Login

SL134-Self-Care, Wellbeing, and Personal Treatment Policy

{{org_field_logo}}

{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Self-Care, Wellbeing, and Personal Treatment Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that self-care, wellbeing, and personal treatment are prioritised for both service users and staff within {{org_field_name}}. This policy aligns with CQC regulations, the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Care Act 2014, and relevant national guidance to promote independence, dignity, and holistic wellbeing.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

3. Principles

3.1 Person-Centred Care

Person-centred care ensures that each service user’s preferences, values, and unique circumstances are respected and prioritised. This includes detailed care planning, individualised risk assessments, and collaborative decision-making. Each service user must be fully involved in shaping their own care plan, which should be regularly reviewed to reflect their evolving needs. Staff must be trained in person-centred approaches to ensure that all aspects of care, from daily support to medical treatments, are aligned with the service user’s wishes.

3.2 Promoting Autonomy and Independence

Supported living services should enable individuals to exercise maximum independence in their daily lives. This includes allowing service users to choose their routines, decide on meal preferences, manage aspects of their own medication where appropriate, and engage in household tasks. Staff should provide necessary support without undermining the individual’s autonomy. Occupational therapy assessments and adaptive tools should be offered where appropriate to enhance self-sufficiency.

3.3 Safe Care and Treatment

{{org_field_name}} must ensure that all care, support and treatment provided as part of a regulated activity is delivered safely and in accordance with Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Risks to each service user’s health, safety and wellbeing arising from their care, treatment or support must be identified and assessed. Risk assessments must be person-specific, proportionate to the identified risk and reviewed whenever needs, circumstances, treatment or associated risks change. All reasonably practicable steps must be taken to reduce or manage identified risks while avoiding unnecessary restrictions on the person’s independence, choice and control.

Risk management must support positive risk-taking where appropriate. A service user who has capacity to make a particular decision is entitled to make a decision that others may consider unwise. Risk must not, by itself, be used as a reason to override a capacitous person’s decision.

Care, support and treatment must only be provided by staff who have the appropriate qualifications, competence, skills and experience for the tasks they undertake. Where a task requires specialist knowledge, clinical competence or delegated healthcare responsibility, it must only be undertaken by staff who have received the necessary training and have been assessed as competent.

Where {{org_field_name}} is responsible for supporting or administering medicines, medicines must be managed safely and in accordance with the service user’s assessed needs, prescribed instructions and the organisation’s Medication Management and Administration Policy.

Staff must identify, assess and manage infection risks associated with personal care, treatment, equipment and other support activities and must follow the organisation’s infection prevention and control procedures.

Where responsibility for a person’s care or treatment is shared with, or transferred to, another health or social care professional or organisation, staff must work collaboratively with the service user, relevant professionals and other appropriate persons. Relevant information must be shared lawfully and promptly so that continuity of care, safety and the person’s health and welfare are maintained.

Any deterioration in health, significant change in need, treatment concern, medication concern, accident, incident or other matter presenting a risk of harm must be responded to promptly, documented and escalated in accordance with the person’s care plan and relevant organisational procedures.

3.4 Consent, Mental Capacity, Best Interests and Restrictions

Care, treatment and support must only be provided with the valid consent of the service user unless another lawful basis permits the proposed action. Consent must be sought before care or treatment is provided and must be treated as an ongoing process rather than a one-off decision.

Staff must presume that an adult has capacity to make a decision unless it is established, in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, that the person lacks capacity for the particular decision at the particular time. A person must not be treated as unable to make a decision merely because they make a decision that others consider unwise.

Before concluding that a person is unable to make a particular decision, staff must take all practicable steps to support the person to make the decision themselves. This may include providing information in an accessible format, using appropriate communication methods, allowing additional time, involving interpreters or communication specialists and making reasonable adjustments.

Where there is reason to doubt a person’s capacity to make a specific decision about their care, treatment or self-care arrangements, a decision-specific capacity assessment must be undertaken by an appropriate person and clearly documented.

