Qualifi Level 3 HSC301: An Introduction to Health and Social Care Assessment Answers

Qualifi Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care

Unit HSC301: An introduction to Health and Social Care
Unit code: D/615/3823
RQF level: 3

Aim of HSC301

Students will have an insight into how it feels to be employed in Health and Social Care, the duties in conjunction with upholding the health and safety, as well as protecting the rights of people under their care. Always have to be sensitive to the problems surrounding data protection, privacy and potential practices of discrimination.

Students will learn to appreciate the existence of the regulatory agencies and how they influence their professional life, and the monitoring procedures that exist to promote the execution of quality care.

Lesson Three: Learners will start to explore the numerous professional functions that could be encountered in the provision of care to an individual, their functions, and how and where such services are given. The possible obstacles in inter-professional working and information sharing will be addressed, and the impact that this may have on the individual receiving care.

It should be noted that evidence provided by learners in the field of legislation, regulations, code of conduct, etc., has to be UK-based in the case of learners working in or studying the qualification in the UK. In case learners are not in the UK, they have to mention the country they are referring to with regard to such areas.

The test will be in a written form through case studies to provide real-life situations you might deal with in the Health and Social Care. Each learning outcome will consist of its own case study to enable you to show a detailed knowledge of each outcome.

Note: Do not copy and paste the information presented in the sample. If you do so, you will get caught by a plagiarism detector, which is a serious offence, and this will simply fail. So if you are not able to write your assignment by yourself, you can seek help from our experts, who can guide you in this.

HSC301 LO1. Understand the main roles and responsibilities of Health and Social Care workers when delivering care

AC1.1 Explain how Health and Social Care professionals protect individuals in their care.

Answer:

Health and social care professionals are important in addressing the health, well-being and rights of the people under their care. To guarantee such protection, they use different strategies and adhere to certain rules.

• Observance of Professional Standards and Codes of Conduct: Health and social care workers are expected to adhere to professional standards and codes of conduct that guide them on their responsibilities and expected behaviours. All these standards make sure that they deliver safe, effective, dignified and respectful care to the individual.
  
  
• Safeguarding Policies Implementation: In the health and social care sector, there are safeguarding policies that are implemented by organisations. These are policies that are geared towards ensuring that people are not hurt and maltreated. They comprise reporting and responding to abuse concerns or incidents.
  
  
• Respect for Individual Rights and Dignity: The professionals in this area are trained to respect the rights and dignity of the people that they take care of. This involves appreciating their privacy, treating them kindly and respectfully and having their decisions and preferences respected.
  
  
• Constant Training and Schooling: Constant training and schooling are very critical to health and social care professionals. Such training will keep them abreast with the current best practices in care and make them conversant with their role in protecting people.
  
  
• Wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): PPE is vital in avoiding the transmission of infections. Health and social care workers are also educated on how to use PPE to safeguard themselves and the people they are taking care of.
  
  
• Risk Assessment and Management: Risk assessment and management are some of the important aspects of the protection of individuals in care. Professionals will be trained on how to recognise the possible threats and take reasonable actions to reduce them.

AC 1.2 Discuss the mechanisms for reporting poor practice in Health and Social Care.

Answer:

Here are some of the mechanisms for reporting poor practice in Health and Social care:

• Internal Reporting Procedures: Internal reporting procedures are one of the primary ways of reporting poor practice. The policies in health and social care organisations specify what staff are expected to do to report. Most often, employees submit complaints of poor practice to the line manager, supervisor or senior employee. This will enable the organisation to address the issues promptly and avoid additional damage. The initial step in reporting on the identification of poor practice usually involves internal reporting, including unsafe care, poor hygiene, and failure to respect people (Skills for Care).
  
  
• Safeguarding Procedures: Safeguarding procedures are applied where malpractice is in the form of abuse, neglect, or a threat of severe harm. Health and social care professionals are required to submit safeguarding concerns to the safeguarding lead in the organisation. In severe cases, the issues are taken to the local authority guard depth. These processes guarantee the protection of vulnerable people and investigation of the issues within the confines of the law and national recommendations (NHS; UK Government Safeguarding Guidance).
  
  
• Whistleblowing: Whistleblowing is a process that is adopted when malpractice cannot be addressed internally or when employees feel incapable to report issues at the organisation. Whistleblowing gives the opportunity to express concern to outside organisations like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or the NHS whistleblowing services. The protection of the staff according to the Public Interest Disclosure Act enables them to raise their voice with no fear of being mistreated (CQC; GOV.UK).
  
  
• Procedures on Complaints: Complaints procedures enable service users, families and carers to report poor practice. The care provider can be contacted directly by complaints or contacted by external organisations, such as the NHS or local authorities. This is a mechanism that guarantees that the opinions of people who are receiving care are not ignored and are also utilised in order to enhance services and quality of care (NHS).
  
  
• Reporting to Regulatory and Professional Bodies: Regulatory and Professional Bodies can also report poor practices. These organisations watch on care and professional behaviour standards. They are allowed to probe issues and act where the standards are not applied. This is useful in maintaining accountability and protecting people against unsafe care or poor quality (CQC; Professional Bodies).

