H E A L T H & S A F E T Y
PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS & GUIDANCE
i) SERVICE USERS
Oasis Senior Home Care ltd or otherwise known simply as - Oasis take health and safety extremely seriously, which is why when we are supplying the provisions of self employed carers and referrals to third party service providers, we will conduct and carry out thorough and comprehensive assessment/background checks for your ease and peace of mind, knowing we are providing quality individuals.
ii) WE GUARANTEE TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING CHECKS COMPLETED FOR THE CARERS;
- DBS
- Mandatory Training Certificates (Ensuring Competence)
- Individual Public Liability Insurance (Up to £5 million cover)
- Professional Registration (Where Applicable)
- Right to Work (UK & Relevant Visas)
- x2 Identification Checks (To Verify Individual)
- Proof of Address (Bank Statement or Equivalent)
- x2 Professional / Character References
- x2 approved COVID19 Vaccinations
- Self Employment Status
iii) SELF EMPLOYED CARERS / OTHER THIRD PARTY PROFESSIONALS;
As a self employed carer / professional, you are responsible for your own health, safety and wellbeing, this extends to any action(s) you do / undertakings that may result in any degree of injury towards yourself and others.
As a general rule of thumb, you should never perform a task of which you are NOT familiar / confident with or have had any training, as this could result in injury or in the extreme event – death to either yourself or the client. You should always approach new task(s) with caution, care and diligence, seeking additional information/resources from appropriate and reputable sources, which you are responsible for in terms of your own learning and practices as being self employed. Once again we add emphasis, if something does not feel right, trust your instinct and do not do the task whilst remaining professional and if need be out of courtesy, offer an honest explanation for your rationale – honesty is the best policy.
Please exercise general precautions for yourself and towards others under your care, with a forward thinking approach to prevent and mitigate/reduce the chances of any potential accidents from occurring as we believe – prevention is always better than cure.
As a self employed live carer, you will often be alone with the service user(s) and will be classified as a ‘lone worker’, although there are provisions to offer support whilst on placements made available to you by us as – Oasis, if there is any immediate danger or threat to life, you should always by default call the emergency services without delay on – 999 (UK).
iv) GREATER ATTENTION TO CARE & SUPPORT SHOULD BE PAID TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
A) SECURITY
- Is paramount, a failure to comply with home security can have devastating consequences. Ensure ALL windows and doors are locked during the day and especially at night before retiring, this is to prevent unwanted intruders from entering the property. Some of the service users may also suffer from conditions such as – dementia, which could cause them to be confused and lead them to wander around, it is paramount and your responsibility they are kept safe and within their own homes.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
B) GAS SAFETY
- Always be mindful of gas BEFORE and AFTER use when cooking, ensuring everything is DOUBLE-CHECKED and turned OFF properly.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
C) ELECTRICAL SAFETY
– Always ensure sockets and adaptors are not OVERLOADED with appliances, if any equipment or sockets appear to be damaged or faulty, DO NOT USE - unplug the equipment, store away ensuring it is appropriately labelled and then inform the relevant parties including the service user and their families.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
D) MEDICATION
- Please refer to the; ‘SAFE MEDICATION & TREATMENT GUIDANCE’ document for a detailed overview, simply SCAN this QR code:
Or visit:
https://www.oasisseniorhomecare.co.uk/_files/ugd/0b099b_9dd263d4672244b7a207c420a1e8ef8a.pdf
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
E) MOBILITY
- Be mindful of the service user’s ability to mobilise, especially during periods of standing up eg. In the morning or whilst they are having personal care. You are there as a professional and to provide physical support where identified or where requested by the service user and their families, this is something for you to establish for yourself to find a – happy medium without denying them their independence. We also suggest to be mindful and with permission to clear and tidy away any objects which may pose to be a tripping hazard eg. Electrical Wires, furniture, magazines etc. therefore there is a clear pathway free from potential obstructions.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
F) FIRE HAZZARD
- When a fire does happen, remain calm and call 999 immediately. If safe to do so and under your own discretion if the service user is able to move under their own power – evacuate the building together to a safe area. NEVER RETURN TO FETCH PERSONAL AFFECTS UNLESS DEEMED SAFE TO DO SO BY THE FIRE BRIGADE.
If the fire is in another room and safe to do so, you should close doors and windows to starve the fire from oxygen, this should slow it down from spreading. Blankets should be used to fill in the gaps between doors to prevent smoke inhalation which can be fatal.
