Give an example of an agreed way of working in your workplace and explain why it is important

Confidentiality is one of the agreed ways of working in our workplace. Therefore, we must not disclose any individual's personal or sensitive information to others. In order to work in this particular agreed way, we must keep care plan and other paper work where we record individual's sensitive and personal information in a locked cabinet or designated place. We must shred any unnecessary paper where individual's personal information is recorded.

Why it is important? : It is against law to disclose individual's personal and sensitive information without individual's consent. It also does not support dignity for the individual. Confidentiality is one of the principle care standard and regulator's standard we must follow. Failure to protect individual's personal and sensitive information may result in penalty, disciplinary action, prosecution and even operation closure. 

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Describe what to look for when assessing the skin

Tissue viability risk assessments are mostly carried out by observation. Therefore, a pair of keen eyes with understanding of healthy skin is needed for the procedures. What to look for when assessing skin are described here in below –

·         Intact or freckled

·         Dryness, moist or well hydrated

·         Existing skin condition or skin disease

·         Colour such as redness or normal

·         Any inflammation of skin

·         Existing bruises, blisters and sores

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Describe the changes that occur when damage caused by pressure develops

The changes that occur on skin when damage caused by pressure are described here in below –

Bruise: Skin colour may change into red, dark red, reddish black or black, due to continuous pressure or strong pressure on skin.

Blister: Blister may appear or develop due to constant and vigorous pressure or friction on skin.

Sore: Bruises may turn into a sore or open sore due to further pressure on affected area of skin. Individual may develop bed sore due to constant pressure on their skin.

Wound: Blisters may turn into an open wound due to further constant pressure on the affected skin.

Pressure ulcer: Pressure ulcer may be developed on skin due to prolonged pressure on skin.

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Describe your rights and responsibilities as a worker

Health and safety

My rights are to have a safe working environment. I must have all the equipment or machineries as necessary to perform any tasks safely. I must have access to the required information, guidelines and trainings. My responsibilities are to cooperate with employer by reporting any concerns that can breach the health and safety law. I must use equipment as directed including PPE.

Confidentiality

My rights are to have training on confidentiality or information security. I must have instructions, system and equipment in place to follow such procedures.
My responsibilities are not to share any confidential information without individual's consent. I must keep all the daily care log book locked away. In the event of any confidentiality breach I must report to my manager as soon as possible.

Working time

I am entitled to receive work according to my contract. I am entitled to have a break of at least 15 minutes every 4-6 hours of work. I must opt out of working time regulation if I intend to work more than 48 hours.

Pay and wages

My right is to receive wages according to the contract of employment and must meet NMW. My employer must collect Tax and National insurance contribution and pay to appropriate authority (such as HMRC, DWP) on my behalf. I am entitled to have paid holiday. My responsibilities are to produce correct working hours to the employer including proof of any extra costs incurred due to carry out specific job.

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Think about your previous experiences and the attitudes and beliefs you have, and under the points below explain how they may have affected the way you work.

A positive experience: A positive experience always put a positive impact on work. My positive experiences were receiving feedback from service users and family members which made me more dedicated to my role by setting up myself to achieve further qualifications on this career path.

A negative experience: Reading individual's personal care plan, I established individual's choices of drink and I was serving individual's drink accordingly. But the individual informed me that he no longer likes those drink. I updated the individual's care plan and informed others, that we must ask the individual about the preferences each time, before serving food and drink as they may not like the preferred food and drink all the time.

A positive attitude: Being a good listener, I discovered more about service users needs, preferences, choices and future goal, which help me to provide services according to their current needs. I was also able to identify the skill individual wants to develop and activity which will help them to gain that skill.

My personal beliefs: My moral value lies on 'reciprocity of good deeds' which helped me not only delivering service more effectively but also obtaining feedback from service users for effective service delivery. Acknowledgment of good works always help me to be more dedicated to my role.   

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Thinking about the statements in Part i) that would need to be reported, explain how you would raise your concerns, or whistleblow and why.

I must report to my team leader or supervisor immediately. If team leader is not reachable then I must report to my manager without any delay. I can do that verbally or in writings. If there is any issue with health and safety, I must use 'Do not enter' or 'caution' signpost at first. I must record this issue while ensuring others safety, then report to my team leader or line manager.

I can assist individual to make complaint for the poor delivery of the service.

If my manager is involved in abusive behaviour then I must report it to the Local Safeguarding Authority or follow guidance from policies and procedures.

The reason I should raise my concern or whistleblow is that I have a responsibilities of safeguarding individuals. If I do not raise concerns about health and safety then anyone can cause harm or injuries including myself. If I do not raise concerns on the above scenario, then I would not be following policies and procedures which can be the subject to disciplinary action or prosecution against me.

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar

Explain how a working relationship is different to a personal relationship

Working Relationship: A working relationship is a relationship where I spend time with my co-worker and service users at work, but I have little or no contact out of working hours. It is strictly professional. In a working relationship, we do not discuss about personal interest and personal life problems.

Example: My relationship with an individual service user is strictly professional. I do not share my personal life's problem with my service user. I have no contact with  service users out of work.

Personal Relationship: A personal relationship is where my personal life, extracurricular activities and social life are involved with other individuals. It can be established with anyone depending on mutual interests. There is no restriction on the subject of discussion.

Example: My relationship with a colleague is very personal. We go out sometimes together. We share our personal life's problems sometimes and provide console, comfort and advice to one-another. We share our opinions and become judgemental. We together bite and fight, but always stay tight.

By Md Foisal Miah Talukdar