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Autonomy and Choice in Care at Home Policy

Policy Statement

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 {{org_field_name}}’s approach to the autonomy and independence of its users in line with its underpinning values and purpose and to comply with its registration conditions.

The policy is produced to meet the requirements of the national health and social care standards, My Support, My Life, which throughout emphasise the importance of people using services to choose what is right for them. For example, under:

1. Responsive Care and Support:
   a. 1.15 My personal plan (sometimes referred to as a care plan) is right for me because it sets out how my needs will be met, as well as my wishes and choices.
   b. 1.17: I can choose from as wide a range of services and providers as possible, which have been planned, commissioned and procured to meet my needs.
2. Be Included:
   a. 3.11 I know who provides my care and support on a day to day basis and what they are expected to do. If possible, I can have a say on who provides my care and support.
   b. 3.13 I am treated as an individual by people who respect my needs, choices and wishes, and anyone making a decision about my future care and support knows me.
   c. 4.5 If possible, I can visit services and meet the people who would provide my care and support before deciding if it is right for me.
3. Wellbeing:
   a. 2.23 If I need help with medication, I am able to have as much control as possible.
   b. 2.24 I make informed choices and decisions about the risks I take in my daily life and am encouraged to take positive risks which enhance the quality of my life.
   c. 2.25 I am helped to understand the impact and consequences of risky and unsafe behaviour and decisions.

{{org_field_name}}’s Understanding of Autonomy and Choice

{{org_field_name}} understands autonomy to be the freedom to choose and the right to live an independent life. It understands autonomy, as it applies to people receiving care and support in their own homes to cover basic choices such as the following.

• Choice of how they want to be called or addressed.
• Choice of being able to speak and communicate in their preferred ways.
• Choice of how they want the service to be provided.
• Choice in terms of being responsible for their medicines or of being supported to take them.
• Choice of what to eat and drink if the service extends to providing meals.
• Choice of times for receiving the service in line with their needs.
• Choice in relation to the arrangement of their own environment.
• Choice of who they wish to have with them when receiving the service.
• Choice in term of who they seek advice from over their care and support needs.
• Being in control of access to their accommodation.
• Being in control of how their carers as “guests” in their house should use their premises and facilities.

{{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 choices about their care and support. It will, however, ensure that such people are enabled to exercise as much choice as possible, eg having access to people and services that help them to express and exercise whatever choices they can make.

The service will also ensure that where people are unable to choose because of mental incapacity it will ensure all decisions taken on their behalf are in line with mental incapacity law.

{{org_field_name}}’s Approach to Respecting People’s Autonomy

{{org_field_name}}’s approach to autonomy is to ensure that its users have as much freedom of choice in their service delivery within any conditions that are placed from the service’s duty of care to both the people receiving its care and its staff to keep all safe from any form of harm.

{{org_field_name}}’s Responsibilities

{{org_field_name}} will do the following.

1. Respect people’s independence, privacy and rights and their sense of dignity.
2. Always work within the limits of their contractual relationships and agreements made with their users and commissioners where applicable.
3. Always work to the care plan that has been agreed with the person receiving care.
4. Seek permission from people receiving care in respect of gaining access to their premises and using any facilities to carry out their work.
5. Inform people receiving care and their relatives and friends of how to address any concerns and complaints if they consider {{org_field_name}} is not respecting their rights to choose and be independent.
6. Ensure transparency in its care record keeping and respect people’s rights to access their personal information in line with data protection laws.

Care Staff Responsibilities

Care service staff should remember the following.

1. Always be aware of and respect people’s rights to make their own decisions.
2. Avoid being overprotective or patronising to people receiving care.
3. Never attempt to bully or use force to coerce people receiving care to do anything that they do not wish to do.
4. Remember their duty to protect people receiving care and to ensure that they do not cause harm in any way.
5. Always respect every person’s rights to:
   a. choose how they wish to be addressed
   b. say how they want to use their time with their carers
   c. say when they wish to receive their care
   d. keep their environment as they see fit
   e. choose who they wish to have in their house
   f. manage their personal affairs in their own way
   g. control access to their accommodation and how it is used
   h. choose what they want to eat and drink (where applicable)
   i. self-administer their own medication unless they seek support.

If for any reason a member of staff sees the need to limit or restrict any of these choices and freedoms, the reasons should be discussed with the person and representatives, care service manager and a suitable entry written into the person’s care records.

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 be independent, an understanding of the risks that might be involved and how best to manage any risks that are identified.

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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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