Where a service user lacks capacity to make the particular decision, any decision made or action taken on their behalf must comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including the requirement to act in the person’s best interests and to choose the option that is least restrictive of the person’s rights and freedom of action. The person’s wishes, feelings, beliefs and values must be considered, together with the views of any person who is required or appropriate to consult.

Staff must identify and respect any valid and applicable advance decision to refuse treatment, health and welfare Lasting Power of Attorney, court-appointed deputy or other lawful authority relevant to the decision being made.

No relative, friend or informal carer may consent to care or treatment on behalf of an adult solely because of their relationship with that person. They may make decisions only where they hold the appropriate lawful authority.

Any restriction placed on a service user’s freedom must be necessary, proportionate, individually assessed, kept to the minimum required and regularly reviewed. Restraint must only be used where the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and other applicable law are satisfied.

For people living in supported living or other community settings, the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards process applicable to hospitals and care homes cannot be used to authorise a deprivation of liberty. Where arrangements in supported living may amount to a deprivation of liberty and the person cannot provide valid consent to those arrangements, the matter must be escalated promptly to the Registered Manager and the relevant commissioning or responsible public authority so that appropriate legal advice and, where required, authorisation from the Court of Protection can be obtained.

When considering whether care arrangements may amount to a deprivation of liberty, staff and managers must apply the current legal definition and current government guidance. Particular attention must be given to whether the person objects to the arrangements or restrictions, whether through words, behaviour or other communication, and to any significant restriction, restraint, supervision or control. Where there is uncertainty about whether a person’s arrangements amount to a deprivation of liberty or whether valid consent exists, the matter must be escalated for appropriate review and legal advice.

4. Managing Self-Care and Wellbeing

4.1 Personal Hygiene and Grooming

Personal hygiene plays a critical role in health and wellbeing. Service users should be encouraged and supported to maintain their preferred hygiene routines. Staff should ensure that individuals have access to clean clothing, bathing facilities, oral care products, and culturally appropriate hygiene items. Assistance must be discreet, dignified, and in line with the individual’s personal preferences. Requests for gender-specific caregivers should be accommodated wherever possible.

4.2 Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing is as important as physical health. Service users should have access to counselling, therapeutic activities, and peer support groups. Staff must be trained to identify early signs of depression, anxiety, or emotional distress and escalate concerns appropriately. Regular mental health check-ins, facilitated social interactions, and engagement in recreational activities should be encouraged. Personal coping mechanisms, such as music therapy, exercise, or mindfulness, should be incorporated into care plans.

4.3 Nutrition and Hydration

Where meeting a service user’s nutritional or hydration needs forms part of the care or support provided by {{org_field_name}}, the service user’s individual nutritional and hydration needs must be assessed and appropriate support provided to meet those needs safely.

The person’s preferences, choices, cultural and religious requirements, allergies, intolerances and medically identified dietary requirements must be respected and incorporated into their care plan where relevant. The service user must be supported to participate in decisions about food and drink to the maximum extent possible.

Staff must support service users to have adequate nutrition and hydration where this forms part of their assessed care needs. The level of monitoring must be proportionate to the person’s individual needs and risks. Where there are identified risks of malnutrition, dehydration, unintended weight loss, choking or other nutritional or hydration concerns, these must be recorded, monitored and escalated appropriately.

Where a service user has, or is suspected of having, swallowing difficulties or dysphagia, staff must seek assessment and advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Staff must not independently diagnose swallowing difficulties or alter food or fluid consistency unless this is within their professional competence and authority.

Any prescribed texture-modified diet, thickened fluid requirement, specialist eating and drinking plan or other professional recommendation must be clearly documented in the person’s care plan and followed by staff who have received appropriate information, instruction and training.

Significant changes in appetite, fluid intake, weight, swallowing ability or other concerns about nutrition and hydration must be reported promptly and referred to an appropriate healthcare professional where necessary.

