CHS121 Prioritise treatment and care for individuals according to their health status and needs

Overview

This standard is about the review of individual health status and appropriate adjustment of healthcare plans to meet emerging and actual individual needs. This may involve negotiation with professional colleagues and work within Multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that the best individual care is provided. 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:

1. your own level of competence and authority and of the role and responsibilities of other members of the team in respect of agreeing priorities for individuals’ health care
2. legislation regarding confidentiality and information sharing, the provision of services, the rights of the individual, protection issues, anti-discriminatory practice, informed consent, relevant mental health legislation and care programme approach and how to apply this to your work
3. the tensions which may exist between an individual’s rights and the organisation’s responsibilities
4. circumstances when further investigations, including child protection procedures, can be carried out, in line with organisational and national protocols and guidelines
5. the anatomy and physiology of the human body
6. the value and uses of different sources of information and range of clinical and social services that assist with the prioritisation of healthcare plans
7. the importance of a systematic and logical approach to information use and analysis, and the risks associated with jumping to a premature judgement
8. why it is important to ensure that all information is taken into account in prioritising plans
9. the processes associated with forming a justifiable judgement of an individual’s health status and associated needs for action
10. the steps to be taken when a satisfactory judgement cannot be formed
11. the importance of clear communication in clinical settings
12. the importance of communicating with individuals in a manner which:
1. is consistent with their level of understanding, culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
2. acknowledges the purpose of the communications
3. is appropriate to the context
4. encourages their participation
5. responds to communication of any kind from them
6. motivates and encourages participation in managing health issues
13. the importance of maintaining confidentiality during communication, consistent with legislation and the employer’s policies
14. the importance of recording information clearly, accurately and legibly
15. the procedures for referral, admission and other relevant follow up action
16. how and from whom to seek additional support and advice in prioritising care plans
17. of health problems, which may present with similar symptoms and how to differentiate between them
18. the causes and contributing factors associated with conditions within your specialist area of care
19. the different investigative procedures within your specialism, their capabilities, limitations and possible side effects
20. the baseline observations that can be used to formulate a judgement of a current individual’s health status
21. where further investigations can be conducted, who conducts them how to request them, the timescales involved and any associated contra-indications
22. national, local and organisational procedures for the formulation of judgement of individual’s health status

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. Ensure you have access to accurate and up to date information on the individual’s health status, any diagnosis or professional judgements reached and clinical history.
2. Identify and obtain any additional information required to assist with the prioritisation of treatment and care
3. Discuss priorities you have identified with the individual and their carers and ascertain their areas of key concern, and influencing factors arising from their perspective
4. Seek input and advice from relevant colleagues where priorities are unclear
5. Negotiate and agree appropriate actions to address priorities, ensuring that potential contra-indications will be effectively managed, taking account of current, evidence-based best practice
6. Explain the benefits, implications and risks associated with preferred actions to the individual and their carers and obtain their consent to proceed with prioritised plans
7. Record discussions and agreements accurately and legibly and ensure that records are available for further action
8. Make necessary arrangements for prioritised action with due degree of urgency.

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: HWB6 Assessment and treatment planning