Empowering Users in Healthcare: Maximizing Rights and Safety Measures

This report delves into the concept of empowering users within the healthcare sector, examining various case studies to illustrate key principles. It explores the influence of legislation and sector skills standards on organizational policies and practices, emphasizing the importance of effective communication between care workers and individuals to promote and maximize user rights. The report analyzes factors contributing to the loss of independence, non-participation, and social exclusion, while also addressing factors affecting the achievement of user rights. Furthermore, it investigates the management of tensions between users and healthcare providers, identifies risks of harm, and evaluates the effectiveness of policies and procedures, including those related to medication administration. The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of empowering users in healthcare settings, focusing on maximizing rights and ensuring patient safety.

Empowering users
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................4
TASK 1.................................................................................................................................................4
AC 1.1 Legislation and sector skills standards with their influence on organizational policies and
practices...........................................................................................................................................4
AC 1.3 Communication between care workers and individuals to promoting and maximising the
rights of users...................................................................................................................................5
AC 2.1 Factors contributing in loss of independence, non-participation and social exclusion for
Taz....................................................................................................................................................5
AC 1.2 Factors affecting the achievement of promoting and maximising the rights for Mr Taz....6
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................7
AC 2.3 Management of tension between Mr. Harry and health care...............................................7
TASK 3.................................................................................................................................................7
AC 3.1 Identification of the extent to which individuals are at risk of harm in health care............7
AC 2.2 Social care organization systems and policies to train staff for using on Mr Taz...............8
AC 3.2 Critically analysis of the effectiveness of policies and procedures within health care......9
TASK 4.................................................................................................................................................9
AC 4.1 Leaflet for current legislation, codes of practice and policy for handing of medication....9
AC 4.2 Effectiveness of the policies and procedures within health care ......................................10
CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................11
References..........................................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Empowerment refers to give authority or power to individual or group of people by
following legal process. In the present era, most of the companies are considering the customers as
the most important assets (Almunawar and Anshari, 2014). In this context, organizations provide
some powers to the consumers for selecting the particular services by providing them appropriate
services. Empowering users renders opportunities to the firms to deliver effective services to the
service users (Kushniruk and Turner, 2012). The following study is related to empowering users and
for better understanding of this, different case studies are taking into consideration. Objectives that
will cover in the present study are related to design and review of services which promotes and
maximize the right of users in healthcare sector. Along with this, responsibilities of managing and
monitoring risks in healthcare settings and good practices in the administration of medicine for
users in healthcare services will also be explained in the following study.
TASK 1
AC 1.1 Legislations and sector skills standards with their influence on organizational policies and
practices
Legislations Sector Skills Organisation Policies
or practices
Justification
Health and safety at
work act 1974
(Sector skills &
competitiveness
statement health &
social care, 2016)
Empowering and
engaging with the
employers.
Health and safety
policies
It will result to provide
health and safety rights
to the Taz.
Food Safety Act 1990 Setting standards of
food for the workers.
Food safety This will keep Taz
healthy and safe.
Data Protection Act
1998 (Wald and et.al.,
2014)
Protection of personal
and confidential
information by the staff
workers (Calvillo,
Román and Roa, 2015).
Safeguarding Taz can feel safe due to
protection of personal
information.
Diseases and dangerous Rendering training to Reporting accidents It will prevent Taz from
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occurrences regulations
(RIDDOR)
the workers for
preventing them and
service users from any
dangerous occurrences.
any kind of harm and
injury (De Ridder and
et.al., 2016).
AC 1.3 Communication between care workers and individuals in promoting and maximising the
rights of users
Communication plays one of the essential roles in promoting and maximising the rights of
service users in health and social care organisation. It is important to have effective and proper
communication between the care workers and individuals like Mr. Taz, so that patients can know
about their rights. Regular communication results to resolve the issues and problems of service
users with an effective outcome. Care workers explain the policies of firm with the rights of patients
so that they can access the things properly and easily which are in their right (FROM, 2014). It also
helps in improving the language problem between the patients and staff members of health care.
With the use of polite and respectful language, care workers can make good relation with patients
that also leads to better understand of their problems and issues. On the other hand, regular
communication helps in bringing improvement in the patient's condition. It makes them feel
comfortable and familiar that results to create a good, open and friendly atmosphere (Househ,
Borycki and Kushniruk, 2014).
