GEN20 Enable carers to support individuals

Overview

This standard is concerned with your role in assisting in the provision of equipment and support to individuals and carers in the community. The word ‘equipment’ is used to signify any material resource which is provided. Support may be psychological as well as physical and may be given in combination with the provision of equipment or on its own. The term ‘community’ is used to signify any environment which is applicable to the individual (i.e. it includes the individual’s own home and its surrounds, a community home where the individual is living, a day centre or the individual’s place of work). The provision may be as a result of a referral from another member of the care team, because of the individual moving into the community after being in hospital/residential accommodation, or through the individual or carer making direct contact with the service. The term ‘carer’ is used for someone who is caring for the individual in any way but is not a member of the formal care team and so does not have formal/fixed links into the service. Users of this standard will need to ensure that practice reflects up to date information and policies. Version No 1

Knowledge and Understanding

You will need to know and understand:

the current European and National legislation, national guidelines, organisational policies and protocols in accordance with Clinical/Corporate Governance which affect your work practice in relation to enabling carers to support individuals
your responsibilities and accountability in relation to the current European and National legislation, national guidelines and local policies and protocols and Clinical/Corporate Governance
the duty to report any acts or omissions in care that could be detrimental to yourself, other individuals or your employer
the importance of having the individual’s and the care team’s agreement to provide information to others and why those to receive it should be identified and agreed
the limits of the action which you are able to take yourselves
the importance of offering support which is consistent with need
the importance of establishing the assistance required by carers with them and encouraging them to be as actively involved as possible
the purpose of giving support to carers and the effective ways of doing this
the purpose of providing assistance when the individual is changing from one service deliverer to another
the problems caused by dysfunction
the potential future pattern of disorder which may affect the individual’s lifestyle
the carer’s ability to manage their caring role
the demands which the role of carer places on an individual and the tensions between this and other commitments which the individual may have
signs that would indicate problems or potential problems regarding the ability of carers, or the suitability of the environment, why any concerns should be reported without delay and to whom
the concerns which individuals or individual groups are likely to have in relation to conditions and support
the effects which dependence/independence may have on the individual, carers and the provision of the service
teaching and learning strategies and their adaptations for different carers
the importance of records of agreements and service delivery and the potential consequences if they are not kept to the required standard
the importance of immediately reporting any issues which are outside your own sphere of competence without delay to the relevant member of staff

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

inform carers of the individual’s needs, plan of care and its method of implementation when this has been agreed with the individual and the care team
give carers time and opportunity to discuss the individual’s plan of care and any anxieties regarding the individual
discuss and agree the level and type of support needed by the carer with them
make arrangements for the provision of any agreed equipment and environmental modifications necessary for the carer to support the individual
offer support to carers that is consistent with their and the individual’s needs
report fully and without delay any concerns regarding the ability of carers, or the suitability of the environment, to meet the individual’s needs as detailed in the plan of care to the appropriate member of the care team
provide carers with information on when and how to contact the care team
record information on agreements and service delivery accurately, legibly and completely in the required format
give support to individuals who are changing from one service to another to enable a smooth transition

Additional Information

This National Occupational Standard was developed by Skills for Health. This standard links with the following dimension within the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (October 2004): Dimension: HWB4 Enablement to address health and wellbeing needs