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Induction Book

for Care Staff

Name:
Department:
Branch Manager:
Date Issues:

Version: May 2004

Introduction to your Induction

The purpose of this induction is to ensure that all employees reach a minimum standard before providing care to service users on a one-to-one basis. The booklet is based on the TOPSS England Induction Standards and provides a basis for your induction training.

There are five units in the induction, which you can work through in any order as agreed by you and your manager. The five units are:

  • Unit One: Understanding the Principle of Care
  • Unit Two: Understanding the Organisation and the Role of the Worker
  • Unit Three:Understanding the experiences and the Needs of Older People
  • Unit Four:Maintaining Safety at Work
  • Unit Five:Understanding the Effect of the Service Setting

You should answer the questions and carry out the tasks in the booklet as fully as possible; in addition you should be able to collate ‘evidence’, such as copies of procedures, certificates or journal articles that are relevant to your job. You can use the learning achieved on your induction programme to count towards an NVQ in Care or related topic at Levels 2 or 3.

Although there is no time limit the completion of any given unit, the induction is expected to be complete within 6 weeks.

Unit One – Understanding the Principles of Care

The main areas of this induction standard are:

1.1the values;

1.2worker relationships;

1.3communication;

1.4confidentiality

Summary

This unit describes the principles of good practice. All workers must base their interaction with other people on these. The standard does not only include interactions with service users, but also with:

  • Colleagues;
  • Managers;
  • Other workers;
  • Friends and families of service users;
  • Any other person you may come into contact with in the course of your work.

You are expected to have a basic understanding of the principles of care, and what they mean in day-to-day practice. This unit also covers an understanding of a working relationship, its limits and responsibilities, and how it is different from other types of relationship.

It is important that you have basic communication skills before working alone with service users. It is recognised that communication is a complicated area. You will need to develop your skills during foundation training, which follows induction.

1.1The Values

  1. What do you think ‘care’ covers?

______

______

______

  1. What do the following terms mean?
  • Prejudice:______
  • Equal opportunities:______
  1. Read the Company’s policy for Equal Opportunities. Give three examples of how you can promote equal opportunities in your day to day work.
  1. ______
  2. ______

  3. ______
  1. Explain what each of the following values of care mean for the people you will be supporting and give an example of how you have promoted each value through your work.

Individuality and Identity:______

______

______

______

Rights: ______

______

______

Choice: ______

______

______

Privacy: ______

______

______

Independence: ______

______

______

Dignity: ______

______

______

Respect: ______

______

______

Partnership: ______

______

______


1.2Worker Relationships

  1. Give four examples of what would not be acceptable in terms of your relationships with service users.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  1. Give four examples of poor care practice.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  1. What would you do if you saw something that worried you?

______

______

______

  1. Read the Company policies on Adult Protection, Elder Abuse and Gifts and Gratuities. You may photocopy the policies and include them in your induction evidence.

Policy / Date Read / Signature
Adult Protection
Elder Abuse
Gifts and Gratuities
  1. What are the seven recognised types of abuse?

______

______

______

  1. To whom would you first report suspicion or a disclosure of abuse?

______

  1. What should you do if a service user insists you accept a gift?

______

______

______

1.3Communication

  1. What are the main ways people communicate?
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  1. Can you suggest reasons why communication may be difficult for some people?

______

______

______

  1. Suggest three ways we communicate non-verbally.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
Tips for talking to people with hearing loss
  • Before starting, politely attract their attention.
  • Get reasonably close and ensure that they can see you and your lip movements.
  • Don’t cover your mouth with your hands.
  • Speak clearly and normally – a little louder if necessary, but don’t shout.
  • Don’t exaggerate words or facial expressions.
  • Repeat yourself if it seems that you have not been fully heard.
  • Ask questions to make sure you have been understood.
  • Don’t get angry yourself. Persevere.


1.4Confidentiality

  1. What is confidentiality and why is it important?

______

______

  1. In what circumstances might you have to break confidentiality? How could you reduce the problems this might cause?

______

______

______

______

  1. How would you respond to a person who telephones asking for information about a service user, member of staff or the premises?

______

______

  1. How would you respond to a person who calls at the door asking to be let into the premises?

______

______

  1. Read the Company policies on Rights and Confidentiality and Privacy and Dignity. You may photocopy the policies and include them in your induction evidence.

Policy / Date Read / Signature
Rights and Confidentiality
Privacy and Dignity
  1. List four service user rights that are indicated in the Organisation’s policy:
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  1. List four of the procedures to ensure Privacy and Dignity for service users:
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______


Unit Two – Understanding the organisation and the role of the worker

The main areas of this unit are:

2.1Access to policies and procedures;

2.2Using policies and procedures

2.3The role of the worker.

Summary

This unit describes the understanding you should have of your role and responsibilities, and how these relate to the organisation’s aims and values. It also describes the understanding that you should have to accessing, understanding and using the policies and procedures that are important to your role.

