It is a crucial
part of this job role, to face dilemma regarding the balance between duty of
care and an individual’s right. An individual’s choice and independence may
clash with the choice and independence of others. An individual’s choice may
pose risks or potential risks to themselves and others. In these situations, you
may have a great deal of dilemmas to overcome. Using your best judgement, you must
have to act upon individual’s best interests. You may not be in a position to
take best interests decision, but you may involve sharing your concerns and
dilemmas with manager or other professionals who will be taking individual’s
best interest’s decision. If you do not share your concerns with responsible
professionals, then individual may suffer significant harm, or put them at risk
for the lack of sufficient vital information while they are making individual’s
best interest’s decision.
Example: Mr X, who is suffering from dementia and
very disoriented, living in a residential care home. He very often tries to
escape the building to go out himself as part of his rights of free movement.
By knowing that he is not capable to do so safely because of his current
diagnosis, I would have to propose alternative which is least restrictive and
safe for him to enjoy outdoors.
