DCW134-Self-Care, Wellbeing, and Personal Treatment Policy

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Self-Care, Wellbeing, and Personal Treatment Policy

1. Purpose

This policy sets out our approach to supporting service users in self-care, wellbeing, and personal treatment in a way that promotes dignity, independence, and person-centred care. Our home care service recognises that self-care is fundamental to physical health, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. We are committed to ensuring that all service users receive appropriate support, encouragement, and assistance in maintaining their personal care, hygiene, and overall wellbeing while respecting their rights and preferences.

This policy is in accordance with the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016, the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and CIW guidance on promoting independence, dignity, and wellbeing.

Our organisation ensures that service users are empowered to manage their own self-care as much as possible, with support tailored to their needs and abilities. Staff are trained to provide compassionate, professional assistance while preserving personal dignity, respecting privacy, and promoting autonomy.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All staff, volunteers, and carers providing domiciliary support services.
Service users receiving personal care, wellbeing support, or personal treatment.
Families, advocates, and external healthcare professionals involved in supporting service users.
Third-party professionals, including hairdressers, podiatrists, and alternative therapists who may provide treatments.

It covers:

Personal hygiene and grooming assistance.
Support with self-care routines for individuals with reduced mobility or health conditions.
Wellbeing promotion, including emotional, social, and mental health support.
Personal treatments, including access to external professionals for hairdressing, podiatry, and beauty treatments.
Safeguarding considerations and risk management in personal care.

3. Supporting Self-Care and Personal Hygiene

3.1 Encouraging Independence and Choice

Our service adopts a person-centred approach to self-care, ensuring that service users:

Are empowered to maintain their own personal care wherever possible.
Have individualised care plans reflecting their preferences, cultural needs, and personal choices.
Are encouraged to make decisions about their appearance, grooming, and hygiene in line with their lifestyle and personal identity.
Receive consistent, respectful, and professional support from trained staff.

Where service users need assistance with personal hygiene, staff will ensure that:

Support is provided sensitively, discreetly, and in a manner that promotes dignity.
Privacy is maintained at all times, ensuring doors are closed and curtains are drawn when assisting with personal care.
Service users are given control and choice over products used (e.g., preferred soap, shampoo, deodorant).
Cultural, religious, and gender preferences are respected when assisting with washing, dressing, and grooming.

3.2 Assistance with Bathing, Dressing, and Grooming

For service users requiring assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming, staff will:

Encourage safe and independent bathing, using adapted equipment where required (e.g., shower chairs, grab rails).
Support individuals in selecting their clothing while considering comfort, weather conditions, and personal preference.
Provide grooming assistance such as brushing hair, trimming nails, shaving, and skin care in line with individual wishes.
Ensure that any pressure area care is managed correctly to prevent skin breakdown.

4. Promoting Wellbeing and Emotional Health

4.1 Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Wellbeing is about more than physical care; it includes emotional, social, and mental health support. Our service supports wellbeing by:

Encouraging social interaction, helping service users engage in conversations, hobbies, and activities they enjoy.
Identifying signs of low mood, anxiety, or emotional distress, and referring service users for appropriate mental health support if needed.
Supporting access to counselling services, befriending services, or community social groups.
Promoting good sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques to support rest and recovery.
Ensuring that service users have access to spiritual and religious support if they wish.

4.2 Nutrition and Hydration Support

Ensuring adequate nutrition and hydration is essential to wellbeing. Staff will:

Encourage healthy eating, supporting service users with meal preparation where needed.
Ensure that service users are drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
Identify any nutritional deficiencies or concerns and escalate them to healthcare professionals.
Work alongside dietitians, speech and language therapists (for swallowing difficulties), and GPs where dietary adaptations are needed.

5. Supporting Personal Treatments and External Services

5.1 Hairdressing, Podiatry, and Beauty Treatments

Many service users wish to access personal treatments to maintain their sense of self and dignity. Where requested, staff will:

Facilitate appointments with hairdressers, barbers, podiatrists, beauty therapists, or alternative therapists.
Ensure that any external professionals are appropriately vetted and comply with infection control standards.
Support service users in preparing for their appointments and ensuring that they are comfortable throughout the process.

If a service user wishes to receive treatments at home, staff must:

Ensure that the service provider is reputable and follows appropriate hygiene and safety standards.
Support the service user only if the treatment aligns with their care needs and risk assessments.
Ensure that any skin or nail treatments are suitable for their medical conditions (e.g., diabetic foot care must be handled by a qualified podiatrist).

5.2 Safe Handling of Personal Treatments

Staff must never:

Provide treatments that require specialist training, such as foot care, nail cutting (except simple filing), or massages.
Use beauty products, lotions, or treatments without the service user’s explicit consent.
Make decisions on behalf of service users regarding their personal appearance.

6. Safeguarding Considerations and Risk Management

6.1 Identifying and Preventing Abuse or Neglect

Personal care routines must be handled in a way that is safe, respectful, and protective of the individual. Staff must be vigilant in identifying:

Signs of self-neglect, such as refusal to bathe, change clothes, or attend to hygiene.
Signs of abuse, such as unexplained injuries, fearfulness, or distress when receiving care.
Concerns regarding external personal treatment providers, ensuring that all professionals involved in service user care are vetted and compliant with safeguarding policies.

If concerns arise, staff must:

Report issues immediately to the Safeguarding Lead ({{org_field_safeguarding_lead_name}}).
Record all concerns, observations, and incidents in the service user’s care records.
Follow the Safeguarding Adults from Abuse and Improper Treatment Policy (DCW13).

6.2 Infection Control in Personal Care and Treatment

To prevent infections, staff must:

Use gloves and appropriate PPE when assisting with intimate care.
Ensure that personal hygiene items (e.g., towels, brushes, razors) are not shared.
Dispose of waste products appropriately, following infection control guidelines.

7. Staff Training and Responsibilities

All staff must:

Complete mandatory training in personal care, infection control, safeguarding, and dignity in care.
Follow best practice guidance on assisting with self-care and supporting emotional wellbeing.
Work collaboratively with families and external professionals to enhance the quality of care.

Failure to adhere to this policy may result in disciplinary action, as outlined in the Disciplinary and Grievance Policy (DCW31).

8. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if required due to changes in legislation or best practices. The Registered Manager is responsible for ensuring compliance.

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}}
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