Status: National Occupational Standards (NOS)
This workforce competence covers keeping yourself, individuals and others for whom you are responsible, safe and secure within your working environment and minimising risks arising from emergencies.
Users of this competence will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies.
This competence replaced HCS E3, Diab_HE3 and DANOS BD4 during rationalisation of the database.
This workforce competence has indicative links with the following dimension and level within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004):
Core 3: Health, safety and security
Level 2: Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others
This section provides explanations and definitions of the terms used in this workforce competence. In competences, it is quite common to find words or phrases used which you will be familiar with, but which, in the detail of the competence, may be used in a very particular way.
| Accident | Unforeseen major and minor incidents where an individual is injured |
| Emergencies | Immediate and threatening danger to individuals and others |
| Hazards | Something with the potential to cause harm |
| Incidents | Occurrences that require immediate attention to avoid possible danger and harm to people, goods and/or the environment |
| Individuals | The actual people requiring health and care services. Where individuals use advocates and interpreters to enable them to express their views, wishes or feelings and to speak on their behalf, the term individual within this standard covers the individual and their advocate or interpreter |
| Key people | Are those people who are key to an individual's health and social well-being. These are people in the individual's lives who can make a difference to their health and well-being |
| Others | Are other people within and outside your organisation that are necessary for you to fulfil your job role |
| Right to enter | Those people who have a right to be on the property, it excludes people who may have a court order against them and those who have no need to be on the premises |
| Rights | The rights that individuals have to:
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| Risk assessments | A document that identifies actual and potential risks and specifies actions related to specific activities and functions |
| Risks | The likelihood of the hazards potential being realised |
| The working environment | This will include all environments in which you work |
This section provides guidance on possible areas to be covered in this competence.
Accidents | Include: a) falls; b) hazards in the environment; c) illness; d) disability; e) weaknesses; f) sensory and cognitive impairment; g) frailty |
Incidents | Include: a) intruders; b) chemical spillages; c) lost keys, purses etc., d) missing individuals; e) individuals locked out; f) contamination risk; g) aggressive and dangerous encounters; h) bomb scares |
Key people | Include: a) family; b) friends; c) carers; d) others with whom the individual has a supportive relationship |
Risks | Include: a) the possibility of danger, damage and destruction to the environment and goods; b) the possibility of injury and harm to people |
The working environment | Include: a) within an organisation's premises; b) in premises of another organisation; c) in someone's home; d) out in the community |
Working practices | Include: a) activities; b) procedures; c) use of materials or equipment; d) working techniques |
You need to:
1. follow organisational safety and security procedures
2. check people's right to enter, be in and around the premises and the environment in which you are working
3. take appropriate actions to deal with people who do not have a right to enter, be in and around the premises and the environment in which you are working
4. before starting and during work activities, you identify and minimise health, safety and security risks, seeking additional support where necessary
5. monitor work areas and working practices to ensure that they:
6. take account of individuals' needs, wishes, preferences and choices, whilst ensuring your own and the safety of individuals, key people and others when carrying out your work activities
7. take appropriate action, following legal and organisational requirements, to:
8. follow, and support others to understand and follow correct safety procedures
9. report health and safety issues to the appropriate people and complete health, safety and security records, within confidentiality agreements and according to legal and organisational requirements
10. identify and work with others to identify, minimise and manage potential risks and hazards in the working environment and when undertaking work activities
11. operate within the limits of your own role and responsibilities, in relation to health and safety
12. use, and support others to use:
13. identify and report, encourage and support others to identify and report any issues in the working environment, that may put yourself and others at risk
14. act as a role model in promoting health, safety and security
15. take appropriate action where there is the likelihood of an accident or injury
16. ensure that the appropriate people know where you are at all times
17. support others to complete health and safety records correctly
18. take appropriate and immediate action to deal with health and environmental emergencies and incidents, summoning assistance immediately when this is necessary
19. identify and make informed decisions about actions to take when risk factors and hazards may cause an incident or emergency
20. provide ongoing support and assistance within your own competence until someone who is qualified to deal with the emergency is available
21. make the area around the person with the emergency as private and safe as possible
22. follow, and help others to follow, the correct safety procedures in incidents and emergencies
23. offer appropriate support to others involved in the incident and emergency
24. record and report on incidents and emergencies accurately, completely, within confidentiality agreements, and according to organisational and legal requirements
You need to apply:
Values
K1. A working knowledge of legal and organisational requirements on equality, diversity, discrimination and rights when working with individuals, key people and others when monitoring and promoting health and safety
K2. A working knowledge of how to provide active support and promote individuals' rights, choices and well-being whilst promoting healthy and safe working practices and minimising risks from incidents and emergencies
Legislation and organisational policy and procedures
K3. A working knowledge of codes of practice and conduct, and standards and guidance relevant to your own and the roles, responsibilities, accountability and duties of others in relation to health, safety and dealing with incidents and emergencies
K4. A working knowledge of current local, national and European legislation and organisational requirements, procedures and practices for:
a) data protection, including recording, reporting, storage, security and sharing of information
b) risk assessment and management
c) the protection of yourself, individuals, key people and others from danger, harm and abuse
d) monitoring and maintaining health, safety and security in the working environment
e) dealing with incidents and emergencies
K5. A working knowledge of the purpose of, and arrangements for supervision when involved in incidents and emergencies
Theory and practice
K6. A working knowledge of how and where to access information and support that can inform your practice on health, safety and dealing with incidents and emergencies
K7. A working knowledge of the effects of stress and distress on yourself, individuals, key people and others
K8. A working knowledge of conditions and issues you are likely to face in your work with individuals and key people
K9. A working knowledge of methods of supporting individuals to:
a) express their needs and preferences
b) understand and take responsibility for promoting their own health and care
c) assess and manage risks to their health and well-being
K10. A working knowledge of how to work with, and resolve conflicts that you are likely to meet
K11. A working knowledge of methods of:
a) monitoring activities and the environment to minimise risk and keep the environment free from hazards
b) storing different equipment and materials safely and securely
c) minimising the risk of contamination and infection
K12. A working knowledge of how to deal and work with hazardous and non-hazardous materials, equipment and waste, in order to minimise the risks of contamination and danger to yourself, individuals, key people and others with whom you work and are responsible for
K13. A working knowledge of procedures, techniques and the differing types of equipment to enable you to lift, move and handle people, materials and items safely
K14. A working knowledge of how to assess risks to yourself, individuals, key people and others
K15. A working knowledge of the type of security and health incidents and emergencies that might happen in your area of work and working environment
K16. A working knowledge of the appropriate action to take for different security and health incidents and emergencies
K17. A working knowledge of your own capabilities to deal with an accident and emergency, and when and how to summon additional help
K18. A working knowledge of how to promote health and safety to others, including the modelling of good practice
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