I have received a distinction for unit 7. My assignments are top quality and detailed. This coursework includes learning aim A & B with all criteria being met. My chosen case study to write about was the Wellings NHS Trust, Ward 3B. USE AS GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION
Examine how a duty of care contributes to safe practice in health and social care settings
Section 1: A1 Duty of Care
Introduction
In this assignment I am going to explain the implications of a duty of care and how it
contributes to safe practice in health and social care. For example, my chosen case study is the
Wellings NHS Trust, Ward 3B. This case study is about a female surgical ward whose ward
manager is called Amina Patel. Amina is supported by a multidisciplinary team consisting of
registered nurses, nursing associates and healthcare assistants. The service user which the case
study is focused on is Lizzy D and was admitted to the ward for surgical procedures.
It is important to outline the definition of duty of care. Duty of care is the legal and moral
obligation to protect service user from harm as well as always acting in their best interests. In
this report I will outline the 5 areas of safe practice in which a duty of care applies to: the legal
obligation on staff to protect wellbeing and protect harm, upholding the rights and promoting
the interests of individuals experiencing abuse or neglect, protecting health, safety and
wellbeing, ensuring safe practice and balancing individual rights with risks.
The legal obligation on staff to protect wellbeing and prevent harm
The law which establishes the legal obligation of duty of care is the “Health, Safety and Welfare
Regulations 1992.” In all health and social care settings the service providers have a legal
obligation to protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of the service users as well as
preventing them from getting harmed. The legal obligation is owed by all staff of all health and
social care occupations (including registered professionals and non-registered care workers)
and is owed to their service users, colleagues, employer, the public and themselves. If the legal
obligation on staff to protect wellbeing and prevent harm is not followed this could lead to the
service user being at risk of getting harmed even further as a result of their needs not being
,catered to. This means that harm could result in the deterioration of the service user’s
wellbeing and safety. For example, in the Wellings NHS Trust, Amina administered pain relief
but did not record this. This is an extremely serious failing as another nurse could administer
Amina another pain relief, as they were not aware that she had already been given pain relief.
This therefore means that Amina has failed in her duty of care of protecting Lizzy from potential
harm as she could be given more pain relief than needed.
The legal obligation to protect the wellbeing and prevent harm ensures that the service user’s
care experience is effective and guarded. This means that the service user is receiving care in a
safe environment while also having their needs taken care of. For example, in the Wellings NHS
Trust, Lizzy was given medication to reduce the pain and swelling on her arm. This will ensure
safe practice in the Wellings NHS Trust setting as Lizzy will be treated in order to reduce her
swelling which will prevent her pain from being exacerbated further.
Upholding the rights and promoting the interests of individuals experiencing abuse or neglect
In a health and social care setting it is essential to uphold the rights and promote the interests
of individuals experiencing abuse or neglect. This means that the service user’s human rights
must not be violated. For example, in the case of Winterbourne View, the service user’s right to
liberty and security (Article 5 in the Human Rights Act 1998) was violated as they were being
restrained and detained in an unsafe way. This area of safe practice is important as the service
users are human and deserve to be treated with fairness, dignity, equality and respect
regardless of their protected characteristics as suggested in the Equality Act 2010.
This is relevant to the Wellings NHS Trust as Lizzy D has a right to freedom and see her husband
and express her interests. For example, she may have a desire to catch up with her husband
who she misses and has not seen for a while. Therefore, if her rights and interests are not
upheld Lizzy might start refusing care as she may feel unappreciated. However, if her rights and
interests are upheld, Lizzy will feel more accepted as her rights are being taken into
consideration.
Protecting health, safety and wellbeing
, In all health and social care settings it is significant to promote health, safety and wellbeing. This
means that both the service users and providers can be protected from harm. This area of safe
practice is an important element of safe practice as policies and procedures in place can
prevent any potential accidents or injuries and therefore create a safer working and care
environment. For example, the manual handling policy outlines how to safely move and people
and objects. This policy is relevant in the Wellings NHS Trust as the nurses would need to know
how to safely move large pieces of equipment around as well as knowing how to safely move
around patients with spinal problems.
In the hospital, there may be substances that are hazardous to health. Therefore, it is important
that the nurses in the ward receive training on “The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
(COSHH)” to protect service users from harm. If this legislation is not followed, this would lead
to spillages of harmful substances which could put other at risk of harming their skin.
Moreover, patients suffering from spinal problems being in pain while being moved around
which could affect their spinal problems even further. However, if this safe practice is followed
this will prevent risk of injury from hazardous substances as well as ensuring that patients are
being moved around in a diligent and careful manner.
Ensuring safe practice
In all health and social settings, it is vital to ensure safe practice to ensure the safety for both
the service user and the service provider. This includes having specific policies and procedures
in a care setting to ensure that the standards of care are met. These regulations are important
as it ensures the safety of people in work, those using the services and the wider public . For
example, in the Wellings NHS Trust, there is a procedure in which the employees must wear
PPE to protect them from getting infection or transmitting infections to patients.
Ensuring safe practice in the Trust will result in the risk of work-related illnesses and injuries will
be reduced. However, if safe practice is not followed, the employees could face disciplinary
action or lose their job. For example, the nurse on duty forgot to record either Lizzy’s swelling
or the medication given to her despite Amina Patel speaking about her about her forgetfulness
and so the nurse has failed her duty of care. Some issues that could arise with not correctly
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