Understanding Employment Responsibilities and Rights in Health Social Care

Understanding Employment Responsibilities and Rights in Health Social Care or Children's and Young People's Settings1. Know the statutory responsibilities and rights of employees and employers within own area of work1.1 List the aspects of employment covered by law. Almost every aspect of employment is covered by one or more laws, including: the handling and storage of information, equal opportunities, grievance procedures, health and safety, holiday entitlements, maternity/paternity pay, minimum wage, sickness absence and pay, working time limits, redundancy and retirement.1. 2 List the main features of current employment legislation. Employment rights, Equality and discrimination, Health and Safety, Data Protection.1. 3 Outline why legislation relating to employment exists. Legislation in relation to employment was created in order to prevent employers from abusing or taking advantage of workers, and provide minimum requirements in areas such as : minimum wage, safety standards, ho liday entitlement, maternity leave, redundancy payments, discrimination and equality, working hours, age requirement.1.4 Identify sources and types of information and advice available in relation to employment responsibilities and rights. Sources and types of information and advice available in relation to employment responsibilities and right are: ACAS, CAB, unions and representative bodies, work contract, policies and procedures, terms and conditions, and job descriptions.2. Understand agreed ways of working that protect own relationship with employer2. 1 Describe the terms and conditions of own contract of employment (see attached Offer of Employment).The terms and conditions which are covered in my contract are: my job title, hours of work, holiday entitlement, absence, sick pay, notice of termination, grievance procedure, and the disciplinary procedure.2. 2 Describe the information shown on own pay statement (see attached) My payslip contains the following information: my name and home address, tax code (Basic Rate), National Insurance Number, deductions (including tax and national insurance), year to date, the total that I have been paid so far this financial year, and net pay.2. 3 Describe the procedures to follow in event of a grievance. In the event of a grievance the very first step is talking to the manager. If the outcome is not satisfactory then you can make a formal grievance complaint. The procedure should include the following steps: writing a letter to your employer setting out the details of your grievance, next a meeting with your employer to discuss the issue, and finally if the employer’s decision is still not satisfactory then an appeal from the employer’s decision can be made.Your employer should arrange a further meeting to discuss your appeal, and you have a right to ask either a colleague from work or a trade union representative to accompany you to the meeting.2. 4 Identify the personal information that must be kept up to date with own employer The personal information that I must be kept up to date with my own employer are my mobile number, address, bank details, and new health information which could affect my job.2. 5 Explain agreed ways of working with employer The agreed ways of working with my own employer are within my job description.I am also expected to arrive at work on time, be polite and professional, to follow policies and procedures correctly to be respectful of other peoples’ background and personal choices. My own employer must provide me the correct tools I need to do my job in the best condition possible, as said in The Health and Safety Act, 1974 law (eg gloves and uniform). 3. Understand how own role fits within the wider context of the sector3. 1 Explain how own role fits within the delivery of the service provided.The service undertakes to provide everyone with a safe service which promotes clients’ independence, dignity, and choice, while ensuring their home i s a safe place to live; to promote clients’ control over their lives, maintaining skills and independence and ensure that all needs are met on an individual basis, encouraging the clients to make own, informed decision about how their needs are met. Similarly, my role is to provide care to a standard and in a way that is accepted and promoted by my company.3.2 Explain the effect of own role on service provision. By providing the clients with adequate care and following good practice I help to fulfil the company’s goals as well as meet the individuals’ needs. By supporting the clients in their physical care needs as well as social, intellectual and emotional needs, and liaising with other agencies, I promote the clients’ health and well-being.3.3 Describe how own role links to the wider sector. My role involves making sure that our clients are provided with adequate care and support.It is important to understand the limits of the role and seek assistance t o deal with issues which are beyond the scope of social care, and liaise with other agencies to provide seamless care such as arranging and attending appointments, carrying out treatment, and therapy regimes.3.4 Describe the main roles and responsibilities of representative bodies that influence the wider sector. The main bodies that influence the Health and Social Care sector are government