Health and Safety Practices in UK Healthcare Assignment Sample

Safeguarding Health: UK Healthcare Safety Policies and Practices

Task 1- Presentation and Report

Introduction

This report aims to highlight the policies, principles, roles, and responsibilities of individuals when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of the people in the health and social care setup. According to NHS, England, it is important to continually monitor and maintain health and safety at workplace setup by implementing safety legislation and policies at the workplace. In this assignment, the focus has been given to the legislative practices and principles by which health and social care workers can ensure proper health, hygiene, and well-being of people in the healthcare setup.

Discussion

Legislation related to health and safety in health and social care work settings

There are a number of legislation related to the health and safety at health and social care setup, for example:

1. Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974- this act provides a legal framework for managing the issues related to workplace safety, health, and welfare in the healthcare sector. As health and safety requirements, the employees under this act can put obligations regarding the cooperation with other coworkers and to take care of other individuals.
2. Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulation 2002- as per this act, it is important for every health and social care worker to assess the risks that may arise from the use of hazardous substances and take regulative steps to control or the prevent the scope of exposure (Pilusa and Mogotlane, 2018).
3. Manual Handling Operation Regulation, 1992- according to this regulation, it should be important for the workers in health and social care set up to avoid the manual handling of any hazardous substances or equipment and should assess the risks related to the manual handling of the equipment, specifically when it comes to delivering health care and medical treatment to individuals with specific needs (Côté et al., 2021).
4. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulation (RIDDOR), 2013- these regulations need employers to report any work-related accidents, diseases, and risky occurrences to the HSE or health and safety executives (Côté et al., 2021).
5. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulation, 1999- These regulations state that it is the foremost responsibility of employers to assess the risks related to health and safety at workplace setup and take steps to reduce the scope of risk to a considerable extent.
6. Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulation, 1992 (PPE)- according to this regulation, it is essential for every health and social care worker to use personal protective equipment while providing health care services and to deal with hazardous equipment (Hu et al., 2021). It is important to maintain proper health and hygiene at the workplace setup.

Health and Safety policies and procedures and other agreed ways of working underpin the practice

Health and safety policies and procedures are considered to be important when it comes to ensuring the health and well-being of the employees and service users at the health and social care setup. By implementing these health and safety policies in place, it can be ensured that the employees or healthcare workers are complying with the health and safety regulations and legislations and that the risks related to the health and safety measures are minimized to a considerable extent (Hu et al., 2021). Health and Safety policies and procedures and agreed ways of working are fundamentals to manage and maintain a safe and sustainable environment in care setup. For example, in NHS or any health care setup, proper adherence to infection control procedures can prevent the disease transmission or spread of infection within residents as well as among the workers. Regular training for the staff about handling and lifting techniques can ensure the safety and well-being of patients and caregivers to a considerable extent. Additionally, the implementation of guidelines and protocols for standardized care and service provision can help healthcare workers reduce the chances of risk and can promote the overall health and safety of the patient as well as service providers.

Explain the main health and safety responsibilities of- the self, the employer or manager, and others in the work setting

In health and social care working setup, it is important for every individual to take responsibility for their own as well as others’ health and safety measures. Here are the main responsibilities of each party:

• Self: it is the responsibility of own to take care of own’ health, hygiene, and safety as well as ensure that others are getting proper care at a healthcare setup. This includes the adherence to safety protocols and principles and agreed ways of working so that proper health and safety can be ensured for oneself and others (Pilusa and Mogotlane, 2018)
• Employer or Manager: in any health and social care setup, the manager and/or the employers have the legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure place for both the service users as well as healthcare professionals. Additionally, to ensure the health and safety of both workers and patients, the role of employers or managers is to take necessary action to reduce the risks related to the service provision, providing proper training and adequate welfare to the staff so that they remain committed to their duty of providing care and support to the individuals with specific needs (Søvold et al., 2021)
• Others: in health and social care setup, it should be essential for others to take responsible care approaches for their own health and safety as well as that of others who might affected by actions as well as inactions (Shah et al., 2020). This includes that, others who are associated with the healthcare setup should follow the agreed and safe practices and support healthcare providers to report about hazards, risks, and concerns related to the health and safety of patients to the respective authorities, and create a collaborative and healthy workplace setup, where every patient can get care support according to their needs.

