DC11-Safe Care and Treatment Policy

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

DC11-Safe Care and Treatment Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} delivers safe, effective, and high-quality care in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – Regulation 12. We are committed to preventing harm, reducing risks, and continuously improving care standards to enhance the well-being of service users.

This policy outlines our structured approach to managing safe care and treatment efficiently while complying with Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and best practice guidelines.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All domiciliary care staff, including care workers, supervisors, and management.
Service users and their families, ensuring they receive high-quality and risk-free care.
External healthcare professionals, who collaborate with us to provide safe care services.

It covers:

Legal and regulatory requirements for safe care.
Risk assessment and management.
Medication safety and administration.
Infection prevention and control.
Staff training and competency.
Monitoring, incident reporting, and continuous improvement.

3. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy is compliant with:

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – Regulation 12.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Fundamental Standards.
Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Ensuring service users’ rights and decision-making capacity.
Equality Act 2010 – Preventing discrimination in care delivery.
Medicines Act 1968 – Governing safe medication management.
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 – Ensuring safe mobility assistance.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidance – Reducing healthcare-associated risks.

4. Risk Assessment and Management

To ensure safe care, we implement:

Comprehensive risk assessments for each service user upon care commencement.
Regular risk reviews, updated when health conditions change.
Personalised care plans, addressing individual safety needs.
Use of assistive equipment, such as hoists and mobility aids, to reduce fall risks.
Emergency response plans, detailing steps to follow in case of critical incidents.

5. Medication Safety and Administration

{{org_field_name}}ensures safe medication management through:

Strict adherence to MAR (Medication Administration Records) for accurate documentation.
Training staff in safe medication handling, administration, and storage.
Regular audits of medication procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Clear protocols for reporting medication errors and adverse drug reactions.
Service user education on medication management, promoting self-administration where appropriate.

6. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Measures

To safeguard service users and staff, {{org_field_name}}implements:

Hand hygiene training and availability of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Regular sanitisation of care environments and safe disposal of clinical waste.
Protocols for managing infectious outbreaks, ensuring continuity of care.
Vaccination programs for staff, including flu and COVID-19 immunisation.

7. Staff Training and Competency

To maintain high standards, all care workers:

Complete mandatory induction training on safe care and treatment.
Attend annual refresher training in infection control, medication safety, and risk management.
Receive supervised competency assessments before performing high-risk care tasks.
Are encouraged to participate in continuous professional development (CPD).

8. Incident Reporting and Learning from Mistakes

{{org_field_name}}promotes a transparent, no-blame culture in reporting incidents by:

Encouraging staff to report accidents, near-misses, and safeguarding concerns.
Investigating all incidents thoroughly and documenting corrective actions.
Conducting root cause analyses to prevent reoccurrence of safety issues.
Sharing learning outcomes with staff to promote continuous improvement.

9. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement

To uphold safety standards, we:

Conduct quarterly audits to assess compliance with safe care policies.
Seek service user and family feedback to identify areas for enhancement.
Hold management reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of safety measures.
Engage with CQC inspections and external audits to validate our safety practices.

10. Policy Review and Updates

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if:

Legislative or regulatory changes impact its content.
CQC or local authority feedback requires adjustments.

Internal audits identify the need for policy improvements.

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.

DC11-Safe Care and Treatment Policy