HSC301 LO 2. Understand the importance of regulatory bodies in the delivery of High-quality care.

AC 2.1 Discuss the roles of regulatory bodies that inspect Health and Social Care provision.

Answer:

The regulatory agencies are significant in ensuring that health and social care services offer safe, effective and quality care services. They establish standards, check on services and take measures where care fails to provide the needed standards. This assists in the safety of individuals and enhances the confidence of people in health and social care services.
 
1. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Role.

The principal regulator, which inspects both health and social care in England, is the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It is mandated to make sure that the care provided by hospitals, GP practices, care homes, and home care agencies is safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.

The CQC conducts frequent checks and relies on the evidence given by the staff, service users, and records in order to assess the quality of care. Services are classified after the inspections as outstanding, good, needs improvement or inadequate. Such ratings are issued to allow people to make wise decisions. In case of poor care, the CQC may demand improvement, warn, or close services where the need be. This position contributes to the safety of people and provides the advancement of the quality of care.
 
2. Role of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is also instrumental in ensuring quality of care through the generation of evidence-based guidance. NICE does not directly examine services, and instead it establishes national standards that health and social care providers should adhere to.

NICE is a source of information on treatments, care routes, population health and best practice. This will assist in maintaining consistency, effectiveness, and research-based care. Through NICE guidance, organisations will have an opportunity to enhance outcomes in individuals and decrease unsafe or ineffective practices. NICE guidance is also a reference for regulators like the CQC when evaluating the quality of care.
 
3.  Professional Regulatory Bodies' Role.

Individual health and social care professionals are regulated by professional regulatory bodies, which include the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). They are supposed to ensure that professionals are trained, qualified and fit to practise.

These organisations establish professional guidelines and ethics that people have to observe. They keep professional registers and enquire regarding misconduct, poor practice or incompetence. They may also impose warnings, limit practice or take professionals off the register in case of failure to meet the standards. This protects the service users and grants safe and ethical treatment on the part of the professionals.
 
Collectively, regulatory agencies contribute to the quality of health and social care through establishing clear expectations, surveying practice, and being accountable to organisations and professionals. The professional regulation, inspections and guidance also promote continuous improvement and learning. They also see to it that individuals are treated with dignity, respect and safety in all care settings.

AC 2.2 Identify the professional bodies that regulate the professions within Health and Social Care.

Answer:

Health and social care professions are governed by the professional bodies to ensure that workers are trained, qualified, and fit to practise. They establish standards of practice, keep professional registers and take action in case of non-adherence to standards. This is beneficial in safeguarding people and providing quality care.

• Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC): The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is a body that regulates nurses, midwives, and nursing associates in the UK. Its task is to ensure that professionals satisfy the specifications of education, behaviour and practice required. The NMC maintains a list of registered professionals and researches into issues relating to misconduct or incompetence. Failure to meet the standards may result in warnings, practice restrictions, or the de-registration of individuals by the NMC.
  
  
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) controls a vast array of health and care professionals. This entails social workers in England, paramedics, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiographers and biomedical scientists. The HCPC promotes professional standards and controls the professionals to remain safe and effective in their practice. It also inquires into complaints and fitness-to-practise concerns.
  
  
• General Medical Council (GMC): The General Medical Council (GMC) governs the doctors in the UK. It has a mandate to establish medical education, training, and professional behaviour standards. To be a registered doctor, the doctor should be registered with the GMC. The GMC examines the issues related to physicians and may take measures to safeguard patients in the case of the unsafe practice of a physician.
  
  
• General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC): The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) controls pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises. It prefers that the supply of medicines is safe and that the pharmacy professionals are up to standard. The GPhC also investigates issues and acts where the professional standards are not observed.
  
  
• Social Work England: Social Work England is a professional body that regulates social workers in England. It establishes professional standards, has a register of social workers and makes them appropriately trained and competent. It is also concerned with issues relating to professional conduct or bad practice, and therefore assists in safeguarding vulnerable people.
  
  
• Role of Professional Bodies in Safeguarding Individuals: The purpose of all professional regulation bodies is to safeguard the people.

This is done to them through codes of practice, continuous training and prosecution when professionals fail to perform according to standards that are expected of them. This provides trust, security and quality care in health and social care provision.

HSC301 LO 3. Evaluate the role of the interprofessional team in delivering Health and Social Care

AC 3.1 Explain the roles and responsibilities of the interprofessional team in meeting care needs in the case study.

Answer:

An interprofessional team consists of various health and social care practitioners who collaborate, exchange information and make decisions collectively in order to address the care needs of an individual. The interprofessional team in the case study collaborates to deliver safe, effective, and person-centred care.

• Relationship of Doctors and Medical Professionals: Doctors play a role in medical diagnosis, treatment planning, and examination of the physical health needs of an individual. The doctor in the case study examines the symptoms, prescribes drugs and follows up on the progress of the individual. They also exchange medical details with other practitioners in order to make the care given coordinated and appropriate. This position aids in the provision of safe and effective medical care to the person (NHS).
  
