A1: Working within the health and science sector

• Why are policies and procedures important in healthcare settings?

  To ensure that healthcare professionals are working safely and to a high standard of quality.
• What year was the Equality Act passed?

  2010
• What does the Equality Act 2010 do?

  Protects against discrimination.
• What laws did the Equality Act 2010 replace?

  Sex Discrimination Act 1975

  Race Relations Act 1976

  Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Why were several laws replaced by the Equality Act 2010?

  To make the law easier to understand and to give increased protection in some areas.
• Who administers the Equality Act 2010?

  The Government Equalities Office.
• What does the Equalities Act 2010 set out?

  Protected characteristics and the different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone.
• What are some protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?

  Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.
• What does safeguarding mean?

  Protecting an individual's health and wellbeing and ensuring that they can live from harm, abuse and neglect.
• Who should be safeguarded?


  Children, young people and adults (everyone! - especially vulnerable people).
• Where are safeguarding policies required?

  In all organisations.
• What is a DBS check?

  Background check (to look at criminal record)
• When/why would a person have to have a DBS check done?

  If they are working with children or vulnerable adults.
• What does a basic DBS check show?

  Any unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
• What does a standard DBS check show?

  Spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings.
• What does an enhanced DBS check show?

  Everything shown in a standard check, any information held by local police that might be relevant to the role.
• What is an enhanced DBS check with barred lists?

  Same as enhanced check plus if the individual is on the list of people barred from doing the role (e.g. sex offenders register).
• What is in an employment contract?

  Employment conditions, rights, responsibilities, duties.
• What are the different forms that an employment contract could be in?

  Written contract, verbal agreement, in an offer letter, in an employee handbook or company noticeboard.
• Why is a performance review important?

  Evaluating work performance against standards and expectations

  Giving feedback

  Providing opportunities to raise concerns or issues

  Contributing to continuing professional development (CPD)
• What is a disciplinary procedure?

  A formal way for an employer to deal with an employee's unacceptable or improper behaviour (known as misconduct) or their performance.
• What steps should an employer's disciplinary process include?

  A letter explaining the disciplinary issue

  A meeting to discuss the issue

  A decision about the issue

  A chance to appeal the decision
• What is a grievance?

  Any concern, problem or complaint you may have at work.
• What is a grievance policy for?

  Addressing employee complaints about their work environment.
• Why is adhering to quality standards important?

  Ensuring consistency, maintaining health and safety, monitoring processes and procedures, facilitating continuous improvement, facilitating objective, independent review.
• What does beneficence mean?

  Doing good.
• What does nonmaleficence mean?

  Not doing harm
• What is a difference between beneficence and nonmaleficence?

  Beneficence is usually in response to a specific situation, whereas nonmaleficence is something that should always be considered.
• What does autonomy mean?

  Everyone has the right to make the final decision about their care or treatment and no care or treatment should be imposed by caregivers (with limited exceptions).
• What is informed consent?

  Permission given by a person after they have been fully informed about the risks and benefits of a medical procedure or research study.
• What is mental capacity?

  The ability to understand information and retain it for long enough to make and communicate a decision.
• What is confidentiality?

  Protection of sensitive information from unauthorised access or disclosure.
• What might happen if confidentially is breached?

  Legal consequences, a loss of trust between patient and healthcare provider.
• What is truthfulness?

  Honesty and accountability
• What do codes of conduct typically include?

  The missions, values and principles of the organisation

  The standards that everyone must follow

  Rules and responsibilities within organisations
• Why are professional codes of conduct important?

  They promote confidence in the organisation and profession.
• What are some examples of level 1 qualifications?

  GCSE grades 3 to 1 (D to G)

  Level 1 NVQ
• What are some examples of level 2 qualifications?

  GCSE grades 9 to 4 (A* to C)

  Intermediate apprenticeship

  Level 2 award, certificate or diploma
• What are some examples of level 3 qualifications?

  AS/A Level

  T Level

  Advanced apprenticeship
• What are some examples of level 4 qualifications?

  Higher apprenticeship

  Higher national certification (HNC)