Identification of tasks in the work setting that should not be carried out without training

In a healthcare setup, certain tasks cannot be done without proper training as those tasks are related to potential risks. For example:

• Administration of Medicine: the health and social care workers should be trained on how to administrate correct medication, calculation of dosage, and identification of possible negative reactions and side effects.
• Invasive treatments: To avoid difficulties and guarantee patient safety, certain training is needed for tasks like putting in catheters, giving injections, and carrying out other medical procedures that pierce the skin (Shah et al., 2020).
• Use of specialised equipment: To avoid mistakes and ensure patient safety, operating medical equipment, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, or dialysis machines, requires appropriate training.
• Procedures for infection control: To reduce the risk of infections linked to healthcare, staff members should get training on good hand hygiene, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), and infection prevention techniques (Tartari et al., 2023).

Principles for safe moving and handling

Moving and handling in health and social care setup are considered as the regular aspects which include the procedures of movement, and manual handling of the patients as well as equipment (Fernandez Turienzo et al., 2023). If it is not performed safely, then moving and handling can cause risks and serious injuries for both the service providers and the patients to a considerable extent.

Common tasks associated with the moving and handling are as follows:

1. Lifting and carrying the objects, equipment, supplies, and other objects related to the health and social care service provisions
2. Assisting persons or staff about how to deal with hazardous equipment
3. Assisting with the movement of patients

The principles of Safe Moving and Handling in Social Care are:

1. Assessing the scenario – Healthcare workers should assess and take into consideration the following before moving and handling tasks:
2. The scenario in which moving and handling will take place
3. The nature of the load
4. Whether the handler is capable enough to perform the tasks or not
5. Planning- before carrying out the moving and handling the patients, it is important to assess the individuals who will be handled or moved, to realise and plan the best way to meet their specific needs
6. Prepare- It is important to ensure the plan of moving and handling is as smooth as possible and it is related to the lack of obstacles and risks

Description of safe practices for handling hazardous substances

Safe handling procedures for hazardous materials are essential in the healthcare industry to safeguard patients and staff. When handling hazardous products, staff members should use personal protection equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, and goggles. Accidental exposure can be avoided by properly labelling and storing goods such as chemicals and biohazardous materials (Fernandez Turienzo et al., 2023). The hazards of inhalation are reduced by using fume hoods and providing enough ventilation. Frequent staff training guarantees knowledge of possible risks and safe handling techniques (Ganah and John, 2023). Plans for emergency responses, such as evacuation procedures and spill kits, improve safety even further. Strict adherence to these procedures helps healthcare facilities create a safe workplace by reducing the hazards involved in handling hazardous materials.

Principles of chain of infection

The chain of infection is a model that refers to how infections spread. It comprises six links of transmission- Infectious agents, Reservoir, Portal of Exit, Mode of Transmission, Portal of Entry, and Susceptible Host (Søvold et al., 2021). According to the model, if any of the links in the chain break, the transmission of the infection will not occur. According to this model,

The infectious agents refer to the microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi which cause the onset of infection.

Reservoirs refer to the habitat where the infectious agents live and multiply. It can be a plant, environment, or animal.

Portal of Exit refers to the route through which infectious agents leave their habitat. Common portals of exit for the microorganisms in the human body are respiratory tracts, blood, feces, urine, and skin (Hu et al., 2021).

Mode of Transmission refers to the mode or the way infectious agents are transmitted from the habitat to the susceptible host, transmission can occur through direct or indirect contact, droplets, and airborne particles (Pilusa and Mogotlane, 2018).

Portal of Entry refers to the route through which the microorganisms enter the susceptible host. The entry points include the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, mucous membrane, and so on.

Impact of breaking the chain of infection at any point

Breaking one of the links in the chain of infection can be considered as one of the important steps to restrict the further transmission or spread of infection. As per the model, the chain of infection comprises six links- infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. If any of these links are broken, then the spread or transmission of the infection will be stopped (Pilusa and Mogotlane, 2018). For example, if the portal of existence is blocked by using proper health and hygiene by individuals while sneezing or coughing, it will break the transmission of bacteria from one person to another.

