Unit 3 Health and Safety in Health and Social Care Level 4 City College

TASK 1

1.1 Health and safety systems, policies and procedures

Health and safety policies and procedures are important means to reduce the number of accidents at workplace and also aids in keeping the well being of workforce. With regard to City College, board of directors and other personnel reduce the amount of incidents and promote safe as well as secures environment in company by the means of following systems and procedures:

• Training is the most essential system through which employees of respective company can be made aware about its health and safety policies. The staff members shall be provided with training on diverse methods such as use of varied equipment to conduct their work (Wilks, Stephen and Moore, 2013). This can be in form of acknowledging them about the use of fire extinguishers and exist windows at times of diverse circumstances..
• Effective communication in City College will also aid in maintaining health and safety of employees. Several policies and procedures that have been formulated by the directors shall be effectively demonstrated to each and every employee. This can be done through the means of conducting agenda meetings wherein staff members shall be made aware about different policies and procedures so as to ensure health and safety at workplace (Hughes and Ferrett, 2015). However, there are varied other ways through which systems and policies can be easily communicated. It involves printing instructions on paper and posting them on noticeboards or billboards as well as newsletters and direct mails are also the most prominent methods.
• Furthermore, care planning is another essential factor or way in which the health and safety policies can be implemented successfully in respective organization. Herein, standard measures are taken by the personnel of City College that will aid in procuring people from all sorts of peril. For instance: installing sign boards at different areas which are in danger, providing proper lightening and bulbs at dark sides of college and keeping the floors and verandas clean and tidy as along with ensuring that floors are not left slippery.

All these are some of the most common ways in which health and safety policies and procedures can be implemented at  City College.

1.2 Responsibilities for the management of health and safety

Health and safety at workplace is the most crucial element which describes about the effectiveness of organization. This gives rise to the responsibilities on varied executives and management of City College. It can be defined as an obligation or duty which needs to be fulfilled so as to escape from the penalties and other compulsions. With regard to the present organization, varied health and safety responsibilities of each personnel has been enumerated underneath:

• Health and safety executives: These are the bodies or authorities that are engaged in formulating several acts and standards for fulfilling the best interest of workers and services users. Areas of City College are inspected by the health care executives and then notice is being provided to the employers for the improvements or prohibition of certain acts.
• Employers: There is the main duty of employers regarding health and safety policies at City College to ensure that the policies and practises of respective organization is in compliance with the current legal requirements (De Celis and et.al., 2017). Along with that, they are also responsible to look after the environment of college. These involve checking that whether proper sanitation and water facilities have been undertaken by the management or not. It also assesses if computers and other systems or equipment are properly working and is not obsolete is ensured by the employers. Furthermore, training is also provided and undertaken by them so as to ensure that proper communication is being made.
• Employees: Teachers and other personnel are the workers of respective organization. They are responsible to implement the above laid policies and procedures in the manner as stated by managers or employers (Nielsen, 2014). Furthermore, they are also obliged to demonstrate the respective hazards and risks regarding equipment or any other amenities to the top level staff members.
• Top and middle level management: Top level ensures that proper equipment and health safety policies are placed in the City College. However, the middle level is responsible for monitoring and controlling of above enumerated policies and practices.

1.3 Priorities for health and safety aspects

Priorities can be defined as setting or giving more importance to one particular task or activities which are presently more important than others. It is essential to give priorities to the health and safety activities by every organization so as to ensure safe and secured environment in the City College. However, there are certain conflicting factors or priorities which obstruct the management in keeping as well as analysing primacies (Coulter and et.al., 2015). Some of the specific health and safety priorities with regards to the present organization have been inlaid underneath:

One of the most imperative priorities of City College as well as other organization is ensuring safety to the property and place as well as people. There arises several situations such as fire in the college. It becomes difficult for the organization or management to deal with the present circumstances. Some of the members may give priorities to safeguard health and life of people (Houben and et.al., 2014). While on the other hand, conflicting priorities may occur in cases when other individuals are engaged in managing and securing properties as well as equipment. Such cases give rise to provide security to health and safety policies and practices. Furthermore, it creates emergence for setting priorities by the management and other personnels of city college so as to ensure health and safety policies are adopted by the organization.

