h&S

• In response to current legislation health social care and early years’ settings have policies in place to help

  protect the staff, service users and their families. 

  Examples of policies that exist in various health care settings:Whistle blowing Child Protection complaints Safeguarding vulnerable adults Confidentiality Staff training
• Staff training


  The process of teaching staff better and more efficient ways of working
• Staff training policy


  • May protect service users with mental illnesses
  • Staff may understand their job roles better and hence can confidently provide appropriate care for the service users with mental illness, helping protect them
  • Staff may have a sense of responsibility as the staff are aware of the importance of correctly implementing procedures/policies related to the care of service users (e.g. confidentiality, whistleblowing)
  • Should mean staff are familiar with policies, procedures and legislation that impact on care being provided and so care standards should reflect this
• A whistle blowing policy is relevant to all organisations and all staff.Whistle blowing occurs when an

  employee raises a concern about a dangerous or illegal activity that they are aware of through their work. A

  whistle-blower might act for any of the following reasons:

   a criminal offence has been/is likely to be committed;

   a miscarriage of justice has or is likely to occur;

   the health and well-being or safety of any individual has been/is likely to be endangered; and

   the environment has been/is likely to be damaged.
• Whistle Blowing policy

  • Provides staff with clear procedures for reporting practice which is not appropriate
  • Helps to expose bad practice so service users are much more likely to experience appropriate care and treatment
  • Helps to guard against inappropriate treatment of service users as staff know inappropriate behaviour may be reported
  • Helps to expose unsuitable practitioners and provides a route for disciplinary action against those who are guilty of misconduct
  • Gives staff the confidence to challenge and report inappropriate behaviour or poor practice of colleagues, including staff senior to them
  • Helps to create a safer environment for all service users with mental illnesses
  • Creates an awareness among staff of the need to provide appropriate care and treatment at all times and eliminate bad practice
  • Places an obligation on staff to report malpractice and so helps to root it out
  • Helps to eliminate bad practice and so service users with mental illness are much more likely to experience appropriate care and treatment
  • Creates an awareness among staff of the need to always provide appropriate care and treatment for service users with mental health issues and therefore promotes a positive culture in the setting
• Whistle Blowing policy


  Protects service users with mental illnesses
• The confidentiality policy contributes to improving quality by making clear the need to maintain

  confidentiality of information and identifying the grounds for breaching confidentiality.This means service

  users will know that information should be kept about them in confidence and so any breach of

  confidentiality can result in disciplinary action being taken against the individual responsible. Again, this

  makes it less likely that confidentiality will be breached and so improves quality of service provision.
• This policy


  • Gives service users the confidence that their privacy should be respected as staff should be informed of the requirement to maintain confidentiality (important for those worried about stigma linked to a mental health illness or anxiety problems)
  • Should make clear when information can be passed on, which should protect the service user (e.g. service users condition/ service users medical needs/safeguarding concerns)
  • It should set out for staff procedures for staff to follow regarding maintaining confidentiality (e.g. storing service users' information, discussing information about the service user with others)
  • It should act as a deterrent by outlining disciplinary procedures if confidentiality is breached
• 4. Complaints Policy (Staff & Service Users)

  Policies can be effective in raising standards in many ways. For example, the complaints policy allows

  service users to complain if the quality-of-service provision is not as it should be. This policy being in place

  makes it more likely that service users will be treated well, as staff will generally not want complaints to be

  made about them.
• Complaints policy


  • Protects service users with mental illnesses
  • Attempts to meet best practice for service users with mental health problems
  • Provides those with mental health problems with a route for redress if they are dissatisfied with any aspect of their care
  • Makes service users feel safe and that their opinion is valued
  • Can help to root out bad practice/inappropriate treatment/ practitioners
  • Can promote high standards of care because staff know inappropriate behaviour can be reported
• Child Protection Policy (Staff & Service Users)