Own role to reduce the spread of infection

To reduce the spread of infection, my role will be to follow proper health and hygiene habits. For example, it is important to follow the following principles:

1. Wash hands- it is my responsibility or role to wash my hands properly before and after handling foods or any chemicals, and hazardous substances, after using restrooms, and so on
2. Cover while coughing- it is my responsibility to cover my face while sneezing and coughing. Additionally, it is also important to ensure that I am maintaining safe distances from people while infected with a contagious infection or disorder (Carnier, et al., 2023).
3. Seeking Medical Advice- It is my role to follow healthcare guidelines and stay at home when I feel unwell or exhibit any symptoms of infectious diseases.

The recommended method for handwashing

According to the CDC, there are five steps to wash hands in the right way. those are:

1. Wet hands with clean tap water (warm or cold water)
2. Apply soap on hand.
3. Lather the hand by rubbing the Soap on the hand (Al-Saad et al., 2023)
4. Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds
5. Wash it with clean water and dry the hand by using a clean towel and use hand sanitizer

Own health and hygiene do not pose a risk to an individual or others at work

Adopting proactive steps and adhering to established norms is necessary to ensure that own’s hygiene and health do not present a risk to others or oneself at work. To do this, take the following crucial actions:

• Frequent Health Check-ups: To keep an eye on own health, it is important to schedule regular medical checks. Responding quickly to any health issues and heeding medical advice are also important to maintain own health and safety (Al-Saad et al., 2023).
• Immunisations: Maintain current immunization records to shield others and yourself from avoidable infectious diseases. This is particularly crucial in medical environments where there may be a greater chance of contracting different infections (Carnier et al., 2023).
• Personal hygiene: it includes that one should follow proper health and hygiene protocols. This includes proper handwashing, regular health check-ups, maintaining good personal hygiene practices, use of hand sanitizers, and so on.

Conclusion

To conclude this report, it can be stated that comprehensive healthcare approaches are always essential in health and social care setup. There are several steps like adherence to top policies, legal compliances, understanding the roles and responsibilities, and implementation of safe practices at care setup, with which healthcare workers can ensure the health, hygiene, and safety of a patient as well as care workers at health and social care setup.

Recoomdemations

• Al-Saad, S., AlWohoush, O., Kozak, M. and AlMasri, R., 2023. Health and hygiene as a factor of destination competitiveness: a comparative study using synchronic and diachronic data. Tourism Planning & Development, 20(3), pp.317-335.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21568316.2022.2107562
• Carnier, R.M., Li, Y., Fujimoto, Y. and Shikata, J., 2023. Exact markov chain of random propagation of malware with network-level mitigation. IEEE Internet of Things Journal.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10029367/
• Côté, D., Durant, S., MacEachen, E., Majowicz, S., Meyer, S., Huynh, A.T., Laberge, M. and Dubé, J., 2021. A rapid scoping review of COVID‐19 and vulnerable workers: Intersecting occupational and public health issues. American journal of industrial medicine, 64(7), pp.551-566.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajim.23256
• Fernandez Turienzo, C., Hull, L.H., Coxon, K., Bollard, M., Cross, P., Seed, P.T., Shennan, A.H., Sandall, J. and POPPIE Pilot Collaborative Group, 2023. A continuity of care programme for women at risk of preterm birth in the UK: Process evaluation of a hybrid randomised controlled pilot trial. Plos one, 18(1), p.e0279695.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0279695
• Ganah, A. and John, G., 2023. INNOVATIVE INTEGRATION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY DECISION MAKING IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.https://clok.uclan.ac.uk/47622/?template=default_internal
• Hu, X., Yan, H., Casey, T. and Wu, C.H., 2021. Creating a safe haven during the crisis: How organizations can achieve deep compliance with COVID-19 safety measures in the hospitality industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 92, p.102662.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278431920302140
• Pilusa, M.L. and Mogotlane, M.S., 2018. Worker knowledge of occupational legislation and related health and safety benefits. Curationis, 41(1), pp.1-6.https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.4102/curationis.v41i1.1869
• Shah, A.S., Wood, R., Gribben, C., Caldwell, D., Bishop, J., Weir, A., Kennedy, S., Reid, M., Smith-Palmer, A., Goldberg, D. and McMenamin, J., 2020. Risk of hospital admission with coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare workers and their households: nationwide linkage cohort study. bmj, 371.https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3582.full
• Søvold, L.E., Naslund, J.A., Kousoulis, A.A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M.W., Grobler, C. and Münter, L., 2021. Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: an urgent global public health priority. Frontiers in public health, 9, p.679397.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.679397/full
• Tartari, M., Lavorgna, A. and Ugwudike, P., 2023. Share with care: negotiating children’s health and safety in sharenting practices. Media, Culture & Society, p.01634437231182002.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/01634437231182002