It is recognised that it will not be possible for you to understand all organisational policies and procedures during the induction period.

The policies and procedures listed below are important to your role. You should have read and understood these as a minimum standard by the end of your induction period.

Policy / Date Read / Signature
Infection Control
Rights and Confidentiality
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Fire Safety
Food Handling and Hygiene
Record Keeping
Health and Safety
Moving and Handling
Accidents and Emergencies
Adult Protection
Elder Abuse

Some of these policies are linked with other units in the induction booklet.

It is important that you understand how to get advice, information and support about the service, your role and the role of other people within the organisation.

2.1Access to Policies and Procedures

  1. What is the difference between a policy and a procedure?

______

______

______

  1. Why is it so important to follow the organisation’s policies and procedures?

______

______

______

  1. Where will you find up-to-date copies of your workplace policies and procedures?

______

______

______

2.2Application of Policies and Procedures

  1. What is a Statement of Purpose?

______

______

______

  1. Can you write down what you think the aims and objectives are for the Organisation?

______

______

______

  1. What should you do if you were injured whilst at work?

______

______

______

  1. What are the goals of the Infection Control Policy?

______

______

______

  1. Who has overall responsibility for the Organisation’s Health and Safety?

______

  1. According to the Organisation’s procedure, what should you do in the event of a fire?

______

______

  1. Under what circumstances would you have to apply the COSSH policy?

______

______

2.3The Role of the Worker

Organisational Structure


Care Home/Branch Name:______

  1. Fill in the names of the individuals on the Organisation Chart. Highlight your position in the Structure
  1. What are your role and responsibilities?

______

______

______

  1. What are the roles and responsibilities of one of the people you will be working with?

______

______

______

  1. Why is it important to involve family and representatives in the day to day life of the service user?

______

______

______

  1. How can this be done?

______

______


______

  1. What is supervision and why is it important?

______

______

  1. Fill in the arrangements for your supervision:

Supervisor Name:
Place of Supervision:
Frequency:

Unit Three – Understanding the experiences and needs of the service user

The main areas of this unit are:

3.1The type of service user group;

3.2The needs of the service user group.

Summary

This unit describes the knowledge and understanding that you will need to have about the service user group.

The standard recognises that the knowledge and understanding expected in relation to particular service user groups varies considerably. This unit is focused towards the needs of older people.

As a care worker you are employed to assist the clients with day-to-day living. Exactly what you will need to provide help with is going to differ from individual to individual, but it is important to remember that we all have the same basic needs, no matter what our physical or mental condition.

  • Sufficient appropriate food and drink
  • To eliminate waste products
  • To breathe properly
  • To have the body at a comfortable temperature
  • Sleep and rest
  • To keep clean and maintain health
  • Communication and interaction with others
  • To wear suitable clothing
  • To be free from discomfort and pain
  • To feel safe

(Maslow, 1970)

If your basic needs are not being met, you will become aware of the fact by being hungry, thirsty, cold, constipated, breathless, dirty, uncomfortable, anxious or in pain. So will the people in your care, but they may not be able to communicate this directly to you and you will have to read the signs from body language.

Catering for someone else’s needs may be a new experience for you, and will demand more thought and consideration than meeting your own needs. By consulting the client or their representative you will find out what assistance is needed and how they prefer things to be done.

3.1The nature of the service user group

  1. Why do you think people are living longer?

______

______

  1. What effect is it having on society?

______

______

______

  1. What kinds of difficulties do older people face in everyday lives because of their disabilities?

______

______

______

3.2The needs of older people

Physical Care

This may be your main concern before you start any placement, mainly because it is probably a new experience and will involve helping people with intimate and very personal needs.

All of us need to eat, drink, wash, dress, use the toilet and get in and out of bed every day of our lives. Some people, because of their disability or illness, need help to carry out these basic daily needs. Obviously, helping with someone else’s needs will be new experience, and will demand much thought and consideration, but remember that these are basic needs. It is important to help people without fuss, and without them feeling that these ordinary daily needs are a problem and an embarrassment. When carrying out these tasks, it is useful to consider:

  • Make sure you have the persons consent.
  • Ask how they normally do things, and as far as possible, carry out their wishes.
  • Have everything to hand and make sure aids are in place and working.
  • Make sure you are wearing the appropriate protective clothing.
  • Skin care is very important for most people and can cause serious problems if not cared for properly. Always be thorough with washing and bathing.
  • Let people choose which clothes they wish to wear, and ensure that clean clothing is available.
  • Be patient with people, particularly where communication may be difficult or time consuming.
  • Don’t take away independence for the sake of time and convenience to yourself.
  • Consider the smaller personal needs such as cleaning teeth, shaving, combing hair, make-up and even assisting with nose blowing. These can easily be forgotten as they are so often done without really thinking.

  • At all times respect dignity and independence.
  1. Describe to a complete novice how to shave a man who is unable to do it for himself.

