of well-being of patients and care workers. In this context, it becomes important to measure
the health and safety activities of care home with the aim of identifying where improvements are
required and what actions needed to be prioritise in this context. With help of this, it has assisted the
care organization to assess the risks to employees, contractors, customers, partners, and any other
people who could be affected by organization activities (Harris, Olsen and Walker, 2012). By
considering the following importance of monitoring and reviewing health and safety policies and
practices of the cited care firm, some methods can be followed which are as follows:
General inspection: This is the process of systematically checking of working environment
and procedures to determine whether they are meeting the required standards or not. It has helped in
identify hazards by which measures to improve conditions can be developed. In the case of Aspen
Court Care Home, general inspection method can be followed by monitoring and reviewing health
and safety policies and practices. With the help of this, management can determine or check safe
conditions that enhance the safety at the workplace at both service users and workers aspects. Along
with this, it can also help out in determining hazardous conditions so that remedial measures to
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improve matters determine to overcome them. So it can be said that from general inspect method,
Aspen Court Care Home can monitor and review health ns safety policies in an effective manner
(Frieden, 2013).
Audit: With the application of periodic audits, Aspen Court Care Home can measure the
effectiveness of management structures and risk controls for health and safety issues. It will help in
determine the loopholes in existing health and safety framework along with its impacts on the
workplace. Audit process will give actual information about effectiveness of health safety policies
and what actions needed to be followed to improve them (Healy, 2011).
3.2 Analyse the effectiveness of health and safety policies and practices in Aspen Court Care Home
in promoting a positive health and safe culture
Culture can be defined as a social behaviour of a particular people or society at a particular
location. In the present time, health and social care organizations have promoted the positive culture
at the workplace so that it becomes easy to implement different frameworks such as health and
safety policies. It has measured the attitudes, beliefs and values of the employees of the companies.
In the case of Aspen Court Care Home, management has promoted the development of culture of
health and safety at the workplace (Karjalainen, Blencowe and Lillsunde, 2012). Frequent and
informal communication activities have taken place between the managers and care workers. It has
created awareness in both of them related to the health and safety matters.
From the assessment regarding determine the effectiveness of health and safety policies and
practices in Aspen Court Care Home in promoting a positive health and safe culture, some
important information has explored. Positive culture of health and safety has promoted sense of
responsibilities in employer and care workers related to the follow health and safety aspects. Both
have understood their duties towards each other and deliver the effective and safe health services to
the patients (Johnstone, Bluff and Clayton, 2012). On the other hand, culture of health and safety in
cited care organization has minimized the risks of accidents and hazards for both care workers and
customers. A proper risk assessment activity has taken place with the aim of minimizing the impact
of hazards on safety of end users and staffs.
3.3 Evaluation of own contributions to placing the health and safety needs of individuals at the
centre of own practice
By working at the position on senior care worker in Aspen Court Care Home, I have given
contribution in the direction of determine the health and safety need of individuals at the care
centre. Evaluation of my contribution in this direction can understand from Gibbs Cycle which is as
follows:
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Description: At workplace of Aspen Court Care Home, I have determined that all kind of
wastages have placed in single open bin. It has contained garbage such as paper, plastic, food items,
syringes etc. Many of the time, bin has overflow from placing all type of wastage in a single object
and it has spread on the floor.
Feelings: By seen this situation, I have felt that the way of throwing of wastages in single
bin and spread in on the floors due to overflow has increased the risk of infectious diseases, slip and
trip over the empty bottles etc. This may affect the health of patient and care workers.
Evaluation: From the evaluation, I have analyzed that keeping all wastages in a single bin
may increased the chanced of hazards situations for the workers and services users while moving.
So, it has required determining some other solutions to deal with problems.
Analysis: In this stage, I have analyzed that by using different bins such for paper, plastic,
food etc, the risks of various hazards can be reduced. It will help in increase the safety of care
workers and customers.
Conclusion: Under this, I have developed a report on this health and safety issue and
present in front of the management of Aspen Court Care Home. They have inspected the workplace
and try to understand my viewpoints.
Action plan: After all previous steps, finally management of Aspen Court Care Home has
executed my idea to place different bins for various wastages.
CONCLUSION
From the above research, it can be concluded that health and safety has one of the most
important aspects of ensuring well-being of staff members and customers. Health care organizations
have adopted many health and safety policies to protect the health of care workers and patients.
Different kinds of methods of monitoring and reviewing of health and safety frameworks have used
by care organizations.
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