departments, professional bodies, trade unions, various skills councils and regulatory bodies.The main roles and responsibilities of the government departments are a duty to promote the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their communities. The professional bodies have a number of functions. They may set and assess professional examinations, provide support for Continuing Professional Development through learning opportunities and tools for recording and planning, publish professional journals or magazines, provide networks for professionals to meet and discuss their field of experti se, issue a Code of Conduct to guide professional behaviour, deal with complaints against professionals and implement disciplinary procedures.The representative bodies such as trade unions play an important role and are helpful in effective communication between the workers and the management. They provide the advice and support to ensure that the differences of opinion do not turn into major conflicts. The central function of a trade union is to represent people at work. But they also have a wider role in protecting their interests.The sector skills councils create the conditions for increased employer investment in skills which will drive enterprise and create jobs and sustainable economic growth. The regulatory bodies exercise a regulatory function: impose requirements, restrictions and conditions, set standards in relation to any activity, and secure compliance & enforcement. 4. Understand career pathways available within own and related sectors 4. 1 Explore different types of o ccupational opportunities.There are different pathways available within Health and Social Care sector, including: Adult Social Care, Healthcare: Arts Therapy, Clinical Support Staff/Healthcare Assistant, Dentistry & Dental Hygiene, Medical Doctors & Surgeons, Medical Sales & Marketing, Nursing & Midwifery, Paramedic & Ambulance Services, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation & Occupational Therapy, Psychological Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy; Social Care: Adoption & Fostering, Alcohol & Substance Misuse, Children & Families, Domestic violence, Housing & Homelessness, Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Older People, Physical & Sensory Impairment, Sexual Health, Social Work, Youth Work & Youth Justice.4. 2 Identify sources of information related to a chosen career pathway. There is information available in colleges and training organisations, websites like careerpath, careerprofiles, Jobsite UK, etc; also NHS Careers, Direct Gov Careers, and from your manager & colleagues).4. 3 Identi fy next steps in own career pathway.When I complete my QCF level 2 in Health and Social Care I would like to start level3. 5. Understand how issues of public concern may affect the image and delivery of services in the sector5. 1 Identify occasions where the public have raised concerns regarding issues within the sector. There have been numerous investigations into the quality of care provided by care homes and domiciliary care companies. The investigation into the abuse of children in North Wales care homes, and abuse of the elderly in Winterbourne View & Cedar Grove were started by individuals who complained either to CQC or various newspapers and television news broadcasters.5.2 Outline different viewpoints around an issue of public concern relevant to the sector.There are various viewpoints around cases of abuse which have caused a public concern. Lack of funding and government cuts, Lack of specialist training and keeping up to date with new guidelines and regulations, Lack of trust and belief with the companies which need to make profit, and the responsible bodies such as social services, CQC, the police, care providers and care staff, the families of the victims, inadequate sharing of information with various outsiders who have input to the care given, bureaucracy, etc.5. 3 Describe how issues of public concern have altered public views of the sector.With more than quarter of care companies are not meeting standards on care and welfare, the public have seemed to lost faith in such regulators and companies as this has been recurring for a number of years. The media have issued a lot of publicity stating how care companies, social services, and regulators have let the victims down by simply not taking these cases seriously enough and ensuring the well-being and standards are being met. BBC1 and Channel 4 have been the main channels on television who have reported on such cases from being under cover within the sector to show the public what can go wrong w ithin care.5. 4 Describe recent changes in service delivery which have affected own area of work.The number of reports of vulnerable elderly people has been on the increase over the recent years, and a need for changes within Health and Social Care sector has been highlighted. The areas of health and social care that have been identified as needing special attention: involvement, dignity and respect, meeting fundamental needs, access to information and support, partnership working, personalised services, effective commissioning, flexibility and creativity, inclusion, and carer as partners in care. Myself and my colleagues have been made aware of these areas and solutions to possible difficulties by received regular training on these issues.