Another set of priorities and conflicting priorities may arise in the premises of city college when the radiant and other electrical heater may cause any injury or harm to other person. In such cases, the management and personnels of City college shall be efficient enough to deal with the situation. In this case, the main priorities that shall be set will include definite proportion of care and insurance to eradicate the problem. Setting of policies and procedures are the best means through which the health and safety policies can be adopted in the City College.

Some of the priorities encompasses of analysing risk and taking respective actions so as to remove the same. In addition to the above, Setting of fire alarms, extinguishers, exist windows are some of the priorities that can be set rather then spending the money on other wasteful activities which may obstruct these acts (Qu and Vargas, 2015).

TASK 2

2.1 Care Planning and risk assessment

Through effective care planning risk can be easily assessed and minimised from the organizational setting. It can be defined as a means of ways through which the hazards that might be prevailing in the organization shall be minimised so as to preserve the life and health of the workers and provide them with safe and secure working environment (Lund, Richardson and May, 2015). Risk can be identified by the means of effective evaluation and minimised via the means of care planning. There are five basic steps in carrying out risk assessment practices. These involve, identifying risk and the person who might be harmed with the following practices. Evaluating peril and deciding actions so as to prevent the same. If proper care planning would have conducted in the Slade House, then the management might be successful in order to preserve the life of patients.

Some of the examples or ways have been presented below:

• It is essential to make precautionary actions in order to provide safe environment for the patient as well as the workers to function in In regards to the case of Connor Sparrowhawk, if the clinicians would have done care planning then the life of the innocent could have been saved (Connor Sparrowhawk death: Health trust accepts responsibility, 2016). These can be done by the means of ensuring floor are kept clean and dried so as to prevent any person from slipping and tripping. Proper tiles and renovation if provided to the bathrooms of Slade house would have saved the life of Sparrowhawk. Proper lightening, cleaning  and sweeping of floors, stairs and other areas of hospital are some of the remedies through which risk can be minimised.
• Installation of alarms and cameras at varied corners of the hospital is a relevant measure through which the peril can be prevented. In addition to the above, proper training demonstrated to the care practitioners on manual handling will aid in minimising risk.

2.2 Impact of risk assessment policies and practices

Health and safety policies and practices are made so as to prevent the people from getting injured, hurt or damaged. It is a set of responsibilities wherein the each and every person needs to take precautionary action so as to minimise risk and prevent the fellow members from getting bruised. The health and safety act 1974 of UK aids the management to inlay systems and procedures for the best benefit of its manpower. These policies and procedures have negative and positive impact on the workforce which have been enumerated hereunder in regards to the Slade House.

• If proper risk assessment is not carried out by the management of respective hospital then it may lead to negative impact. When acute training is not rendered to the staff members then it may lead to varied forms of accidents in form of slip and trims, injury to patients and other members (De Vleminck and et.al., 2014). However, the negative impact of the same includes, imposition of penalties by the authoritative. Redundancy in financial resources is also another means of negative impact due to the fines and litigations being imposed by the juror.
• In regards to the present case of ConnorSparrowhawk, due to lack of care planning and risk assessment process it caused life of patient to death (Sambrook, 2016). From this it can be denoted that risk assessment is an integral part of every organization which aids in minimising peril. Lack of resources and environmental monitoring instrument may lead to reduced image of the hospital. Furthermore, in the present case, it can be seen that the death of Sparrowhawk caused reduced brand image of the Slade hospital amongst teenagers. Furthermore, several litigation has also been imposed which questions the service quality of the hospital. The family of Connor lost a young son which due to the lack of facilities and provisions of the hospital.

2.3 Effects of Non-compliance with RIDDOR

RIDDOR is the abbreviation used for Reporting of incidents, diseases and dangerous occurrence reporting. Herein, each and every member being a part of Slade hospital is responsible to report minor events to the supervisor (Yang and et.al., 2016). Along with that, the incidents which took form of injuries or death to the patients shall also be documented in its original manner. No matter how devastating and cruel the incident may be it shall be properly recorded and reported to the senior authoritative. This is means of reporting incidents to the government so as to avoid occurrence of such cases in the near future. RIDDOR has been introduced by the government in the best interest of the society so as to preserve the life and health of the services users and providers. the non compliance of the same can lead to harm to the Slade hospital (Subasinghe, Kodituwakku and Perera, 2013). Some of the cases of non-compliance of RIDDOR and its significant effects have been enumerated underneath:

Exactly 10 months before the death of Connor Sparrowhawk, a similar accident took place in the premises of Slade hospital. Herein, a person died while using the bath tub in the hospital. A nurse has reported the same incident to its immediate supervisor. No precautionary step was taken against the respective act which caused death of the innocent. However, if the risk assessment procedure have been successfully implemented and proper reporting have been made to the higher authoritative of the hospital, then the death of Connor could have been prevented.

