Essay
Unit 7: Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care assignment 2 distinction
- Institution
- PEARSON (PEARSON)
Unit 7: Principles of Safe Practice in Health and Social Care assignment 2 distinction
[Show more]
Content preview
P6 Compare the influence of different health and safety laws or policies on health andsocial care practice in a selected setting:
Introduction:
In this criterion, I will compare how laws impact policies in health and social care settings. I
will also relate it to the case study Merryvale Residence and Cherry Tree Centre, to
emphasise where legislation was not satisfied and how it should have been if it had been
met.
What is legislation?:
Legislation, according to parliament, is a law that is created after being approved by
parliament but before becoming effective for the wider public. It comprises the formulation,
debate, and passing of legislation into laws that create societal rules and expectations.
Legislation can handle a wide range of issues, including welfare, criminal justice, taxation,
education, and environmental preservation. Legislation is “primarily meant to protect and
enhance individuals' rights and freedoms while also building a basis for fair and equitable
governance. It is critical for a community to have rules in place in order to have a secure and
civil society.” (UK Parliament, 2023)
Among the general aims of law are the promotion of social welfare, the protection of the
safety and health of the public, the preservation of the environment, the maintenance of
peace and security, and the promotion of financial growth and stability. The Social Security
Act was enacted to help vulnerable sections of society, such as elderly people, people with
disabilities, and low-income families. Public safety and health legislation tries to protect
individuals from harm, for example, through food safety standards, workplace safety
regulations, and disaster preparation measures.Environmental law exists to protect
environments and resources of nature from pollution and degradation. Laws connected to
the enforcement of laws and national safety are enacted to maintain order and protect
persons from criminal behaviour and terrorism. Economic legislation attempts to help the
economy by regulating trade, employment, and corporate practices.
“Legislative regulation refers to health and nursing professions that are required by law to
register with professional regulatory bodies. Titles used by regulated professionals are also
protected by law.”(gov.uk 2022) Statutory care is care given by organisations and people
who have the legal authority to provide treatment under certain laws. Various rules and
regulations concerning the treatment and safety of the old must be respected in the instance
of Merivale Residence, therefore care for the elderly is bound to the Care Act.The Equality
Act of 2010 prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and provides same-sex
couples the right to and protection against such prejudice. The scenario of the client with
bruises raises concerns about probable abuse, which might be covered under the Care Act
2014's protection duties.
To guarantee that vulnerable persons get the highest possible level of care and protection,
all service providers, notably Merryvale Residence, must follow the same legislation. The law
establishes a structure for providers to follow with regard to the care they give, the criteria
they must fulfil, and the safeguards they must provide to residents. “Laws such as the Care
Act of 2014, the Mental Capacity Act of 2005, and the Equality Act of 2010 give direction on
,how the institution functions, including safeguarding vulnerable persons from abuse,
discrimination, and neglect.” (gov.uk 2022)
The primary goal of health and safety regulation is to guarantee that every location is
delivering the necessary care. Some important considerations are:
Risk assessment:
According to HSENI, “Risk assessment is a careful examination of what can harm people so
that precautions can be taken to prevent injury and illness.” (HSENI,2022) This necessitates
that service providers do frequent risk assessments in order to detect possible dangers and
hazards that might endanger humans. This involves identifying dangers related to tasks
including transportation and handling, medicine administration, and equipment usage.
Training and competence:
Competence is defined as a mix of a person's training, abilities, experience, and knowledge,
as well as the ability to use it safely to complete a task. Service providers must guarantee
that their employees are properly trained and qualified to carry out their responsibilities
safely. This involves instruction in topics such as safety and health, infection control, and
commodities movement and handling.
Equipment and facilities:
This could involve patient-care equipment utilised by professionals within the health and
social care sectors. Bed rails, elevators, electrical profile beds, and medical supplies are
some examples. All health and social service buildings and equipment have to comply with
safety and health legislation and be fit for what it was designed for. This includes keeping
our premises clean and hygienic, as well as regularly repairing and servicing our equipment.
Infection control:
“Infection control prevents or stops the spread of infection in healthcare settings.”
(NHS,2023) Personal protective equipment (PPE) and commitment to suitable infection
control measures are required by health and safety regulations for service providers to take
adequate efforts to prevent the transmission of infection.
Fire safety:
“Fire safety is a set of measures to reduce damage caused by fire.” (fire safety 2022) Fire
safety procedures include those used to avoid the initiation of uncontrolled fires as well as
those used to minimise the spread and effects of a fire after it has begun. Service providers
are required by law to implement proper fire safety measures, such as frequent fire risk
assessments, training sessions, and the provision of suitable fire fighting equipment.
Manual handling:
is essentially “a variety of movements including lifting, twisting, pushing, pulling, lowering
and carrying.” (GPD,2021) A tangible thing, animal, or human might be considered cargo. To
, guarantee the safe and dignified transportation and treatment of persons, safety and health
regulations require suppliers of services to have proper manual handling procedures and
guidelines in place.
Merryvale's legal compliance is the duty of the management group. Management is
responsible for ensuring that all policies, procedures, and practices are in accordance with
existing laws and that all workers are aware of these obligations. Management is also
responsible for ensuring that all incidences of discrimination, abuse, or neglect are reported
and dealt in a timely and appropriate way.
Merryvale disregards certain provisions of the law. First, because of a shortage of staff,
people do not receive basic personal care, and some refrain from washing for days. This
violates the Quality of Service standards of the Council, which say that individuals must get
enough help for their own health requirements. Second, evidence exists that one of our
workers targeted couples of the same sex, in breach of the Equality Act of 2010. Couples
can utilise a double room, and their wants and needs ought to be taken into account. Third,
any injuries discovered on the tenant's body must be examined since they may constitute a
security risk. The management team has to guarantee that all staff understand the Elderly
People Protection Act of 2006 and the reporting procedures for abuse or neglect. Finally, the
lack of a caretaker has an impact on the general cleanliness of the house, which is a
violation of the 1974 Occupational Health and Safety Act. The management staff is
responsible for keeping the building neat and void of risks that might endanger residents or
workers.
The Health and Safety at workplace Act of 1974 (HASWA) imposes a wide range of
responsibilities on employers. Employers must protect the “health, safety and welfare”(health
and safety executives 2014) of all employees on the premises, in addition to the work of all
employees, including employees who are temporary workers, self-employed individuals,
clients, visitors, and the general public. Its goal is to protect the well-being, security, and
health of all people who might be impacted by work operations, including workers,
customers, and visitors. The legislation compels businesses to take reasonable precautions
to ensure the safety of their workers and those who may be harmed as a result of their job
activities. Employers are required by law to detect and analyse workplace dangers and take
actions to control or eradicate them. HASAWA also mandates companies to give employees
proper information, advice, and training to guarantee their employees' safety and health.
This is an essential piece of law that encourages companies to take proactive efforts to
reduce accidents and sickness in the workplace.
The Health and Safety at Work Act mandates all businesses, including medical and social
institutions, to implement policies and procedures to safeguard the safety and well-being of
workers, service users, and visitors. While the law serves as the foundation for these rules,
how they are applied in various circumstances might vary significantly. This is due to the fact
that each location has its unique set of conditions, dangers, and difficulties that the policy
must take into account. The Merryvale house, for example, may have different regulations
than institutions or community care institutions. The policies in place are determined by the
resources accessible, the amount of training provided to employees, and the demands of the
service consumers. As a result, in order to adhere to HASAWA regulations, each agency
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Swaz0n. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £16.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
72042 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now