  This policy sets out common values, principles, and beliefs and describes the steps that will be taken in

  meeting the commitment to protect children.
• This policy

  • Helps to ensure children's safety by creating a safer environment as staff are required to comply with it and report concerns/suspicions etc.
  • Gives staff the confidence to act in the event of suspected abuse (e.g. it is backed up by legislation)
  • Outlines staff are to be vetted by Access NI to minimise the risk of vulnerable children being exploited
  • May help health care workers accurately identify abuse (by defining abuse, including signs and symptoms etc.), this can act as a deterrent to those causing abuse/abuse may be quickly spotted limiting harm
  • There is an obligation for staff to be trained in this at least annually
  • Sets out clear lines of responsibility and reporting so that staff will know exactly what to do if they suspect a child is being abused – this can help protect a child as soon as possible
  • Sets out clear guidelines for staff working with children on a one-to-one basis or dealing with challenging behaviour
  • Requires a designated person with a deputy to be in place, who is properly trained to manage the process. This will help ensure the appropriate protection is given
  • Requires staff to be trained and to regularly update training so they understand how to protect children properly
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adult’s Policy (Staff & Service Users)In all care settings there is a policy on safeguarding which should be followed by all staff and if this happens

  then it should mean that the service users are cared for safely.

  A vulnerable adult is anyone over the age of 18 who is or may need care services by reason of mental or

  other disability, age or illness and is or may be unable to take care of himself or herself or is unable to

  protect themselves against significant harm or serious exploitation.
• Safeguarding policy


  • Helps to ensure service users safety as staff are legally required to comply with it
  • Defines abuse - gives staff a better understanding of what constitutes abuse to minimise the chances of it occurring. This can mean abuse is quickly detected limiting harm
  • May help health care workers accurately identify abuse, (e.g. defining abuse and symptoms). This can act as a deterrent to those causing abuse
  • Requires staff to be checked by police and social services to avoid exploitation and abuse of vulnerable adults - Access NI vetting prior to employment can protect service users from being cared for by inappropriate staff
  • Should provide guidance for procedures involved in staff vetting which will help minimise the risk of unsuitable practitioners gaining access to vulnerable adults
  • It sets out clear lines of responsibility and reporting so that staff know exactly what to do if they suspect an adult with a mental illness is being abused - protects patients from danger
  • It can clearly outline procedures for reporting abuse of a vulnerable adult - this may help avoid confusion and helps concerns to be reported quickly and accurately
  • It can help prevent abuse and root out poor practitioners, which protects service users
  • Outlines disciplinary procedures (including involving police action) which may act as a deterrent for perpetrators
  • Identifies designated persons who are responsible for dealing with safeguarding issues
• Confidentiality policy


  Contributes to improving quality by making clear the need to maintain confidentiality of information and identifying the grounds for breaching confidentiality
• Confidentiality policy


  • Service users will know that information should be kept about them in confidence
  • Any breach of confidentiality can result in disciplinary action being taken against the individual responsible
• The confidentiality policy applies to both staff and service users
• Confidentiality policy


  Protects service users with mental illnesses by:
• Confidentiality policy


  • Gives service users the confidence that their privacy should be respected as staff should be informed of the requirement to maintain confidentiality (important for those worried about stigma linked to a mental health illness or anxiety problems)
  • Makes clear when information can be passed on, which should protect the service user (e.g. service users condition/ service users medical needs/safeguarding concerns)
  • Sets out for staff procedures for staff to follow regarding maintaining confidentiality (e.g. storing service users' information, discussing information about the service user with others)
  • Acts as a deterrent by outlining disciplinary procedures if confidentiality is breached
• Complaints Policy (Staff& Service Users)

  Policies can be effective in raising standards in many ways. For example, the complaints policy allows service users to complain if the quality-of-service provision is not as it should be.
• Complaints policy


  • Protects service users with mental illnesses
  • Attempts to meet best practice for service users with mental health problems
  • Provides those with mental health problems with a route for redress if they are dissatisfied with any aspect of their care
  • Makes service users feel safe and that their opinion is valued
  • Can help to root out bad practice/inappropriate treatment/ practitioners
  • Can promote high standards of care because staff know inappropriate behaviour can be reported
• Child Protection Policy (Staff &Service Users)

  This policy sets out common values, principles, and beliefs and describes the steps that will be taken in

  meeting the commitment to protect children.
• Child protection policy


  • Helps to ensure children's safety by creating a safer environment as staff are required to comply with it and report concerns/suspicions etc.
  • Gives staff the confidence to act in the event of suspected abuse (e.g. it is backed up by legislation)
  • Outlines staff are to be vetted by Access NI to minimise the risk of vulnerable children being exploited
  • May help health care workers accurately identify abuse (by defining abuse, including signs and symptoms etc.), this can act as a deterrent to those causing abuse/abuse may be quickly spotted limiting harm
  • There is an obligation for staff to be trained in this at least annually
  • Sets out clear lines of responsibility and reporting so that staff will know exactly what to do if they suspect a child is being abused – this can help protect a child as soon as possible
  • Sets out clear guidelines for staff working with children on a one-to-one basis or dealing with challenging behaviour
  • Requires a designated person with a deputy to be in place, who is properly trained to manage the process. This will help ensure the appropriate protection is given
  • Requires staff to be trained and to regularly update training so they understand how to protect children
• staff training- May know more about the needs of the service user and the rights of the service user and try to ensure they are met.

