Crossroads CareAdults’ personal care policy

B.01a

Adults’ personal care policy

1.0 SCOPE

1.1 This policy and accompanying procedure and guidance (B.01b and B.01c) referto adults aged 18 or over. Please see the separate children and young persons’personal care policy, procedure and guidance(C.02a, C.02b and C.02c) for children and young people aged 17 and under. The intended outcome of this set of documents is to ensure that each service user receives effective, safe, personalised care and support that is appropriate to and meets their individual needs.

1.2 A definition of personal care and intimate care for adults with disabilities is provided in Appendix 1 at the end of this policy.

1.3 This policy will be read in conjunction with the following Crossroads Care policy documents:

  • autonomy and independence (D.08)
  • diversity and equality (E.05)
  • infection control (D.01a, D.01b and D.01c)
  • safeguarding adults (B.05a, B.05b and B.05c)
  • confidentiality and disclosure (D.11a, D.11b and D.11c)
  • data protection and subject access (A.03a, A.03b, A.03c and A.03d)
  • adults’ medication (B.02a, B.02b and B.02c)
  • adults’ resuscitation (B.03a, B.03b and B.03c)
  • adults’ behaviour management (B.04a, B.04b, B.04c and B.04d)
  • adults’ mobility assistance (F.25a, F.25b and F.25c)
  • manual handling (F.24a, F.24b and F.24c)
  • food handling and basic hygiene (D.06a, D.06b and D.06c).

1.4 Crossroads Care recognises the added value that volunteers can bring to its services and this is reflected by the wide variety of roles they perform. However, the nature of the organisation’s relationship with volunteers is very different to the one it has with paid employees. Volunteers will not:

  • provide personal care services / support with medication in people’s homes (see Crossroads Care’s policies on personal care and medication)
  • undertake roles where the prompt attendance of the volunteer at a specified time / venue is essential to the safety or well being of a person with care needs.

For further information on the use of volunteers please refer to the guidance available at HT.01

2.0 POLICY STATEMENT

2.1Crossroads Care believes in the provision of person-centred care and support. This involves putting the person with care needs at the centre of the service they receive, ensuring everything done is based on what is important to that person from their own perspective.

2.2 We will:

  • recognise each person as an individual, valuing their uniqueness and diversity
  • treat carers and people with care needs with respect and ensure no one receiving a service from Crossroads Care receives less favourable treatment because of their race, gender, marital status / civil partnership, sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, age, ethnic origin, disability, religion or belief, status as a carer, offending background or any other personal characteristic or circumstance
  • uphold each person’s right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality
  • support people wherever possible in making their own choices and decisions about the care they receive in order for them to retain as much independence as possible
  • seek to maximise each individual’s skills and abilities
  • strive to involve the person’s carer/s, family and friends in their care and support, in line with the person with care needs’ wishes and with their consent, where possible (see 6.0 below)
  • ensure everything is done to maintain the person with care needs in a safe environment (see 2.4 below).

2.3 Managers will actively encourage and motivate staff involved in the provision of care and support to see their work in terms of helping people to achieve their desired goals and outcomes, and not just as the performance of prescribed tasks.

2.4Crossroads Care recognises that risk taking is an important part of a normal lifestyle and that individuals have the right to take informed risks. We accept that responsible risk taking may be in the interests of the person with care needs within a risk assessment framework that balancesrights, preferences and choice with safety and effectiveness. A suitable risk assessment (see BT.02) will be carried out prior to the commencement of services and will aim to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that staff,service users and the organisation are not exposed to unnecessary or unjustifiable risks.

3.0 TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1Trustees are required to familiarise themselves with the content of the procedure and guidance documents (B.01b and B.01c) accompanying this policy.

3.2 Trustees are responsible for ensuring that managers have systems in place to meet the requirements listed below.

  • All staff work according to the adults’ personal care policy, procedure and guidance when planning or providing care.
  • All staff are clear about the work they are authorised to carry out, including who is authorised to conduct care and risk assessments, draw up care plans, conduct care plan reviews and agree specialised tasks.
  • Staff are trained and competent and their skills kept up to date, enabling them to carry out their roles effectively and safely in order to protect themselves, service users and the organisation.
  • Newly appointed staff receive comprehensive induction training at the start of their employment and this is completed before they are allowed to work unsupervised.
  • There is compliance with all relevant legal obligations as listed in 4.0 below.

3.3 Providing intimate personal care to adults with disabilities is one of the factors that potentially makes them more vulnerable to abuse. Trustees need to ensure managers have systems in place whereby staff who provide intimate personal care toadults with disabilities:

  • receive on-going training in safeguarding adults
  • are familiar with the safeguarding adults guidance (B.05c).