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Task 2: Report

Introduction

The media regularly reports on incidents of harm and abuse. This can range from withholding the medication to unauthorized use of resources and money to harm others. In this report, focus will be given on defining the terms related to different types of abuse and the action that has to be taken against any suspicious. Additionally in this report, focus will be given on the factors that can be related to defining an individual who is more vulnerable to abuse.

Discussion

Definition of the terms:

• Physical abuse

Physical abuse includes slapping, hitting, kicking, pushing, and misuse of medication or any resources, or use of inappropriate methods of restrain and unlawfully depriving someone of his rights and liberties (Özer and Tanriverdi, 2023). Unexplained or inappropriate injuries, unexplained burns evidence of over or under medication can be considered as possible signs of physical abuse.

• Domestic violence or abuse

Any kind of physical and sexual abuse to anyone at her home, violent or threatening behaviour by someone to others, economic abuse, psychological, emotional, and other abuse can be defined as domestic abuse. According to UK law, both parties must have the age 16 years and over and should be “personally connected” (Daw et al., 2023).

• Sexual abuse

This type of abuse includes rape or sexual assault, or sexual acts that the adult has not consented to or cannot consent to. This type of assault or abuse includes incest, and a scenario, where an alleged abuser touches the abused person’s body negatively. Sudden and unexplained injuries in the vagina, urinary tract, sudden onset of STD or sexually transmitted diseases, women who lack the mental capacity to consent to sexual intercourse, and Sexual exploitation can consider as physical indicators of sexual abuse (Straw and Tanczer, 2023).

• Psychological or emotional abuse

Psychological abuse refers to any kind of emotional trauma or mental anguish to an individual. Verbal abuse, humiliation, emotional manipulation, and intimidation can be considered as psychological or emotional abuse.

• Financial or material abuse

This abuse includes theft, fraudulent activities, and internet scamming, which is related to the financial transactions or financial affairs of any individuals (Newman and Vasey2023). Unexplained loss or misplacement of financial documents, unexpected changes in financial documents, and suspicious activities during financial transactions can be considered as possible indications of financial abuse.

• Modern slavery

It refers to human trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. This abuse refers to the scenario, where any individual is forced to work against their consent or will, and under threat of punishment with little or no pay.

• Discriminatory abuse

This includes discrimination against individuals on the grounds of race, faith, religion, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender, and political views. Sudden rejection for an individual from his cultural backdrop or rejection from the job can be considered as possible indicators of discriminatory abuse (Straw and Tanczer, 2023).

• Organisational or institutional abuse

This abuse refers to the scenario, where an individual is mistreated neglected, or abused at a workplace setup by a hierarchy or his coworkers. Inappropriate rules and regulations at workplace setup, lack of development of individual interest, and inappropriate staff behaviours can be considered as possible indications of institutional abuse (Alves-Costa et al., 2023).

• Neglect or acts of omission

Failure to offer food, water, shelter, medical care, and clothing by an individual to his family or others can be considered as an act of omission

• Self-neglect

This includes a wide range of behaviors that can threaten the health and well-being of individuals. Self-neglect differs from other types of abuse as there is no third party involved with the act.

Action to take if there is any suspicious incident related to the abuse of an individual.

There are several actions that can be carried out if there is any suspicion that an individual is being abused.