With the help of regular communication, staff can take feedback from the service users
about the services provided to them and about the areas of improvement. Comments and complaints
of Mr. Taz will help social care firm in understanding loopholes in its services as well as other
factors and due to this, it will try to improve its services in the best possible manner. He can also
give recommendations to the nurses and doctors for the fields which need to be improved. These are
the rights of individuals who are admitted in the health care organisation. It is the prime
responsibility of firm to provide quality services to their patients and if, they do not provide it then
Mr. Taz has full right to complaint about it (Dinev and et.al., 2016).
AC 2.1 Factors contributing in loss of independence, non-participation and social exclusion for Mr.
Taz
There are various factors that may contribute to the loss of independence, non-participation
and social exclusion for Mr. Taz. These are explained below. Empowerment: It refers to the process in which individual or group of individuals can make
their own choices and then, transform them into the desired actions for getting expected
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outcomes. Lack of empowerment in Mr. Taz results to the loss of independence. An accident
happened with Mr. Taz which resulted to physical disability and hearing impairment. Due to
this, he also lost his independence. For every small work, he has to take help of others which
results to cause irritation and depression (Munn-Giddings and Winter, 2013). Intellectual Factors: Mr. Taz is suffering from various intellectual factors such as poor
imagination, short term memory, hearing problem, unstable mind etc. that makes his life
more complex and difficult. Due to these factors, he is unable to participate in the activities
of health care firm and this makes him feel helpless. Further, hearing problem prevents him
from any kind of decision making process with improper accessibility of organisation's
services (Chiang, Yang and Tu, 2014).
 Access to information: Disabilities of Mr. Taz makes him unable to access the services and
information of health care organisation. Due to this, he is unable to take full advantages of
them. Hearing problem keeps him dependent on the others for accessing the correct and
proper information (Shepherd and et.al., 2015).
AC 1.2 Factors affecting the achievement of promoting and maximising the rights for Mr Taz.
There are various factors which are affecting the achievement of promoting and maximising
the rights for Mr. Taz. These are as follows: Policies and Procedures: Appropriate and effective policies and procedures of the health
care firm can maximise the rights for Taz. These policies can help in resolving the problems
and issues of Mr. Taz in the best possible manner. It will also help in providing quality
services properly to him so that he can access them without any problem. Along with it,
these policies and procedures will also lead to give respect and maintain the dignity of Taz
in social care firm (Patterson, Trite and Weaver, 2014). Staffing: It is one of the major factors which can help Mr. Taz in maximising his rights by
promoting them in the best way. Regular development of professionals makes them to learn
various skills that helps in dealing properly with the patients. Care workers needs to treat
Taz well as per his disabilities so that he can use his rights properly. Health care firm can
provide various training and development programmes to the staff members for delivery of
valuable and quality services to the service users so that they can protect their rights
(Almunawar and Anshari, 2014). Level of dependence: Management of firm can reduce the level of dependence for Taz by
providing him effective and appropriate services. Providing freedom to Taz will reduce his
feeling of helplessness and depression. All these things remove the lack of empowerment
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and will result to improve and recover fast. It will make him to access his rights at the
maximum level.
 Change in health status: It is important for the health care organisation to bring changes in
its policies, procedures and techniques so that they can recover the patients both physically
and mentally in an effective and efficient way. These improvement will also lead to promote
and maximize the rights of Taz in the best possible manner which will result to recover him
fast (Solli, Rolvsjord and Borg, 2013).
TASK 2
AC 2.3 Management of tension between Mr. Harry and health care
As per the case study, Mr. Harry is suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
with bi-polar disorder. He wants to cook his favorite meal rice and peas with jerk chicken so he
needs to go supermarket. Due to this, health care organization is also facing various kinds of
tensions such as safety versus independence, rights and responsibilities, etc. It is important for the
firm to take care of Mr. Harry as his aggressive behavior can make people uncomfortable in the
market. This situation will create imbalance between the Harry's independence and management
and this in turn can decrease the empowerment of Harry (Birnbaum, 2012).