   It may promote anti-discriminatory practice.

   Staff may be more aware of signs and symptoms of abuse and be able to act accordingly to safeguard the service user.

   Staff should help to minimise risk of accidents happening and thus mean service users are safe

  from harm.

   Should mean staff are familiar with policies, procedures and legislation that impact on care being

  provided and so care standards should reflect this.
• Mental illness is a major public health issue in NI and is the single largest cause of ill health and disability.

  NI has higher levels of mental ill health than any other region in the UK and 1 in 5 adults here have a mental

  condition at any one time, which is a 25% higher overall prevalence of mental illness than England.
• Key statistics from the ‘Mental Health Foundation’s Fundamental Facts for Northern Ireland, October 2016’

  state that:

   NI have 25% higher overall prevalence of mental health problems than England.
• NI have the highest suicide rate in the UK 60% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Study of Health and Stress reported at least one

  traumatic event during their lifetime: 19.5% of these were conflict-related, and 16.9% related to

  witnessing death or serious injury.
• Improvements in mental health awareness/education amongst health and social care practitioners

  (including GP’s, midwives, health visitors and teachers – i.e. through better staff training) has meant that those suffering from mental health/emotional health problems are likely to be detected earlier leading to an increase in the number of children and adults who may be diagnosed with a mental health
• Advancements in medical treatments particularly the development of new drugs that treat diseases such as

  Alzheimer’s have undoubtedly contributed to an increase in life expectancy so people are now living longer.

  As a result of this there are more people living with mental illnesses.
• Less Stigma about reporting mental health concerns:

  It has been reported that around 1/3 of the work that a GP undertakes tends to be related to mental health.

  Due to massive investment in public health campaigns (e.g. Minding your head – including a website, TV

  and radio advertising, leaflet campaigns including the use of local celebrities) has help improved the general public’s understanding of mental health and the importance of getting the right help and support
• High levels of social deprivation in Northern Ireland:

  Northern Ireland has some of the most social deprived areas (e.g. West Belfast) and highest long term

  unemployment rates in the whole of the UK. Those who are unemployed have a 30% chance of developing a psychological illness in comparison to a 16% chance of those who are employed.
• Living on benefits or low income can lead to stress and financial worries as individuals struggle to pay bills and purchase essentials such as food and clothing. A lack of income/unemployment/educational

  attainment may damage self-esteem leading to a low self-worth. Long term unemployment and living in areas with high rates of crime may limit social contacts leading to isolation and an increased risk of anxiety
• Legacy of the troubles

  • Experience of the NI conflict is associated with poorer mental health
  • Those who experienced most violence have significantly higher rates of depression than those with little or no experience
  • People whose areas had been heavily affected by violence had very high rates of depression
• Traumatic events that a person may have encountered or witnessed

  Leading to conditions such as 'post-traumatic stress disorders' or 'anxiety'
• People who experienced the troubles

  May experience feelings of guilt for those who died during the troubles (e.g. people murdered)
• Ageing Population


  • Living longer can mean that there are a greater number of older people in the care system who are suffering from mental health problems
• Issues contributing to mental health problems in the ageing population

  • Increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as dementia
  • Retirement - loss of a sense of purpose/identity, lack of activities can lead to boredom or worries over finances can lead to feelings of depression
  • Bereavement (spouse, friends, siblings) - can lead to isolation and loneliness which can negatively impact on an individual's ability to cope with life
  • The loss of independence associated with many health conditions (e.g. cancer, arthritis) can lead to low self-esteem and frustration (anger management conditions). May also be at an increased risk of social isolation if unable to socialise
• Lifestyle Factors


  Social media/Obesity – Body Image
• Wide use of social media sites including Instagram, Facebook and twitter


  Contributed to the increasing number of mental health problems amongst young people
• Cyber bullying


  • Can lead to feelings of inadequacy (loss of confidence – anorexia/body image issues)
  • Can lead to fear due to intimidation (anxiety disorders)