Firstly, listen to the individuals who are vulnerable to abuse and believe. If someone confides about her assault or abuse, then it is important to listen to them and believe in them. Second, action is to provide support to the person who needs help and support from others. Provision for doctor’s appointments, maintaining confidentiality, and helping people to find support groups can be one of the best possible ways to offer support to the individual who is being abused (Alves-Costa et al., 2023). Third, reporting the abuse will be another important step to support an individual who is vulnerable to abuse. If it is seen that an individual is in immediate danger of being abused then it is important to call emergency services right away. If the danger is not immediate, a report regarding the abuse can be made to relevant authorities (Tabi et al., 2023). In the United Kingdom, one can report abuse at the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for 24 hours a day by calling 0808 2000 247.

Factors related to individuals who are vulnerable to abuse

There are several factors are related which can make an individual more vulnerable to abuse. These vulnerabilities can be physical, psychological, situational, and social. Those factors are:

1. Age: in current times, individuals at very young ages and older populations are often seen as vulnerable to abuse due to their dependency on others' support and care. Children and older people lack of ability to protect themselves from any physical and psychological assaults due to physical and cognitive limitation (Alves-Costa et al., 2023)
2. Dependence on Others: people, who depend on others for daily care, such as individuals with chronic illness, and severe disabilities seem to be vulnerable to abuse (Özer and Tanriverdi, 2023).
3. Communication barriers: people with language barriers speech impairments or communication disorders seem to be more vulnerable to abuse, as they struggle to express themselves to report the abuse effectively or on time (Milne, 2023).

Roles of Different agencies to safeguard and protect individuals from abuse.

In the United Kingdom, there are several agencies or organisations, that provide support and safeguard individuals from abuse. For example, the role of MASH or Multi-Agency Collaboration is to share information between services so that the risks related to children and older populations can be identified on time (Milne, 2023). These organistaions develop links with schools, GPs, Local police, ambulance services, NHS, and other NGOs to safeguard the children from the risk of abuse. On the other hand, the role of NSPCC, or National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Age UK as a charitable organistaions in the UK is to provide advocacy, support, and advice to people who are vulnerable to abuse (Daw et al., 2023). These organisations mainly raise awareness, offer protection and support, and contribute to policy development to reduce the prevalence of abusive activities and safeguard vulnerable individuals. Apart from that, in the UK, there are CQC, NHS, and local authorities, who provide support, develop frameworks, and design regulative principles to safeguard the people from abuse.

References

• Alves-Costa, F., Lane, R., Gribble, R., Taylor, A., Fear, N.T. and MacManus, D., 2023. Help-seeking for intimate Partner violence and abuse: Experiences of Civilian Partners of UK Military Personnel. Journal of family violence, 38(3), pp.509-525.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-022-00382-w
• Daw, J., Salisbury, L., Hay, S. and Jacob, S., 2023. ‘In practice it can be so much harder’: Young people's approaches and experiences of supporting friends experiencing domestic abuse. Child Abuse Review, 32(3), p.e2790.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/car.2790
• Milne, A., 2023. Older women and domestic abuse: through a glass darkly. The Journal of Adult Protection.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JAP-10-2022-0022/full/html
• Newman, J. and Vasey, J., 2023. Exploring support systems for nurses involved with safeguarding children. Nursing children and young people, 35(1).https://journals.rcni.com/nursing-children-and-young-people/evidence-and-practice/exploring-support-systems-for-nurses-involved-with-safeguarding-children-ncyp.2020.e1211/pdf
• Özer, N. and Tanriverdi, D., 2023. Determining depression, abuse, and neglect in elderly individuals. Psychogeriatrics.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/psyg.12979
• Straw, I. and Tanczer, L., 2023. Safeguarding patients from technology-facilitated abuse in clinical settings: a narrative review. PLOS Digital Health, 2(1), p.e0000089.https://journals.plos.org/digitalhealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pdig.0000089
• Tabi, C., Hewage, C., Bakhsh, S.T. and Ukwandu, E., 2023. Contemporary Issues in Child Protection: Police Use of Artificial Intelligence for Online Child Protection in the UK. In Digital Transformation in Policing: The Promise, Perils and Solutions (pp. 85-107). Cham: Springer International Publishing.https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-09691-4_5