You should never tackle a fire unless you have the necessary training and confidence to do so with the correct equipment and the correct type of fire extinguisher.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
G) MOVING AND HANDLING
- Some of the service user’s mobility can be poor and require your assistance, it could be something as simple as walking besides them for reassurance, or using designated equipment/aids eg. hoists specific to these activities.
We remind you that you are responsible for your own actions and training, you should seek resources and relevant learning opportunities from the appropriate organisations when using such equipment(s) to prevent misuse and harm. We remind you as the self employed carer to use the official and the latest guidelines, that are relevant to the subject of moving and handling, as well as being mindful of the current legislations in line with UK based training and applicable laws that are recognised in this field of practice.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
H) NUTRITION
- Each service user will have their own unique dietary requirements and needs. We encourage you to work with the service user and families directly to come up with weekly nutritious and healthy meal plans together, thus extending to ensure their fluid intake is adequate and sufficiently met. Be mindful and aware some service users have difficulty with swallowing therefore extra care should be taken when preparing meals and drinks to each and every individual (eg. soft diet foods and fluid thickeners etc.). We remind you to be mindful of cross contamination of foods especially during the preparation. You should ensure surfaces, utensils are washed properly and the correct ways of food storage are adhered to when in the refrigerator / designated spaces.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
I) ALLERGIES
- Each service user must be viewed individually, some may have allergies to certain things eg. certain foods etc., it is your sole duty and responsibility whilst on placement to be familiar with these allergies of the client and if applicable, you must demonstrate to ensure all reasonable provisions are in situ to prevent the contact of such triggers to them.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
J) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
- When on a live in care placement, it is inevitable and part of the role that you will be at some point involved with personal care tasks such as assisting the service user with washes and continence management. It is essential you have a good understanding of hygiene maintenance and infection control for your own safety as well as meeting the needs of the service user. You must use the correct techniques and guidances, thus including the use of disposable gloves and aprons for all personal care related tasks, where there is potential to be exposed to or be in close contact with high-risk hazardous organic compounds and waste materials including bodily fluids and stools. As you are a self employed carer, we as – Oasis can supply the provisions of PPE for a very small cost.
Once again, the responsibility and any additional learning remains to be your obligation. You should seek your own independent learning from external credible sources to enhance your training and knowledge.
K) CONFIDENTIALITY
- Under no circumstances should you be allowed to discuss any activities that occur during your placement before or after with others, unless they are directly involved with the care of the service user eg. Other healthcare professionals, their families and applicable local authorities on a need-to-know basis. This is to protect, safeguard their privacy and confidentiality. You as the self employed individual should never expose in any capacity or reference any duties undertaken during placement on any forms or means of communication extending to verbal, written or electronic formats. It is strictly forbidden to post anything on social media platforms including any images unless where explicit written consent has been obtained by the service user and their respective families – failure to comply will result in immediate dismissal and has the potential to give rise to prosecution or an unlimited fine or both – you are accountable for your own actions and the subsequent consequences.
L) WAIVER OF LIABILITY
- Whilst it is impossible to account for every scenario in a domestic/public environment, you as the self employed professional must use your common sense and when engaging in any tasks eg. An outing where there is an element of risk(s) to health, without denying the right of choice to the service user and providing they are sound of mind, as well as being aware of such risk(s) and still wishes to proceed, providing you as the supporting professional on placement is willing to support them of such undertakings and within reason and proportionality – it is advised you should ask them to sign a ‘waiver of liability’ incase of an accident – a counter signature by a witness should follow suit, usually a family member or the POW (Power of attorney). This is essential as for legal reasons to avoid any proceedings/disputes/allegations that may be made against yourself should something unexpected happen.
v) SUMMARY & DISCLAIMER
Oasis Senior Home Care ltd and its employees do not claim to be experts in any capacity nor do we regulate any care related activities, we do not provide any direct training, the above information(s) was produced to act and serve as a general guide on what our collective professional expectations are, whilst you are on placement as a self employed professional.
We endorse excellent communication with the service user and their respective families, never assume anything on someone else’s life, out of respect and courtesy – ALWAYS obtain consent when dealing with sensitive tasks/matters and record/document such activities accordingly to keep a legal record of tasks – ALWAYS perform within your own limitations and competence.
Please refer to your ‘Carer’s Guide’ booklet and the – official Oasis Senior Home Care ‘Carer’s Guide’ video for additional clarity of the role.
