Name: Celine Allen
Health and Social Care
Level 3
SHC34

1.1 - Explain what it means to have duty of care in own work role

It’s essential when providing care and support to residents that it is within the law as well as within the policies, procedures and ways of working within an organisation. It’s a legal requirement to safeguard residents to the best of that person's ability. Resident’s safety is of prime importance and priority and one must avoid inflicting abuse or injury to a resident.

As a Social Care Coordinator, duty of care to residents means that the resident gets the care they are entitled to according to what it says in their care plan or what has been agreed during reviews, which has been agreed by the resident and their family. It’s important to respect a resident’s decision and to make sure that whatever they tell you remains confidential. When an activity or outing are taking place it is my responsibility as the social care coordinator towards the residents as they are engaging in activities that I am running.

At Princess Alexandra when a resident is admitted the nurse and the Social Care Coordinator will sit down with them and their family and discuss what kind of things a resident likes and dislikes doing, which is then recorded in the care plan. It is important to follow what is written in the care plan as you are respecting their wishes, although you can encourage a new resident to participate in new things that they have not done before, without forcing them; making sure you offer that person the maximum support possible that they need.

It’s important that as a Social Care Coordinator you offer residents a wide range of activities that are safe and do not discriminate against their religion in any way. When doing activities the resident should be offered as much support as the person needs and given choice and the independence to make there own decisions on what activities they want to do and how they go about doing them. If a resident is unable to make that decision alone and does not have any family to consult with then the care staff can make that decision for the residents, remembering to keep the residents’ best interests at heart

When activities are going on e.g.- a discussion, it is very important that whatever a resident tells you that is of a personal nature, you do not go and tell anyone else; unless you felt for example that the resident was being abused in any way or in any kind of danger, which you would then go and talk to the head of home.

At Princess Alexandra it is very important to treat residents with dignity and respect and to make sure that they are treated as individuals, but all equally. It is vital to tell a resident what is going on in the home and what activities are taking place and to give them the support they may need when deciding what they should do. When doing an activity or an outing the residents’ safety is of prime importance and it is vital to offer the care they may need when doing something or when going somewhere so as to

Name: Celine Allen
Health and Social Care
Level 3
SHC34

prevent any accidents or negligence from occurring. It is important to put the residents’ needs and interests first.

Duty of care towards those you work alongside affects the way you handle any potential hazards/risks, maintain confidentiality, report any issues, keep within the company boundaries and continually retaining the high standards of the company. It is all about supporting what a resident believes and protecting the health and safety of that resident.

1.2 – Explain how duty of care contributes to the safeguarding or protection of individuals

Duty of Care contributes to the safeguarding and protection of residents/individuals as it enables the care staff/other staff, families etc…to raise any concerns they may have about the care being provided. This could relate to a number of things that can affect staff, residents relatives etc... Factors that could affect the