On the other hand, expectations and desire of patient have also created a tension between
him and heath care firm. To manage all these, it is important to have effective communication in
between the management and service user so that he can understand the situation effectively. Along
with it, proper safety needs to be provided to Harry while visiting supermarket. A staff worker
always needs to be with the patient so that he can handle any situation in the market. With the help
of this, Harry will also not feel dependent and can easily purchase food items. In addition to this,
social firm will also able to fulfill their responsibilities. Time to time medication can also prevent
patient to act aggressively in the market while purchasing the required food times. However, it is
important to maintain the quality of services and protect the rights of Harry so health care firm
cannot refuse him to visit supermarket or to cook hi favorite dish. The reason to keep a nurse with
him while purchasing products is that she can keep her eyes on his activities and other reason is to
provide proper medication for handling the situation (Buchbinder and Shanks, 2011).
TASK 3
AC 3.1 Identification of the extent to which individuals are at risk of harm in health care
According to the given case scenario, identified risks of harm for Mr. Philip in the health
and social care organization are as follows.
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 Risk from Harm: In this, harm refers to the deadly behavior of individuals which includes
physical harm, psychological harm, self-harm and many more. As Philip is suffering from
dementia and he is tired off his sons, there are many chances of self-harm or physical harm
to himself or others (Chan, 2010). Risk from abuse: Abuse refers to the use of bad things for making bad impact on others.
Both son of Philip used to abuse him which results to cause fear, depression and irritation in
his mind regarding the life. If, any of the staff worker is using abusive words while taking
care of Philip then there are chances that he can feel depressed. This can affect him mentally
which will result to increase the problem of dementia. There are chances that Philip can
abuse other patients which can also create risk of harm (Clark, 2011).
 Risk from protect failure: It is very essential for the health care firm to protect Philip from
his sons so that they cannot harm him anymore. But, any failure in his protection can result
to death of him either by suicide or by murder. It is also essential to give Philip all his rights
under proper security and protection so that he can perform his daily work properly which
will also help him in mental recovery. Along with this, lack of proper medication can also
result to cause risk of harm for other service users and Philip as well (De Ridder and et.al.,
2016).
AC 2.2 Social care organization systems and policies to train staff for using on Mr Taz
It is essential for the health care firm to implement some polices in order to train staff
members for effectively dealing and interacting with Mr. Taz. These policies are as follows. Policy regarding Health and Safety: Mr. Taz is suffering from some disabilities and it is
important for staff to provide them proper health and safety measures. Management of the
organization needs to provide training to their staff workers regarding the health and safety
of patient. With the help of this training, nurses, doctors and other workers will be able to
identify the type of safety required by Taz. They will also be able to take care of patient’s
health by offering healthy and high quality food along with regular checkup. This policy will
help social care firm in bringing improvement in the health of Taz (Dietz, 2011). Policy regarding cleaning: It is essential to keep the health care organization clean and
hygienic so that patients will not suffer more and stay away from other diseases. Firm
requires to conduct effective training to their staff members for maintaining clean, safe and
secure environment. Along with this, it is also important to keep service users and their
rooms clean and safe so that they can recover fast. This training will help in providing Mr.
Taz a clean and safe environment so that he can stay away from the other problems and
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diseases (Curtis, 2012).
 Active participation of the service users: Organization needs to have active participation of
the patients so that they can feel independent. This space will help them in maintaining their
respect and dignity which results to bring motivation among them to fight with their disease.
Lack of empowerment makes Taz feel helpless and dependent. This feature in the system of
social care firm will help in bringing the hope and confidence in Taz (Hasib, 2013).
AC 3.2 Critically analysis of the effectiveness of policies and procedures within health care
According to the Namasivayam (2014), “Proper and effective policies, procedures and
managerial approaches in the health and social care organization result to the better management of
risks that can be occurred due to carelessness” (Namasivayam, 2014). Similarly West, 2012, has
stated that “Policies and procedures influence staff members and service users to work under them
which helps in managing the work of health care firms appropriately” (West, 2012).
