DK40 04 (HSC395) Contribute to assessing and act upon risk of danger, harm and

abuse

Elements of competence

HSC395.1 / Contribute to assessing the risk of danger, harm and abuse
HSC395.2 / Contribute to minimising the effects of immediate danger, harm and abuse
HSC395.3 / Support individuals to review situations and actions after the immediate risk has passed
About this Unit

For this Unit you will need to contribute to assessing and act on the risk of danger harm and abuse, acting to minimise and deal with the effects of harm and abuse and supporting individuals to review situations and actions when the risk has passed.

Scope

The scope is here to give you guidance on possible areas to be covered in this Unit. The terms in this section give you a list of options linked with items in the performance criteria. You need to provide evidence for any option related to your work area.

Actions that could adversely affect the use of evidence in future investigations could include: asking inappropriate and/or leading questions; not following organisation and legal procedures; putting undue pressure on individuals.

Communicate using: the individual’s preferred spoken language; the use of signs; symbols; pictures; writing; objects of reference; communication passports; other non verbal forms of communication; human and technological aids to communication.

Danger could be: imminent; in the short term; in the medium term; in the longer term.

Harm and abuse within this unit will cover: neglect; physical, emotional and sexual abuse; bullying; self-harm; reckless behaviour.

Key people include: family; friends; carers; others with whom the individual has a supportive relationship.

Risks could include the possibility of: danger, damage and destruction to the environment and goods; injury and harm to people; self-harm; bullying; abuse; reckless behaviour.

Statements that could adversely affect the use of evidence in future investigations: changing information; removing information; adding to information.

Your knowledge and understanding for this Unit will relate to legal requirements and codes of practice applicable to the scope of your work and others with whom you work; the nature of the work you are undertaking; your role and level of responsibility within your organisation (eg whether you have responsibility to support the work of others); the individuals, key people[1] and others with whom you are required to work and the degree of autonomy you have for the management of your own work activities.

Values underpinning the whole of the Unit

The values underpinning this Unit have been derived from the key purpose statement[2], the statement of expectations from carers and people receiving services, relevant service standards and codes of practice for health and social care in the four UK countries. If you are working with children and young people they can be found in the principles of Care Unit HSC34. If you are working with adults they can be found in HSC35. To achieve this Unit you must demonstrate that you have applied the principles of care outlined in either unit HSC34 or HSC35 in your practice and through your knowledge.

Evidence Requirements for the Unit

It is essential that you adhere to the Evidence Requirements for this Unit – please see details overleaf.

SPECIFIC Evidence Requirements for this unit
Simulation:
·  Simulation is NOT permitted for any part of this unit.
The following forms of evidence ARE mandatory:
·  Direct Observation: Your assessor or an expert witness must observe you in real work activities which provide a significant amount of the performance criteria for most of the elements in this unit. For example you may be observed presenting information at a team meeting, care planning meeting or you may have reported concerns to your line manager regarding an individual who is at risk of abuse.
·  Reflective Account/professional discussion: These will be a description of your practice in particular situations. For example this could be a description of your practice, which shows your ability to assess a situation and provide support to individuals where they have been subject to, or threatened with, harm and abuse. You could explain how you protected the individual and those around them and what action you took to involve other agencies/professionals following the incident. It is likely that this would also provide evidence for the mandatory units in the award particularly where you have demonstrated knowledge of legislation, policy and procedures relevant to the task.
Competence of performance and knowledge could also be demonstrated using a variety of evidence from the following:
·  Questioning/professional discussion: May be used to provide evidence of knowledge, legislation, policies and procedures which cannot be fully evidenced through direct observation or reflective accounts. In addition the assessor/expert witness may also ask questions to clarify aspects of your practice.
·  Expert Witness: A designated expert witness may provide direct observation of practice, questioning, professional discussion and feedback on reflective accounts.
·  Witness testimony: Can be a confirmation or authentication of the activities described in your evidence which your assessor has not seen. This could be provided by a work colleague or an individual.
·  Products: These can be incident reports, records of situations and actions taken, diary evidence of day to day practice.
You need not put confidential records in your portfolio, they can remain where they are normally stored and be checked by your assessor and internal verifier. If you do include them in your portfolio they should be anonymised to ensure confidentiality.
GENERAL GUIDANCE
·  Prior to commencing this unit you should agree and complete an assessment plan with your assessor which details the assessment methods you will be using, and the tasks you will be undertaking to demonstrate your competence.
·  Evidence must be provided for ALL of the performance criteria ALL of the knowledge and the parts of the scope that are relevant to your job role.
·  The evidence must reflect the policies and procedures of your workplace and be linked to current legislation, values and the principles of best practice within the Care Sector. This will include the National Service Standards for your areas of work and the individuals you care for.
·  All evidence must relate to your own work practice.


Knowledge specification for this unit

Competent practice is a combination of the application of skills and knowledge informed by values and ethics. This specification details the knowledge and understanding required to carry out competent practice in the performance described in this unit.

