Unit 2 - Service user interests

• Explain multidisciplinary teams (MDTs).

  MDTs use a joined-up approach by collaborating with one another in order to combine their expertise, knowledge and skills in response to the specific needs of the service user to enable them to deliver consisted person-centred care remembering to respect confidentiality at all times.

  Together, they plan a treatment/support programme of care keeping the individual at the heart of all discussions so all care and support is person-centred. By doing this the overall package of care should be fully holistic.
• What happens without MDTs?

  When the patients move between services or carer, staff have to rebuild an understanding of the individual personal wants and needs. In the meantime, the patient would not receive the level of care they need.
• Why is working in partnerships important?

  • improves the lives of vulnerable adults and children
  • means service users don't have to give the same information to different health and social care workers
  • improves information sharing between professionals
  • improves the efficiency of the care system as a whole (joined-up working)
  • coordinates the way in which care is provided
  • helps the service user feel that they are being treated a whole person (holistic care) rather than a series of unrelated medical issues
• Why is working in partnership important?

  • improves the planning and commissioning of care, so that health and social care services complement rather than disrupt each other.
  • offers a more seamless service as there is no duplication of role
  • prevents gaps in care as resources (staff and money) are not wasted
  • regulated by The Care Act
  • improve the care and support of vulnerable adults
  • facilitates opportunity for collaboration and discussion which could allow an expert to offer specific advice that a different professional hadn't considered.
• What are some of the difficulties of working in partnerships/ an MDT?

  • failure to communicate information between services, for example between social workers and the police in cases where children are in danger
  • lack of coordination between services, so people do not receive the care they need or experience duplication
  • delayed discharges from hospital; for example when a patient cannot leave hospital as there is no available support in the community
  • health and social care providers with different IT systems that cannot communicate with each other
  • cuts in funding that prevent effective working
• What are some of the difficulties of working in partnerships/ an MDT

  • professional animosity between agencies e.g. disagreement about what care is needed or how to deliver it
  • failure to communicate effectively due to busy schedules may mean that there is room for errors, also means there is little time for MDT meetings, impacting the continuity of care and support,
  • they may be too busy (short staffed) to meet, emails can be used but they are less effective
  • the service user may be given too much opportunity to contribute to the planning with little understanding of funding issues involved
• Name some methods of collaboration that MDTs may have.

  Email: to communicate when they can't meet face-to-face to save time, but also to email referral forms if additional practitioners are needed after any additional needs have been identified that can't be met by those already involved in the MDT

  Telephone/letters: to keep practitioners informed of care planned/given and reasons for it

  Sharing paper or electronic notes: e.g. home carers record the care given to a service user and keep it at the user's home so that when additional practitioners visit they can look at the care record
• How can MDTs communicate without compromising confidentiality?

  • communicate only with the staff who need to know information (GDPR regulations) - relevant members of the team
  • keep all documents in a safe and secure storage system (GDPR regulations), so after handover or after meetings, professionals should store documents safely
  • follow appropriate organisational procedures by ensuring staff use password protected security access despite all members of the team needing the same information, they must log on separately to access the information and log off afterwards
• What does a holistic approach take account of?

  A holistic approach takes account of a person's wider needs (physical, intellectual, emotional, cultural and spiritual) and seeks to meet the needs of the whole person to promote health and wellbeing.
• What kind of things does a holistic approach take into account?

  • accommodation
  • education and training
  • social, cultural or spiritual needs
  • finance/money
  • parenting or caring responsibilities
  • work and occupation
  • personal care and physical wellbeing
  • medical and other forms of treatment including psychological interventions
• What are the advantages of a holistic approach to care?

  • care is more personalised
  • other issues which contribute to an individuals poor health, such as stress or poor housing, may be identified and addressed
  • being viewed as a 'whole person' and not a medical problem can improve an individuals general health and wellbeing
• What are some disadvantages to a holistic approach?

  • most people only want their particular illness or symptom treated
  • generally, doctors do not look for other issues during diagnosis
  • health and social care workers are not employed or skilled to manage all aspects of an individuals needs.
• Who are the four main care providers for someone with mental ill health

  1. Family and friends
  2. NHS
  3. Charities such as rethink or Mind
  4. Private sector organisations e.g. The Priory Group
• Explain legislation surround those with mental ill health.

  In the most serious cases of mental ill health, people can be detained under The Mental Health Act (1983). They can be admitted to hospital and treated without their consent, either for their own safety or for the protection of other people. Usually, doctors or other mental health professionals make the decision to detain someone and the police may be involved.
• Who are the four main care providers for someone with a learning disability?

  1. Family and friends
  2. Support workers
  3. Social workers
  4. Psychologists
• What are the four key care priorities for someone with a learning disability?

  1. Choices for people and their families, so they have a say in their care
  2. Care in the community, with personalised support, provided by MDTs
  3. Innovative services that offer a range of care options, within personal budgets, so that care meets individual needs
  4. Providing early, intensive support for people who need it, so they can stay independent in the community, near home.
• How should a care provider support a person with a learning disability?

  • ensure information remains confidential
  • preserve independence
  • report risk
  • facilitate social activities
  • use language that the person can understand
  • make sure care meets the person needs
  • treat the person with dignity
  • ensure that the persons preferences are respected
  • support the person to access appropriate health care
  • empathise
• Give some types of physical/sensory disability.