4.0 LEGISLATION

4.1 This policy is compliant with:

  • the Care Standards Act 2000
  • the Domiciliary Care Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2004
  • the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 in England
  • the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • the Mental Capacity Act 2005
  • the Human Right Act 1998
  • the Equality Act 2010.

5.0 service planning AND REVIEW

5.1A designated staff member trained in risk assessment and care planning (referred to as a care planner) will carry out a suitable risk assessment (see BT.02) in consultation with the person with care needs and / or their carer as appropriate, before the service begins.

5.2The person with care needs and / or their carer (as appropriate) will be invited to participate in determining the content of the care plan. This will record the person’s care needs, preferences anddesiredoutcomes for the service to be provided.Care plans and risk assessments will be reviewed, updated and, where necessary, amendedannually or when there is a significant change in needs or circumstances, whichever is sooner, to ensure they remain valid.

5.3 Care planners will ensure that care plans and risk assessments are made available to all staff providing care and that staff receive all necessary additional training before the service commences.

6.0Consent for care

6.1Crossroads Care requires the written consent, wherever possible, of the person with care needs forthe care and supportto be provided. However, we recognise that in some cases the person with care needs may be unable to give written consent and the accompanying procedure (B.01b) sets out the approach that will be taken in such circumstances.

6.2 If there is any doubt about the ability of the person with care needs to make decisions about and consent to their package of care and support,the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Code of Practice will be taken into account.

7.0 levels of care – BASIC, SPECIALISED AND PROHIBITED

7.1 Crossroads Care will provide trained care workers to go into the home to deliver personal, social and domestic care. All care workers will be trained to deliver basic care.

7.2 Whenasked to providea specialised task, the care planner will conduct a risk assessment prior to deciding whether the care involving that task can be delivered safely. Specialised tasks will be carried outby care workers specifically trained to deliver themas detailed in the accompanying procedure (B.01b).

7.3 There are certain tasks, listed in the accompanying procedure, that are prohibited due to the potential risk implications to service users, to Crossroads Care staff and to the organisation.

8.0 insurance

8.1 Crossroads Care has in place appropriate insurances including public liability, medical malpractice and employer’s liability.

9.0staff support

9.1 Careworkers will:

  • be supervised and supported throughregular one to one supervision meetings
  • participate in an annual appraisal of their performance
  • have the opportunity to attend regular meetings with peers and /or team members.

10.0 documentation, record keeping and reporting

10.1 The accompanying procedure and guidance (B.01b and B.01c) detailthe information that needs to be recorded in the care plan, risk assessments and day to day record of care delivery to ensure continuity and quality of care.

10.2 All staff will be informed of the need to report to their line manager / the person on call, all accidents, incidentsand near misses (involving themselves or a service user) that occur whilst they are working. The manager / person on call will ensure that the details of the accident / incident / near miss arefully documented, an incident form (DT.03) completed and the insurance brokers (Watson Laurie) informed.

10.3 Some accidents and injuries are notifiable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (1995). Managers are required to report all such occurrences to the Health and Safety Executive. See F.09 for further details.

11.0 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

11.1 General learning and development requirements relating to the adults’ personal care policy, procedure and guidance are contained in the learning and development policy, procedure and guidance (E.13a, E.13b and E.13c).

12.0 REVIEW AND ADOPTION OF THIS POLICY BY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

12.1 The scheme’s board of trustees is required to formally adopt the adults’ personal care policy and to ensure that a documented record is kept of their decision to do so.

12.2 Full details of the policy (namely its title and reference number) and the date it was adopted will be documented in the minutes of the appropriate trustee board meeting as evidence of the decision taken. The minutes will be signed by the chair of the trustees on behalf of the board.

APPENDIX I

PERSONAL CARE

The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 defines personal care as:

  1. Physical assistance given to a person in connection with:
  • eating or drinking (including the administration of parenteral nutrition)
  • toileting (including in relation to the process of menstruation)
  • washing or bathing
  • dressing
  • oral care
  • the care of skin, hair or nails (with the exception of nail care provided by a chiropodist or podiatrist); OR
  1. The prompting, together with supervision, of a person, in relation to the performance of any of the activities listed in paragraph A. above, where that person is unable to make a decision for themselves in relation to performing such an activity without such prompting and supervision.

INTIMATE PERSONAL CARE

Intimate personal care is defined as any procedure involving physical care or treatment that is an invasion of bodily privacy and that may be a potential source of exposure or embarrassment to the individual receiving the care.

The understanding of what constitutes intimate care may vary within diverse cultures. It can include:

  • feeding
  • oral care
  • washing
  • dressing / undressing
  • toileting
  • menstrual care
  • treatments such as enemas, suppositories, enteral feeds
  • administration of medication
  • catheter and stoma care
  • supervision of a person involved in intimate self-care.

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Policy/Adultpersonalcare/2011/11/APb001a Last updated October 2013

© Carers Trust 2013 Review due October 2014