Paula Cooney

HSC35 Promote Choice and Well- Being of Individuals

1. Before a client comes into your care:
Explain how you build up a rapport with them.

In my role as an extra support worker I would be involved in the transition work of the service user moving from their previous service into the extra support service. This would involve meeting the service user in an environment they are comfortable or familiar with and spending time with them and any relatives and previous support staff. During this period I would gain background knowledge from the previous support staff and relatives, if possible. I would then have detailed conversations with the service user to discover their likes and dikes regarding every aspect of their lives so that the appropriate home and care package could be developed for their needs

Explain how best you can support the client to express their choices and preferences about their future care.

Our service works to provide a completely individual care package for each service user. Essential lifestyle plans (ELPs) are created for and by every individual service user. These include their likes, dislikes, health needs and wants, lifestyle choices such as religion etc and their future plans. Each member of staff has training on how to work from and develop ELPs. The ELP is a live document and at times updated daily.

Where might you get advice and information on how best to help the client to be as independent as possible?

Due to working within Blackpool borough council we are very fortunate that a multi – disciplinary team are readily available from psychologists to social workers etc. all these professionals help to assist the service user in the planning of their ELP and all the updates required. Also past information from previous services and relatives help to create an understanding of past procedures that have been successful and we may be able to adapt to create more benefit for the service user as well as past procedures that have not been as successful. However the most important information regarding helping the service user become as independent as possible will come from the service users themselves.

Suggest how you could help the client to understand the risks and benefits of each of the choices available to them.

Depending on the service user’s level of disability, generally any information given to the service user is described to them in a manner that they are able to comprehend. It is my duty as a extra support worker to ensure that the service user understands every detail of their choices and how it may or may not be beneficial to them so that then they are free to decide which actions they may like to take. If it is sadly not possible to communicate this information to the service user and has been deemed so through the mental capacity act then relatives and professionals are consulted and made aware of the risks and benefits and deemed appropriate decision makers for the service user.

Paula Cooney

Describe how best to work in partnership with the client, their family and other professionals to ensure the best outcome for the client. Explain why this is important for the well-being of the client.

As stated earlier due to working within a Blackpool borough council framework a multi disciplinary team are accessible and approachable. A multidisciplinary team help to develop the best possible care and ELP for all our service users. Also past information from previous services and relatives help to create an understanding of past procedures that have been successful and we may be able to adapt to create more benefit for the service user as well as past procedures that have not been as successful. Having a strong, professional relationship with relatives ensures that personal aspects of the service user’s care are catered for and that relationships with the service user and their relatives remain strong if that is what the service user requests. However if strong professional