With respect to the policies and procedures, From (2014) has concluded that “Policy
regarding the storage and dispensing of medicines leads to create safe, clean and secure
environment for the service users. This also helps in providing right medicine to the right patient as
per the illness or disorder” ( From, 2014). In addition to this, Birnbaum (2012) has demonstrated
that “Prescribing right medicine to the service user is the most important part of any treatment. This
policy is for those staff members who are involved in the process of NHS. It also leads to proper
management of medicines which includes their selection, delivery, prescription, administration and
review” (Birnbaum, 2012).
On the other hand, Clark (2011) has declared that “Policy for the safety of food results to
provide high quality and healthy foodstuff to the patients. This also helps in maintaining the
standard of health care organizations” (Clark, 2011). In favor to this, Wald and et.al (2014) have
asserted that “The aim behind food safety policy is to provide nutritious and hydrated food to the
service users in order to sustain their life and maintain their health” (Wald and et.al., 2014).
TASK 4
AC 4.1 Leaflet for current legislation, codes of practice and policy for handing of medication
According to the given case study, health and social care organization needs to consider the
following legislations, code of practices and policies for handling of medicines.
Legislation
Medicines Act 1968: Firm needs to follow this act for controlling medicines for the patient’s use
and for veterinary use. This will make staff members to prescribe right medicine to the right person
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as per his illness. It allows health care organisation to prescribe medicines in three categories
which are: Prescription only medicine (POM), Pharmacy medicines (P) and General sales list
medicines (GSL).
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Social care organisation needs to follow this act for controlling the
misuse of drugs either by the service users or by the professionals. This act consists a list of
prohibited drugs with their penalties linked to their possession and supply. This act makes firm to
work legally and for the welfare of patients (Househ, Borycki and Kushniruk, 2014).
Codes of Practice and Policies
Health and Social Care Act 2008: This act makes firm to publish their codes that represents
practices such as obtaining, handling, using and disclosing the confidential and personal
information of service users. This code of practice will help social care firm in improving its
function by keeping personal information of the patients confidential and safe regarding the
medication, treatments, etc. This code will help organisation in making right policies and practices
for the welfare of service users along with the firm itself. It is important for staff members to
follow this act properly (Dinev and et.al., 2016).
AC 4.2 Effectiveness of the policies and procedures within health care
Effectiveness of the policies and procedures
Medicine Act 1968
Benefits:
 Medicines need to be stored safely.
 It helps in keeping complete information about the medicines prescribed to the patients.
 Social care firm can take advice from the pharmacist.
 It results to use medicines for curing and preventing service users from disease not for
controlling their behaviour (Shepherd and et.al., 2015).
Disadvantage:
 Individuals can select medicine as per their the disease they suffer from and this also
result in providing them wrong medicine.
 Communication gap makes care staff to give wrong medicine to the service users.
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971:
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Benefits:
 It prohibits use of harmful and dangerous drugs which can make human to suffer from
various diseases (Reuter and Stevens, 2007).
 It controls and handles the use of drugs in Europe which has highest level of drug
dependent.
 It reduces the harm caused by drugs which includes health impacts (Buchbinder and
Shanks, 2011).
Disadvantages
 Exclusion of the cost is hard to measure.
 It includes those indicators which change with the recording practices.
Health and Social Care Act 2008:
Benefits:
 It helps in informing all the health professionals and other staff members about the correct
procedures for handling, ordering, storing and disposal of the medicines (Code of practice
on confidential personal information, 2010).
 It helps in the safe storage of medicines with the prescription to the right person as per the
disease (Calvillo, Román and Roa, 2015).
Disadvantages
 It needs proper strategy formation with the experts which is a time consuming process.
 Staff members and service users resist to change (Kushniruk and Turner, 2012).
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been concluded that health and social care firms need to follow
all the laws, policies and procedures properly for the safety and security of patients. There must
have space for the service users so that they can feel independent and confident. However, there
must have proper communication between the staff members and patients which results to create
good relation and remove various issues regarding the adjustment, disease, past life, etc. In addition
to it, standards are required to follow by the social care firms for handling medicines. This helps
them in prescribing right medicine to the right patient as per the disease or disorder.
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REFERENCES
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Buchbinder, S., B., and Shanks, N., H., 2011. Introduction to Health Care Management. Jones and
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Online
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<http://www.ukdpc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Policy%20report%20-%20An%20analysis
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[Accessed on 29th February 2016]
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