______

______

______

______

______

______

  1. Describe how to put a shirt or blouse on for someone who can only use one arm.

______

______

______

  1. What equipment do you need to assemble before you begin bathing?

______

______

______


  1. How do you check the temperature of bath water?

______

______

  1. If a client slipped in the bath, what would you do?

______

______

______

  1. Have you experienced or can you think of any difficult situations that may arise when carrying out personal care?

______

______

______

  1. Imagine you are supporting a service user from a different cultural background (you can choose any you want). Suggest three ways that their needs for personal hygiene might be different to yours:
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______

Eating and Drinking

  1. Why is positioning important when helping someone with eating and drinking?

______


______

______

  1. How could you make a liquidised diet more attractive?

______

______

______

Preventing Pressure areas
  1. What are pressure sores?

______

______

______

  1. Which parts of the body are most at risk of developing pressure sores?

______

______

______

  1. What are the best ways to prevent pressure areas developing?

______

______

______

Promoting Continence

  1. What values are important to remember when assisting someone using a commode, toilet or bed pan?

______

______

______

  1. Describe two continence aids and how they should be used:

______

______

______

Work Shadowing

You will initially be asked to ‘shadow’ a fellow carer to ensure competency for each of the following tasks.

Date
/ Task / Demonstrated by: / Competent
Washing service user
Washing service user in bed
Caring for the hands and feet
Cleaning teeth (natural)
Cleaning teeth (false)
Shaving (wet)
Shaving (electric)
Monitoring body waste
Changing pad
Assisting to the toilet
Assisting with a commode
Assisting with a bedpan
Washing hair
Bathing service user
Dressing service user
Inserting hearing aid
Cleaning spectacles
Assisting with eating
Correct positioning for eating
Making bed to reduce pressure areas


Specialist Needs
  1. What can cause confusion and dementia?

______

______

______

  1. What are the best ways to respond to people who have confusion and dementia?

______

______

______

  1. How would you offer emotional support to someone who is dying?

______

______

______

  1. How would you respond to someone who is bereaved?

______

______

______

  1. Explain briefly what Alzheimer’s disease is:

______

______

______

  1. What are the main effects of Parkinson’s disease?

______

______

______

  1. Why is it important to make sure service users take their medication as directed?

______

______

______

  1. You should read the policies on Death and Dying, Death of a Service User, Medication, Privacy and Dignity, Personal Care and Violence at Work.

Policy / Date Read / Signature
Death and Dying
Death of a Service User
Medication
Privacy and Dignity
Personal Care
Violence at work

Practical Training –Disability Awareness

A.With a partner or in a group, take it in turns to feed each other different foods and drinks. You may want to try being fed whilst being blind-folded or without talking.

  1. How did it feel to be fed?

______

______

______

  1. What problems did you have when feeding someone else?

______

______

______

  1. What are the most important things to think about when feeding someone?

______

______

______

B.Practice guiding a colleague to use a walking aid, such as a walking frame. Try to borrow a wheelchair for a couple of hours. Take it in turns with a partner to be in the wheelchair.

  1. What are the important things to think about when using a walking aid?

______

______

  1. What does it feel like to be dependent on someone else?

______

______

C.Take it in turns with a partner to be blind-folded. Practice sighted guiding.

  1. What are the important things to think about when guiding someone with a visual impairment?

______

______

  1. What did it feel like to be guided?

______


______

______

Unit Four –Maintaining Safety at Work

The main areas of this unit are:

4.1Moving and Handling;

4.2Health and Safety;

4.3Fire Safety;

4.4Emergency First Aid;

4.5Safe Food Handling;

4.6Infection Control.

Summary

This unit describes the safe working practices that are vital for you and service users. These are broken down into the following areas:

  • Moving and Handling – techniques for moving people and objects to avoid injury to the worker or the service user.
  • Health and Safety – an understanding of health and safety issues necessary to reduce risk.
  • Fire Safety – an understanding of general fire safety
  • Emergency First Aid – accidents and health emergencies happen in all settings. It is important for workers to understand how to respond to these.
  • Safe food handling – the worker must be able to store and prepare food correctly to avoid food poisoning.
  • Infection control – all workers must understand the importance of infection control in supplying care to the service user.

All areas of learning must be regularly updated. All workers, employers and organisations have a responsibility to make sure that updates take place.

4.1Moving and Handling

  1. You must be able to demonstrate the principles of correct moving techniques.

Trainer / Date / Proficient / Signature
Hoist
Handling belt
Sliding sheet
Patient handling sling
  1. What injury is most common for people in the caring professions?

______

  1. What can you do to prevent this injury?

______

______

______

Stop and Think!

4.2Health and Safety

  1. What are your responsibilities in relation to maintaining a safe environment?

______

______

  1. Why is it important to be aware that some service users may have unpredictable moods and behaviours?

______

______

______

  1. When may you need to disconnect mains services? Who would you need to inform?

______

______

  1. Where are the main switches and stopcocks located?

______

______

______

  1. Make a list of potentially hazardous substances that you may come across in the course of your work:

______