BC5 Manage a service which achieves the best possible outcomes for the individual

Overview

This standard covers developing, implementing and reviewing systems which maintain an environment where the best possible outcomes are achieved for all individuals in receipt of care. Certain groups and individuals are particularly vulnerable to abuse of specific kinds, such as neglect or fraud. 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. national service standards and organisational policies which indicate how participation and independence can be encouraged
2. national service standards and organisational policies and guidance which help to define the best possible outcomes for individuals
3. national service standards and organisational policies which indicate how individuals can be protected from harm
4. national service standards and organisational policies which indicate how medication should be handled in a safe way
5. the importance of ensuring clarity regarding your role, level of accountability and authority and that of others in the individuals network
6. specific legislation that informs and guides the identification and definition of the best possible outcomes for specific individuals
7. legislation, guidance and policy which underpin the duties of the organisation to identify potential risk of harm, abuse and failure to protect and policies which indicate how individuals can be protected from harm
8. legislation, guidance, codes of practice and policy which underpins the handling of medication
9. the types of organisational factors which might affect the achievement of the best possible outcomes for individuals (such as staffing levels, shift patterns, policies and procedures etc) and the acceptability or unacceptability of the constraints these place on achieving the best possible outcomes
10. the types of individual factors which might affect the achievement of the best possible outcomes for individuals (such as changing health status, level of dependency etc)
11. methods to enhance communication between workers and individuals, especially where there are differences in communication (e.g. English as a second language, sensory impairment, learning disability)
12. how to gather and record sufficient information to remain confident that the service is able to meet national service standards and best practice regarding the achievement of the best possible outcomes for individual individuals
13. ways of supporting self-advocacy or available sources of advocacy for individuals
14. communication (e.g. sensory impairment, learning disability etc)
15. designing and implementing procedures which assure the quality of risk assessment
16. empowering those with a rightful say to participate fully in the assessment of risk and in evidence for intervention
17. factors which influence an individual’s ability to make decisions or to participate in decision making processes
18. physical, emotional and social factors which inhibit the independence of individuals and ways in which the impact of these factors can be minimised
19. the types and impact of organisational factors on the likelihood of harm and the impact of an individual’s changing needs on their capacity to participate or be independent
20. the likelihood and degree of risk, acceptable and unacceptable risk, the type and source of risk and its potential impact on individuals and others in their network
21. signs and symptoms of harm, abuse or failure to protect
22. the different types and patterns of social and emotional behaviours which might result in abuse, harm or failure to protect
23. abuse and failure to protect (such as staffing levels, recording policies)
24. how and why risk factors change with time and the inter relationship between risk factors and individual rights
25. factors which inhibit clear communication about indicators or suspicion of abuse (e.g. fears of whistle blowing, peer group pressure etc.) and how to minimise them
26. the specific circumstances of the individual including health and social, emotional, cultural and religious needs
27. different levels of understanding and acceptable and unacceptable organisational constraints
28. ways of empowering those with a rightful say to participate fully in the assessment of risk and in evidence for intervention (e.g. interviewing individuals and others in their social network, working with interpreters/advocates, individual representation on management groups, effective complaints procedures)
29. manage systems which ensure the performance of workers integrates the philosophies of participation, independence and social inclusion into all that goes on in the setting
30. the need for staff training in this aspect of the work, what it needs to cover and how to ensure appropriate training is offered
31. legislation, guidance and policy which underpins the philosophies of participation, independence and social inclusion
32. sources of information and expertise relating to civil, legal, financial and personal rights for individuals

Performance Criteria

You must be able to do the following:

1. ensure the services are designed, delivered and monitored in a way which promotes the achievement of the best possible outcomes for each individual
2. provide opportunities for relevant people to inform you when the achievement of the best possible outcomes for an individual is being adversely affected
3. provide opportunities for relevant people to make recommendations for improving the service’s capacity to achieve the best possible outcomes
4. identify organisational factors, tensions and constraints, which impact upon the capacity of the service to promote the best possible outcomes for individuals
5. communicate to the relevant people organisational factors, tensions and constraints, which impact upon the capacity of the service to promote the best possible outcomes for individuals
6. take actions to improve the organisation’s capacity to achieve the best possible outcomes for each individual in line with your level of authority and best practice
7. ensure that policies and procedures encourage, empower and enable individuals and groups to participate as fully as possible in decisions about their own care and daily living arrangements
8. identify tensions between the rights and choices of individuals, their protection from abuse or harm and explain the reasons for constraints on choice in a manner, at a pace and level appropriate to the understanding of the individual
9. gather evidence to ensure that relationships between workers and individuals are handled at a level and pace appropriate to each individual’s understanding
10. gather evidence to ensure that relationships between workers and individuals maximise the individual’s participation in the identification and achievement of the best possible outcomes
11. ensure that policies and procedures for the promotion of independence and individuals’ rights are communicated, understood and applied throughout the service
12. ensure that factors which affect levels of participation and independence are understood and can be directly identified, by all those for whom the manager is responsible
13. ensure that policies and procedures for managing and monitoring the assessment of risk are communicated, understood and applied throughout the service
14. ensure that factors which suggest that individuals are at risk of abuse, harm to self and others are understood and can be correctly identified, by all those for whom the manager is responsible
15. ensure that factors which indicate risk to an individual’s physical or psychological health are understood and can be correctly identified, by all those for whom the manager is responsible
16. report changes in factors affecting level of risk to others using agreed procedures
17. ensure that systems for collecting, assessing, recording and communicating information concerning individual conditions and behaviours are comprehensive, effective, efficient and are consistently related to the best possible outcomes for individuals
18. ensure everyone within the agency is empowered to report abusive behaviour, suspicions of abuse or potential risk of harm to self or others
19. investigate reported indicators of abuse or changes to risk assessments and take appropriate action without delay
20. ensure that sources of information related to risk assessment or suspected abuse are checked for their validity and appropriate action is taken promptly
21. ensure that interventions designed to protect individuals from abuse or harm take account of the impact of intervention upon the individual and others
22. implement, monitor, review and, where appropriate, make recommendations for improving the systems you and your staff utilise for handling medication
23. communicate to all relevant people what the procedures for handling medication are and the importance of following those procedures
24. as part of monitoring the procedures for handling medication you offer the opportunity to comment about and, where appropriate, to make recommendations to improve those procedures

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: G5 Services and project management This standard has replaced HCS F4 and HSC411.