This fact was revealed in the newspaper after the decease of Sparrowhawk and has significantly impacted on the operations of the Slade hospital (CRÄ‚CIUN, 2015). The non compliance of RIDDOR led the organization to pay hefty compensation to the family of Conner. The amount comprises of 80000 pounds. In addition to the above, many young teens have boycotted the services of respective hospital which further led to decreased image and reputation in the market. The worker that were in-charged to take care of the patient lost its clinical degree.

2.4 Dilemmas faced by the staff members

Dilemma can be defined as a state of confusion or disarray for the people so as to select the one option amongst the two alternative present before it (Samaranayake and Scully, 2013). In regards to the healthcare centres, there are numerous dilemmas which are faced by the doctors, nurses and other care practitioners.

In context with the present case scenario of Connor Sparrowhawk, the dilemma that might be faced by the care giver shall be to allow the patient to bath alone or not. As analysed from the case study, that Connor was suffering from epilepsy which is an acute disease. The patients had a mental or learning disability or which it was brought to Slade hospital. In such cases, each and every work of the patient from cleaning to eating is done by the care practitioner. However, Sparrowhawk was allowed to bath alone in the bathroom which lead him to grave. Herein, the dilemma faced by the nurse or caregiver was to allow the patient to bath alone or to accompany him to the bathroom (Bischoff and et.al., 2013). Although, the patient was above the age group of 18 and he has its own rights to stop anyone from any sort of act which caused the nurses to leave the patient alone for some time (Adisesh and et.al., 2013). Contradictory to the above, the mental health act depicts that due to the ill health of the patient all the actions and responsibility of the person shall be that of the clinician.

Therefore, to overcome the respective dilemma or state of confusion faced by the service provider it could have chosen to take decisions regarding the health and safety of the respective person. This could have prevented the death of Connor Sparrowhawk.

TASK 3

3.1 How health and safety policies are monitored and reviewed

There are different ways and methods through which the implementation of health and safety policies and practices are easily been monitored and reviewed within the organization. The key methods include-

1. Audit of risks- The foremost method for monitoring and reviewing the health and safety policies within the City College include proper auditing or scrutinizing of the risk within the kitchen premises so that they may maintain the healthy aspect (de Celis and et.al., 2017). With the help of audit of risk management may easily review the risks and hazard that present within the organization so that they may take proper action against it so that they may minimize the hazardous activities within the organization and maintain the safety within the premises.
2. Learning from past experience- Another aspect through which policies related with the health and safety would be monitored and review is through engaging in reviewing the past experience related with health and safety provision. In the situation if there is negative experience in the past related with implementing the health and safety policies then in such circumstances it ensure in proper monitoring of the current policies so that it may successfully implement the health and safety in the City College.
3. Updating policies and procedures- Another method for monitoring and reviewing the health and safety policies include engaging in constant up gradation of the policies and procedure related with the health and safety so that City College can easily engage in maintaining the aspect of government (Bischoff and et.al., 2013). Along with this, through updating the health and safety policies it assists in maintaining the provision of health and safety in the premises so that it may lower the rate of accident.

3.2 The effectiveness of health and safety policy and practice

The key tool or safety instrument that measures the health and safety policies within the organization include implementing the safety climate tool that is mainly used in order to gain insight knowledge and information regarding the safety culture within the premises (Samaranayake and Scully, 2013). Therefore, using this tool would support the City College in successfully implementing the health and safety policies that lower the rate of incidents. Moreover, it has been also measure that the effectiveness of using safety climate tool within the organization include-

1. It manage the safety climate within the organization that assists in creating benchmark within the organization so that they may easily attain the health and safety (Nielsen, 2014).
2. Along with this, another effectiveness of using the tool is that it also engage in targeting the resources within the premises so that management can easily takes the decision regarding the amendments that results maintaining the safety and healthy culture within the organization.
3. Along with this another benefit or effectiveness of using the safety climate tool is that it assists in increasing the profile of health and safety within the City College so that it may easily reduces the issues and unhealthy practices within the premises.