When using this specification it is important to read the knowledge requirements in relation to expectations and requirements of your job role.

You need to provide evidence for ALL knowledge points listed below. There are a variety of ways this can be achieved so it is essential that you read the ‘knowledge evidence’ section of the Assessment Guidance.

You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence Numbers
Values
1 Legal and organisational requirements on equality, diversity, discrimination, rights, confidentiality and sharing of information when contributing to the assessment of and actions to deal with the risk of danger, harm and abuse.
2 How to provide active support and place the preferences and best interests of individuals at the centre of everything you do, whilst enabling them to take responsibility (as far as they are able and within any restrictions placed upon them) and make and communicate their own decisions relating to their protection.
3 Dilemmas between individuals’ rights and their responsibilities for their own care and protection, the rights and responsibilities of key people and your role and responsibilities in protecting individuals from danger, harm and abuse.
4 Stereotypical assumptions based on gender, race, culture, disability, educational experience etc that affect the perception of danger, harm and abuse to individuals, key people and others, both as recipients and perpetrators, contributing to assessing and act upon risk of danger, harm and abuse.
Legislation and organisational policy and procedures
5 Codes of practice and conduct, and standards and guidance relevant to your own role and the roles, responsibilities, accountability and duties of others when protecting individuals from danger, harm and abuse.
6 Current local, UK legislation and organisational requirements, procedures and practices for:
(a) data protection, including recording, reporting, storage, security and sharing of information, including the reporting of dangerous incidents
(b) protecting individuals from danger, harm and abuse
(c) actions to take on suspicions of and where there is a risk of danger, harm and abuse
(d) health, safety, assessing and managing risks associated with identifying and dealing with the risk of danger, harm and abuse to individuals, key people and others
(e) the collection of information for legal purposes
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence Numbers
(f) investigating incidents of danger, harm and abuse
(g) any special provisions relating to the individuals because of their age or conditions
(h) working with others to provide integrated services
7 Practice and service standards relevant to your work setting and for working and dealing with danger, harm and abuse.
8 How to access records and information on the dangerous, abusive and harmful behaviour of individuals and key people and incidents and conditions that might trigger such behaviour.
9 The purpose of, and arrangements for, your supervision when dealing with dangerous, harmful and abusive incidents and the disclosure of such incidents by individuals and key people.
Theory and practice
10 How and where to access information and support that can inform your practice when contributing to the assessment of, and actions to deal with the risk of danger, harm and abuse.
11 Government reports, inquiries and research relevant to the protection of individuals, key people and others from danger, harm and abuse.
12 Theories relevant to the individuals with whom you work, about aspects of human growth and development and how these can affect and be affected by individuals being subjected to danger, harm and abuse.
13 The ways in which danger, harm and abuse in the short, medium and long term can affect the well-being of individuals.
14 How power and influence can be used and abused by:
(a) yourself and others when supporting people who are in danger of harm and abuse and when they have been harmed and abused
(b) others wishing to harm, abuse and exploit individuals
15 How individuals who have been harmed and abused are vulnerable to exploitation and the ways in which such exploitation can be prevented.
16 How people who harm and abuse individuals conceal what is happening.
17 How to work in partnership with individuals, key people and those within and outside your organisation to support individuals who you and others suspect are in danger of harm and abuse and for individuals who have been harmed and abused.
18 What to do if you suspect or have evidence that the person responsible for harm and abuse is a colleague.
19 How to protect yourself, individuals, key people and others with whom you work from danger, harm and abuse.
20 Different views on what is harmful, dangerous and abusive and how they relate to your role and tasks.
21 Factors that may lead to danger, harm and abuse.
22 Signs and symptoms of danger, harm and abuse and the correct actions to take when you suspect that danger, harm and abuse has been disclosed.
You need to show that you know, understand and can apply in practice: / Enter Evidence Numbers
23 The effects of being at risk of harm, in danger or abused and their impact on the individuals, other people involved, your own and other’s behaviour.
24 How to work, and support others to work with individuals who are distressed, fearful and uncertain about what will happen to them.
25 The type of evidence that is valid in investigations and court and how to ensure that your actions and statements do not contaminate evidence or prejudice investigations.
26 The way that supportive relationships can help individuals and other people involved to cope with what has happened to them.
27 How to deal with and the actions to take when individuals and key people disclose abuse.
28 How to contribute to assessing levels of risk and the appropriate action to take to reduce or remove risk.
29 Working with, and enabling others to work with individuals whose behaviour is likely to cause, or is causing, risks to themselves or others.
30 Working with, and enabling others to work effectively, when there is a crisis that involves potential or actual harm and abuse.
31 Carrying out your role in plans to manage the risk or to prevent further danger, harm or abuse.
32 Working with others outside your organisation who are involved in any review of the risks or any action that is to be taken.
33 How to reflect upon and evaluate how your behaviour and actions could contribute to incidents of danger, harm and abuse.


HSC395.1 Contribute to assessing the risk of danger, harm and abuse