  Sensory e.g. hearing or visual impairment

  Neurological e.g. MND or MS

  Spinal chord injury e.g. spina bifida

  Amputation e.g. a limb is removed by surgery
• Who are the four main care providers for someone with physical/sensory disabilities?

  1. Family and friends
  2. Support workers
  3. Physiotherapists
  4. Specialist Medical Teams
• What is the carers role in caring for someone with a physical/sensory disability?

  • help the person to deal with the diagnosis
  • support family members/relatives at diagnosis
  • ensure that care reflects the service users needs and preferences
  • enable the person to access the services they need
  • help the person to access suitable equipment e.g. a wheelchair
  • arrange adaptations to settings e.g. adapted shower
  • help with access to any benefits
  • ensure that respite care in available
  • help the persons family to cope with adjustments
• Who are the five main care providers for children?

  1. Parents
  2. Other family members and friends
  3. Teachers/teaching assistants/support in nursery or playgroup from qualified nursery assistants
  4. Specialist support workers e.g. for disabled children
  5. Specialist medical staff who treat child (paediatricians)
• What are the prime areas of learning and development for children?

  1. Communication and language
  2. Physical development
  3. Personal, social and emotional development
• What are the core areas of learning and development for children?

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design
• What is the carers role when caring for children?

  • keeping children safe
  • ensuring a healthy environment
  • providing accessibility
  • encouraging children's learning and development, including through play
  • enabling children to make a positive contribution
  • ensuring welfare is paramount
  • keeping information confidential
  • working in partnership with parents
  • promoting children's right and stopping discrimination
• What are some of the rights of adults with specific care needs?

  • chose their own GP
  • have equal and fair treatment
  • be consulted about the care they need
  • be consulted about their preferences
  • be protected from harm and risk
  • have access to complaints procedures
  • have access to advocacy and empowerment
• What is the carers role when caring for adults with specific needs?

  • keep people safe by managing risks
  • enable people to live independently
  • ensure that they can access the benefits they need e.g. personal budgets
  • ensure that information about them remains confidential
  • work in partnerships with different personal care providers
  • ensure that they do not experience discrimination
  • promote their rights
• How can health and social care staff support informal carers?

  • referral to charities/support groups to gain further information, share their concerns and offer a support network
  • involve them in the care planning process to keep them informed and allow their preferences to be heard
  • arrange respite care to give them a break from caring responsibilities
  • arrange a carer's assessment to make sure their support needs are taken into account during the care planning, and to allow them to access any benefits as a result
  • provide daily personal care for the dependent, to allow the carer to keep working
• How does multidisciplinary working support service users and their families?

  • improves information sharing between professionals, provides a more seamless service for the service user as they will no longer have to share the same information with multiple professionals
  • joined up working improves the efficiency of the care system, so care and support is received quicker
  • a holistic approach to care, taking in the needs of the whole person so the care feels more personalised, increasing health and wellbeing
  • ensures the carers needs are also taken into account e.g. a carers assessment
• How can health and social care staff support a patient to be independent?

  • provide equipment and adaptations (e.g. hearing aids for hearing impaired person)
  • involve the person in care and support planning, so their views and preferences are expressed (e.g. an elderly person choosing if they want to be cared for at home or in a residential care setting)
  • support the person to express their needs and preferences by acting as an advocate for the patient
  • provide information about services/support so the person can make their own, informed choice
• How can patients personal information be managed?

  • only share information with relevant professionals who need to know to inform them of any planned care and support
  • follow policies and procedures (e.g. storage of patient records)
  • adhere to legislation (GDPR and Data Protection Regulations)
  • maintain confidentiality for safeguarding purposes
  • gain consent before sharing
  • respect the rights of the service user
  • follow appropriate procedures where disclosure is legally required (e.g. if there is a safeguarding concern)
  • follow codes of professional conduct
• Give some responsibilities that a care manager had towards a care assistant that they manage.

  • provide CPD training to meet NOS
  • make them aware of policies and procedures, as well as any updates to them to ensure they are applying a high standard of practice
  • follow up complaints to deliver effective service
  • have a robust whistleblowing policy so concerns can be raised
  • have regular meetings/monitor staff to allow concerns to be discussed
  • carry out risk assessments to safeguard staff
  • provide equipment/PPE to prevent illness or injury
• Explain how a service user can be empowered to promote their rights, choices and wellbeing

  • putting the individual at the heart of service provision
  • promoting individualised care
  • providing active support that is consistent with the individuals culture and preferences
  • balance this service users rights to services with those of other service users
  • support the individual to express their needs and preferences (advocacy)
• Why may a nursing home be a more suitable care setting for an elderly person than care in the community?

  • staff available 24-hours a day
  • specialist equipment in place to support mobility (e.g. lifts)
  • easier to safeguard residents
  • closer monitoring of patients condition, so any changes can be detected
  • encourages socialisation
  • prevents accidents
  • access to adapted services
  • access to a wider range of professionals
• How do investigations into poor working practices lead to service improvements?

  • improved recruitment, training and supervision of workers e.g. CPD training
  • improved safeguarding of staff who work alone or with vulnerable individuals (e.g. lone worker policies, employer having constant contact with employee)
  • implementing enhanced vetting procedures (background checks such as DBS clearance)
  • introduction of the care certificate and induction training that all new workers must complete within 12 weeks
  • updating policies and procedures (e.g., infection control policies)