4.4 Physical Health and Medical Appointments

Service users should be supported in maintaining regular medical check-ups, attending appointments, and managing prescribed treatments. Staff should ensure timely booking of GP, dental, and specialist visits, provide transportation assistance where needed, and communicate medical advice clearly to service users. Preventative health screenings, flu vaccinations, and routine blood tests should be encouraged as part of a proactive healthcare approach.

4.5 Sleep and Rest

Quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health. Care staff should work with service users to establish consistent bedtime routines, reduce disturbances during rest, and create a comfortable sleeping environment. For individuals with sleep disorders, medical referrals should be made where necessary, and non-pharmacological interventions such as relaxation techniques should be encouraged.

5. Wellbeing Support for Staff

5.1 Mental and Physical Wellbeing

The wellbeing of staff is vital to maintaining high-quality care. Staff must have access to mental health resources, stress management workshops, and an employee assistance programme. Workloads should be monitored to prevent burnout, and peer support systems should be encouraged to foster a positive workplace environment. Managers should maintain an open-door policy for concerns regarding mental and emotional health.

5.2 Training, Competence and Development

{{org_field_name}} must ensure that staff receive the support, induction, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal necessary to enable them to carry out the duties they are employed to perform safely and competently.

Training and competency requirements must be based on the responsibilities of the individual worker and the assessed needs of the people they support. Relevant training may include safeguarding, infection prevention and control, medicines, nutrition and hydration, mental capacity and consent, moving and handling, first aid, health conditions, communication and any person-specific or specialist competencies required by the service.

All staff working for the purposes of the regulated activities carried on by {{org_field_name}} must receive training on learning disability and autism that is appropriate to their role, in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and the applicable statutory Code of Practice.

{{org_field_name}} must have regard to the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice on statutory learning disability and autism training. Training selected or commissioned by the organisation must meet the standards required by the Code, including the requirements relating to appropriate content, role-related levels of training and the required involvement of people with a learning disability and autistic people in the design and delivery of training.

Staff providing direct care, treatment or support, including care assistants, support workers, team leaders and registered managers, must receive the level of learning disability and autism training appropriate to the responsibilities and level of autonomy associated with their role. Additional training must be provided where the person’s role or the needs of service users require competencies beyond the minimum statutory curriculum.

Training completion, competency assessments where applicable, supervision and continuing learning requirements must be documented. Managers must monitor training compliance and take prompt action where required training or competency is incomplete, expired or no longer sufficient for the employee’s role.

5.3 Creating a Positive Workplace Culture

A healthy and inclusive work environment is crucial for staff retention and job satisfaction. Team-building activities, staff recognition programmes, and regular feedback sessions should be implemented. A zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying, and harassment should be enforced to ensure that all staff feel respected and valued.

6. Monitoring, Records and Quality Assurance

{{org_field_name}} must establish and operate effective systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services provided and to assess, monitor and mitigate risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users.

The Registered Manager and other responsible managers must maintain appropriate oversight of compliance with this policy and the associated care and support arrangements. Monitoring must include, where relevant:

Accurate, complete and contemporaneous records must be maintained in relation to each service user’s care and treatment and in relation to the management of the regulated activity. Records must be stored securely, remain accessible to authorised persons when required and be managed in accordance with applicable information governance and data protection requirements.

Service users must be given appropriate opportunities to provide feedback about the care and support they receive. Where appropriate and lawful, feedback may also be sought from relatives, representatives, advocates, staff and relevant professionals. Feedback must be reviewed and acted upon where this is necessary to improve the quality or safety of the service.

Where audits, incidents, complaints, feedback, safeguarding enquiries, regulatory activity or other monitoring identify a shortfall, the provider must take appropriate action to address the concern, reduce the risk of recurrence and improve the service.

Quality assurance must be an ongoing internal management responsibility. CQC assessment or inspection must not be relied upon as the organisation’s primary mechanism for identifying whether the service complies with legal and regulatory requirements.

7. Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies and procedures, where applicable:

8. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if there are changes in legislation, CQC regulations, or operational requirements. Any updates will be communicated to staff, service users, and stakeholders to ensure alignment with best practices and compliance standards.

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.

Leave a Reply

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