Moreover, it is analysed that with the safety climate tool it also engage in changing the attitude and perception of peer group along with it also results in engagement of proper resources  that ensure proper health and safety among the organization (Wilks, Stephen and Moore, 2013). In addition to this using this tool it also outcome in engaging the healthy and safety behaviours within the premises.

3.3 Evaluate own contribution to placing health and safety needs of individuals at the centre of practice

In the contemporary scenario it is required to concentrate on the requirement of health and safety of individuals and staff at the centre of practice within the workplace so that they may easily maintain their health and safety. Along with this, working as the manager within the City College I must effectively contribute my activities in measuring the health and safety practices. For this, I have evaluated that my own contribution within the practices must engage in compliance of the legal rules and regulation so that I can effectively frame the strategies accordant with that so I would easily manage the health and safety within the premises.

In addition to this, it is also evaluated that I must also engage in training practices and activities so that I can easily communicate the employees regarding proper maintenance of the safety practices in the organization. Along with this, I would also ensure proper training through which the staff can easily develop the perception regarding maintenance of the health and safety within the organization so that it might reduces the issues within the organization (Defining health promotion, 2013). Along with this, it has been further evaluated that I must also engage in the interaction with the individuals and staff within the City College so that we can easily frame the required policies and strategies related with keeping health and safety provision in the mind. With the help of proper interaction among the staff and other members they may also acquire the new strategies and action that may be used by me for devising and imposing the health and safety related policies within the premises.

Conclusion

From the above mentioned report it has been concluded that within the health and social care setting it is essential to engage in creating health and safety provision that basically support in maintaining the health of employees and staff within the premises. Along with this, it is also include understanding in different legislation related with the health and safety that would be implemented within the workplace. Moreover, it also concluded proper understanding of the different ways and practices in which the requirement related with health and safety must be implemented within the organization so that it may not negatively impact the service users. Lastly, the report also concluded that it is essential for monitoring and reviewing the different health and safety policies so that they may avoid the risk and harm within the workplace.

References

• Adisesh, A. and et.al., 2013. UK standards of care for occupational contact dermatitis and occupational contact urticaria. British Journal of Dermatology. 168(6). pp.1167-1175.
• Bischoff, K. E. and et.al., 2013. Advance Care Planning and the Quality of EndofLife Care in Older Adults.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 61(2). pp.209-214.
• Coulter, A. and et.al., 2015. Personalised care planning for adults with chronic or longterm health conditions. The Cochrane Library.
• CRÄ‚CIUN, N., 2015. Identification and classification of the factors causing falls from heightat work.
• de Celis, I. L. R. and et.al., 2017. Women’s occupational health and safety management: An issue for corporate social responsibility. Safety science. 91. pp.61-70.
• De Vleminck, A. and et.al., 2014. Barriers to advance care planning in cancer, heart failure and dementia patients: a focus group study on general practitioners' views and experiences. PLoS One. 9(1). pp.e84905.
• Houben, C. H. and et.al., 2014. Efficacy of advance care planning: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. 15(7). pp.477-489.
• Hughes, P. and Ferrett, E., 2015. Introduction to Health and Safety in Construction: For the NEBOSH National Certificate in Construction Health and Safety. Routledge.
• Lund, S., Richardson, A. and May, C., 2015. Barriers to advance care planning at the end of life: an explanatory systematic review of implementation studies. PLoS One. 10(2). pp.e0116629.
• Nielsen, K. J., 2014. Improving safety culture through the health and safety organization: A case study. Journal of safety research. 48. pp.7-17.
• Qu, Y. and Vargas, H. M., 2015. Proarrhythmia risk assessment in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes using the maestro MEA platform. Toxicological Sciences. 147(1). pp.286-295.
• Reese, C. D., 2015. Occupational health and safety management: a practical approach. CRC press.

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