duty of health and social care 2021
Assignment 055 Principles for implementing duty of care in health, social care or children and young people’s settings.
Duty of care in children or young people’s settings means to apply responsibility to ensure the safe guarding of each individual child. Any organisation or person working with the young person is considered legally and morally to owe them a duty of care. This prevents any harm caused to a child or young person. The law does not require you to be perfect, but reasonable steps must be taken to minimise the risk of injury. The younger or more vulnerable a child or young person may be the greater duty of care is required. You must raise any concerns you have that may affect the safeguarding of a child. For example, poor working conditions, inappropriate behaviour from a member of staff, poor equipment etc. This also includes any abuse you may witness or hear about. This can be from work colleagues, parents, friends or other family members. Concern you may have must be discussed with a manager or someone with a reasonable amount of authority. Risk assessments must be done to ensure safe guarding. If a person does not act in an appropriate way or provide an appropriate standard of care then they have breached their duty of care.
Example of potential conflict or dilemma
Where to get additional support and advice
A child getting cut of a sharp object
Ensure there are no sharp objects left in the reach of children. Make a supervisor aware of any object that may cause harm to a child for example, a broken toy. 2
A photograph taken of a child without parental permission
Send out letters to parents or guardians asking if they wish for photographs to be taken or published of their child. Ask management if you’re unsure on any potential dilemma.
Inappropriate behaviour by a member of staff. For example, an excessive use
of force that may harm a child Ensure each member of staff has had a CRB check. They must also be aware of what they must and must not do. Make a supervisor aware of any suspicious behaviour or any behaviour that may cause conflict. If the problem persists and management aren’t listening contact local authorities.
When dealing with a complaint you must remain calm and professional. No foul language should be used at any time. You must remain polite and pleasant. The complaint shouldn’t be ignored or put to one side. If you cannot deal with the complaint yourself you must ask advice from a supervisor. Although, all supervisors or managers should be made aware of any complaints so that they can be avoided in the future. Sometimes, you may think that a complaint is unnecessary however it should still always be dealt with because to a parent or caregiver this dilemma may be a huge issue to them. Complaints should be dealt with quickly. This also ensures the safe guarding of children or young people if there is a risk of harm.
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