  
• Nurse role: Nurses are critical in the provision of daily care. They observe the health of the person, give medicine, assist him or her in personal care, and notice the status changes. Nurses in the case study can serve as an intermediate between the person and other specialists by sharing problems, revising care plans, and making sure that the doctor's guidelines are adhered to. This facilitates care continuity and patient safety (NHS; NMC).
  
  
• Role of Social Workers: Social workers pay attention to the social, emotional and protective needs of the person. The social worker in the case study evaluates the living conditions, support systems, and risks that include neglect and abuse. They assist in the organisation of such services as home care, financial assistance, or community services. They have the duty of fostering the well-being, autonomy, and security of the individual (Social Work England).
  
  
• Role of Allied Health Professionals: Allied health professionals are professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists, who facilitate the provision of special care requirements. In the case study, these practitioners assist the person to become more mobile, communicate, or live. They evaluate the functionality requirements and offer therapies that will aid in recovery and self-reliance (HCPC; NHS).
  
  
• Role of the Care Workers and Support Staff: Care workers and support staff provide practical and hands-on assistance. This involves assisting with personal care, nutrition, mobility and daily activities. The care plan in the case study is where care workers adhere to the care plan and inform senior staff of the changes in the condition of the person. Their contribution is crucial to preserving dignity, comfort and safety (Skills for Care).
   
• Shared Interprofessional Team Responsibilities: The interprofessional team is responsible for communicating, keeping records and making decisions. They come to reviews, exchange the information accordingly and include the individual in the care decisions. The collaboration leads to a holistic approach of the team, which addresses physical, emotional, social, and psychological needs. This practice is justified in the legislation like Care Act 2014, and guidance provided by NICE.
  
  
• Significance of Interprofessional Working in the Case Study: In the case, interprofessional working is used to make sure that the care is properly coordinated and individual-centred. Specialist knowledge is also presented by each professional, but decisions are made collectively. This eliminates duplication, avoids gaps in care and leads to better outcomes in an individual receiving support.

AC 3.2 Discuss the difference between multidisciplinary and inter-professional team working.

Answer:

The Working of Multidisciplinary Teams.

With a multidisciplinary team, the members operate within their respective professional circles in order to solve a shared objective. They operate alone, although their efforts are synchronised in order to make sure that the aims of the team are achieved.

The main characteristics of the multidisciplinary team working are:

• There is a specific role and responsibility of the team members.
• The members of the teams are working on their own, but their work is coordinated.
• The division of labour is very clear.
• The communication is usually hierarchical.

Inter-professional Team Working.

Inter-professional team working, on the other hand, entails work by various professionals in a collaborative manner. They have to share the responsibilities and make decisions together, and to some extent, their roles may overlap.

Several major characteristics of inter-professional team working are:

• The members of the team operate as a team and share responsibilities.
• Decision-making is distributed amongst the team members.
• The roles can be overlapping, and team members can fill other roles that fall outside their professional scope whenever needed.
• The process of communication tends to be horizontal, whereby all the team members are given an equal voice.

Comparison

Overall, although the multidisciplinary and inter-professional team working imply professionals of various fields collaborating to achieve a shared objective, the degree of collaboration, the role and responsibility vary. In multi-disciplinary teams, there is differentiation of roles and coordination of efforts, whereas in inter-professional teams, overlapping of roles can occur, and there is more collaboration.

AC 3.3 Discuss the potential barriers to teamwork and how they could be overcome.

Answer:

Possible Obstacles to Team Working.

Effective teamwork may be hampered by a number of possible obstacles. These include:

• Absence of clear roles and responsibilities: In a case where team members do not have clear roles and responsibilities, it may result in confusion, duplication of efforts and conflicts.
  
  
• Ineffective communication: When communication is not good, misunderstandings, conflicts and delays in the execution of tasks may arise.
  
  
• Absence of trust: Team members may not share information or ideas easily, and this may slow down teamwork if they do not place trust in one another.
  
  
• Conflicts of interest: The team members might have conflicting priorities, resulting in conflicts which may affect the accomplishment of team goals.
  
  
• Cultural differences: Cultural differences, language differences and work styles/styles can also create misunderstandings and conflicts.

Breaking Team Work Barriers.

The following are some of the ways through which these barriers can be overcome:

• Elaborate on positions and responsibilities: It is important to make sure that every member of the team is familiar with their position and duties. This is possible by having clear job descriptions, team meetings and frequent feedback.
  
  
• Enhance communication: promote honest and open communication. Frequent team meetings, email communications, and working tools can assist in enhancing communication.
  
  
• Establish trust: Honesty, transparency, and consistency can be used to establish trust. Trust can also be established through the team building activities.
  
  
• Give priorities: Make sure that each member of the team is aware of and concurs with the goals and priorities of the team. This may be done by holding team meetings and effective communication.
  
  
• Maintain cultural differences: Team members should be encouraged to respect and value cultural differences. Training in cultural sensitivity may also come in handy.

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