Principles of Care

This assignment will look at the Principles of Care which are used by Care workers in providing quality Care. Mainly there are five Principles which include Autonomy, Choice, Respect, Equity and Confidentiality. According to Care Standards it is also a way of protecting the Service users and Carers. There is also the legal aspect which binds these principles. Organisations and companies which provide Care to different groups of vulnerable children and adults have organisational policies and procedures which fall under this frame of Principles of Care. Legal protection is a right to everyone. These are reviewed from time to time so that they do not deviate from the norm.

The names of Care workers, the Company name and the service user's name have been changed according to confidentiality and Data Protection Act (1998).

Jane a Health Care Assistant for the Home Care agency visited a new Service user named Wilfred Smith, 84 years old . He had just been discharged from the Hospital. After he was given a choice to go to a nursing home or his old home. His decision was respected and social services visited his old home to make a care plan suitable for him as to make him equal to his surrounding. They came out with a full package of care on discharge from hospital, it included security pendants and on call emergency line, safety precautions including a walk in shower fitting, door handle bars. Home care services including Day Centre attendance on Fridays, etc. He prefers to be called Wilf according to his autonomy as in Principles of Care. Jane's duties included Personal care, preparing breakfast, dinners, teas, administration of medication and shopping.

Jane greeted Wilf with a smile(to show warmth and empathy). Wilf smiled back and told Jane about his son who lives a couple of houses away who had a drinking problem. He came every Tuesday to see him asking for money and food stuffs. He also went on to say his son does not bother much about him. There was history of his son being violent towards him when he could not give him money. Wilf started sobbing tears. He repeatedly told Jane not to tell anyone and it was between Jane and himself. Wilf emphasised that if his son heard about it he would be in trouble.

According to Neil Thompson (2005) second edition p. 47

"There may be layers and layers of Legal policies, in Care, there is still considerable room for autonomy. Also in other cases potential danger will be in considering the Legal policies in a scenario we also need to consider the actual practice on the ground." Autonomy – independence or freedom of having the capacity to make a decision. (National Service Framework for older people) According to Principles of care Wilf was offered choices before leaving the Rehabilitation ward. Choice – Being given options (N.S.F) going into a Residential Home or getting back to his old house. He made a decision to get back where he was used. This was after he missed his friends at the Pub. To make sure Wilf was going to be equal to the other members in the community Social Services visited his home before discharge and had to put emergency alarm codes and safety devices all round his house to make sure life was not going to differ from the community. Equity – (NHS – National Health Service, Community Act) i.e. Right to live an independent life having right to complain. The move taken was to respect his choice and respect him emotionally. There was no over powering of care givers towards service users or where social workers think they know it all as in Thompson 2001. Wilf was individualized in all aspects on what suited him, and no objections to his choice as everyone has a right to advocacy.

According to Prevention of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) social services made a care plan suitable to Wilf as an individual. Therefore it was only when Wilf was admitted in hospital that they realized there was marginalisation and discrimination due to age.

Looking at this issue strict maintenance of confidentiality was in place as they organized to have the meeting at the day Centre with no interference of all his neighbourhood and mostly his son who was abusing him financially and emotionally. Confidentiality – Video Legislation matters (9/12/12) its to keep a secret as to protect humanitarian harm or pressures from classified people example in issue at hand son and neighbourhood.

Jane assured Wilf she was going to make sure Wilf's son does not know what they discussed. The Carer reassured the Client that the action she was going to take according to care company policies. Therefore it was a way of whistle blowing to the management according to Care Standards. Also the Care company's procedures on reporting issues were followed from area supervisor to the management through to social services.

There was financial abuse towards Wilf and the fact that his son came on Tuesdays only showed he only comes to see him because for his own personal gain. It is Wilf's choice according to Principles of Care to be living in the community where he is used to in his own home with his privacy. Having all this personal space, privacy and being financially secure. There is financial abuse from his son taking advantage of his age. According to Principles of Care he is not respecting his rights to his finances and the basic needs of food being bought by carers he comes and takes