Duty of care is an important part of keeping people safe in any setting. It sets out what you must do to protect others and make sure their wellbeing is always a priority. This blog explains what duty of care means, why it matters, and how it works in places like care homes.
What Does Duty of Care Mean?
Having a duty of care to a person is something that should never be taken lightly. It is important to understand what is expected of you and to take this responsibility seriously.
If you have a duty of care to someone, you are responsible for their safety and wellbeing. This means taking reasonable steps to prevent harm and acting in their best interests at all times. This can apply in many applications, for example, schools, workplaces and healthcare settings.
Why is the Duty of Care Important?
Duty of care is vital and putting it in place helps to keep people safe from harm in various settings. It also contributes to creating a trustworthy and accountable environment where people feel safe and cared for. Having a duty of care also helps to identify risks early. When risks are spotted early, it gives more time for these risks to be managed and measures to be put in place to avoid harm.
What is a Duty of Care Advocate?
If you become a duty of care advocate, it is important you understand what this means to ensure you support the person properly and keep them safe. As a duty of care advocate, it is your job to speak up for a person to make sure they are being looked after and kept safe at all times.
You must also make sure the person understands their rights and choices and if they don’t, it is up to you to help them become aware. As a duty of care advocate, you will have to make sure decisions are being made that are in their best interest, and if they are not, you will speak up for them.
Duty of Care in a Care Home
You might be wondering how the duty of care works within a care home setting. In a care home, the duty of care falls to the nurses and carers. They must take all reasonable measures to ensure that residents remain safe and properly looked after. They will also help with the daily tasks that help keep a home happy and functioning correctly. This will be anything from washing and dressing to ensuring that residents are eating in a safe way.
Other responsibilities include making sure the home is being checked regularly so that any problems affecting safety or wellbeing are being spotted early and being rectified before becoming a potential danger to those around.
Another vital responsibility that a nurse will take on in a care home is ensuring all medicines and treatments are being dispensed correctly at the right times.
It is essential to always have staff report concerns promptly, no matter how big or small, to keep all residents protected. If all members of staff are keeping an eye out for any safety hazards or potential dangers, it makes it that bit easier to combat issues before they escalate, meaning residents’ safety is always being managed and prioritised.
Is Duty of Care a Legal Requirement?
Yes, duty of care is a legal requirement. It is important that organisations follow the rules to keep people safe from harm.
For care homes specifically, they must follow all laws and regulations with clearly set safety and wellbeing standards. If a duty of care has failed to be met, it can result in investigations taking place, fines or legal action.
Duty of care builds trust not only between staff and residents but also with families. Knowing your loved one is being looked after, kept safe and that there is someone you can trust to speak up for them is paramount and should never be overlooked!
How to create a duty of care policy?
Although it is illegal not not have a duty of care policy, it is illegal to ignore the duty of care. Having a written policy in place is the best way to show you are meeting the duty of care, and it also helps lay out exactly what is required from staff to keep people safe under your care.
Here are 8 simple steps to help you create a duty of care policy:
- Write an easy-to-understand statement that explains exactly what duty of care means in your environment.
- List out all the roles and the responsibilities of your staff.
- Recognise common risks that you face and how you expect staff to manage them.
- Outline clearly how you want staff to report all concerns and incidents.
- Include advice on safeguarding and protecting vulnerable people from harm.
- Insert procedures for giving care safely, like medication and daily support.
- Set out exactly how the policy will be updated and reviewed, to keep it relevant and useful.
- Train staff so they understand the policy and follow it correctly at all times.
Final Duty of Care Guidance
Duty of care is all about keeping people safe, supporting their wellbeing, and creating an environment where risks are managed early to prevent harm or danger. When everyone understands their responsibilities and follows clear guidance, care becomes safer and more consistent.
A strong duty of care policy will help staff stay confident in what they need to do, and it will reassure families that their loved ones are protected at all times. Taking the time to get this right will benefit every single person in your care setting and will better the quality of care you provide.
Are you looking for a home you can trust to keep your loved one safe and happy? Come and visit Derwent Lodge today to see for yourself what life is like in our home.
