{{org_field_logo}}

{{org_field_name}}


Autonomy and Choice in Care Homes (England) Policy

Policy Statement

We consider that every person receiving care has the right to freedom and choice over how they wish to live their lives and to live with as much independence as is possible.

This policy describes this care service’s approach to the autonomy and independence of the people who use its services and their rights to choose in line with its underpinning values and purpose and to comply with its registration requirements.

It is written in line with Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, particularly 9: Person-centred Care, 10: Dignity and Respect, and 11: Need for Consent.

Our Understanding of Autonomy and Choice

We understand autonomy to be the freedom to choose and the right to live an independent life such as over the following.

Choice of and control over:

{{org_field_name}} also recognises its legal and moral duty to protect and care for its users, some of whom are vulnerable and may not always be capable of making informed choices. It will, however, ensure that people are enabled to exercise as much choice as possible, eg having access to advocacy services that help them to express and exercise whatever choices they can make. These will include people who have been assessed as lacking mental capacity to take decisions and those who have met the tests of having been deprived of their liberty.

Our approach to autonomy and choice

People receiving our care have as much freedom of choice in their lives as is possible within a communal care environment, so long as that freedom does not expose them, or any other person, to unacceptable risk. It undertakes to carry out the following.

Preparations and planning before moving in

1. {{org_field_name}} seeks to help prospective person receiving care make a sound choice about whether they wish to enter the home by:

Choices about care and treatment

2. {{org_field_name}} seeks to help the people receiving their care exercise their right to make informed choices about:

Meeting needs

3. In respect of care and support, {{org_field_name}} seeks to maximise people’s choice by:

Healthcare needs

4. In respect of medical and other treatment, {{org_field_name}} seeks to maximise the choices of people receiving care by:

Nutritional needs

5. In respect of food, drink, diet and mealtimes, {{org_field_name}} will maximise people’s choices by:

Social contacts and relationships

6. In respect of visitors, {{org_field_name}} seeks to maximise people’s choices by:

Interests and activities

7. In respect of activities, {{org_field_name}} seeks to maximise people’s choice by:

Community participation

8. In respect of the services received from other organisations, {{org_field_name}} seeks to maximise people’s choices by:

Protecting human rights

9. In respect of other aspects of people’s lifestyles with which {{org_field_name}} might be able to provide assistance, {{org_field_name}} seeks to:

Risk taking

10. In respect of the risks sometimes associated with exercising choice, {{org_field_name}} seeks to:

Expectations on Staff

Care service staff are expected to work to the following standards of conduct.

  1. Always be aware of and respect people’s rights to make their own decisions.
  2. Avoid being overprotective or patronising to people using services.
  3. Never attempt to bully or use force to coerce people to do anything that they do not wish to do.
  4. Remember their duty to protect people receiving care and to ensure a safe environment for them to live in.
  5. Always offer every person receiving care:
  6. the choice of how they wish to be addressed
  7. the choice of when they want to go to bed and get up
  8. the choice of what they want to eat
  9. the choice of how they want to use their time
  10. the choice of how they wish to maintain their environment
  11. the choice of who they wish to associate with
  12. the freedom to manage their own finances wherever they are able to do so
  13. the freedom to control access to their accommodation
  14. the freedom to self-administer their own medication (if assessed as safe to do so).

If for any reason a member of staff perceives the need to limit or restrict any of these choices and freedoms, the reasons should be discussed with {{org_field_name}} manager and a suitable entry written into the person receiving care’s notes so that further action can be taken to protect people’s rights.

Training

All staff receive training in person-centred care and support from their induction onwards, which includes recognition of a person receiving care’s rights to make choices, an understanding of the risks that might be involved and how best to manage any risks that are identified.


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 ©2024 {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *