Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers in Wales

1 code of Conductfor Healthcare Support Workers in WalesIntroductionThis national code of Conduct for NHS Waleswill help to ensure service users and thepublic receive a consistent, high-quality,safe and effective service from HealthcareSupport Support Workers make a valuableand important contribution to the delivery ofhigh quality Healthcare . This code of Conductdescribes the standards of Conduct , behaviourand attitude required of all Healthcare SupportWorkers employed within NHS Wales . Health Care Support Workers are responsible,and have a duty of care, to ensure their conductdoes not fall below the standards detailed inthe code and that no act or omission on theirpart harms the safety and well being of serviceusers and the public, whilst in their purpose of the code of Conduct is toprovide an assurance framework for publicprotection through:-Guidance and Support to Healthcare SupportWorkers on their practice so that theyunderstand what standards of conductemployers, colleagues, service users and thepublic can expect of of this key workforce.

2 ScopeThe code applies to all Healthcare SupportWorkers employed in clinical and non-clinicalenvironments within the NHS and will bereferenced in job will this code mean forHealthcare Support Workers ?This will provide a set of standards, soHealthcare Support Workers can be surewhat standards they are expected to meet. Healthcare Support Workers should use theCode to assure themselves they are workingto the standard and if not to change the waythey are Support Workers can use theCode to identify areas for personaldevelopment and code will Support Healthcare SupportWorkers to fulfil the requirements of theirrole, behave correctly and do the right thingat all times. This is essential to protectservice users, public and others from will this code help Managers?The code will help employers to understandwhat standards they can expect ofHealthcare Support have a code of Practice thatoutlines how they should treat and supportHealthcare Support Workers to achieve thestandards within this will this code help the Public?

3 The code is based on the basic principle ofprotecting the public, and provides anassurance framework so that the public canunderstand what standards they can expectof Healthcare Support Wales has a legal duty and responsibilityto protect the interests and wellbeing of itsservice of Healthcare Support WorkerThe Flexible and Sustainable WorkforceStrategy (2008) provided a definition forHealthcare Support Workers responsible forproviding direct services to patients. However,this code of Conduct applies to all HealthcareSupport Workers , whether they deliver direct orindirect care,And who is engaged in any of the following: in a direct clinical role, under the supervisionof a health care professional; in an indirect clinical role, under thesupervision of a health care professional; in a direct service provision role, with accessto patients and members of the public; dealing with personal identifiable patientdata; having responsibility for maintaining premisesor equipment used by patients; or involved in the preparation/delivery of goodsor services directly for/to service users.

4 But who is not: a health care professional or an unpaid volunteer or a worker who is in a contract with a thirdparty. This includes Workers in a contract orother arrangement with persons whoprovide primary medical services, generaldental services, general ophthalmic servicesor pharmaceutical servicesHealthcare Support Workers must:1. Be accountable by making sure you canalways answer for your actions Promote and uphold the privacy, dignity,rights and wellbeing of service users andtheir carers at all times. 3. Work in collaboration with your colleaguesas part of a team to ensure the delivery ofhigh quality safe care to service users andtheir Communicate in an open, transparent andeffective way to promote the wellbeing ofservice users and carers. 5. Respect a person s right to confidentiality,protecting and upholding their Improve the quality of care to service usersby updating your knowledge, skills andexperience through personal andprofessional To promote equality all service users,colleagues and members of the public areentitled to be treated fairly and without Always seek guidance from yoursupervisor if you do not feel able oradequately prepared to carry out anyaspect of your work, or you are unsurehow to effectively deliver a given Inform your supervisor about anydifficulties that might affect your ability todo your job competently and safely.

5 If youdo not feel competent to undertake anactivity, you must report this to yoursupervisor. 6. Establish and maintain clear andappropriate professional boundaries inyour relationships with service users,their carers and colleagues at all Refuse to accept any offers of loans, gifts,benefits or hospitality from anyone in yourcare or anyone close to them which maybe seen to compromise your Comply with your employers policies andprocedures. 9. Report any actions or omissions byyourself or colleagues that you feel maycompromise the safety or care ofservice accountable by making sureyou can always answer for youractions or StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1. Be honest with yourself and othersabout what you can do, recognise thelimitations of your competence andonly carry out those tasks agreed inyour job description and in which youhave gained and Behave in a professional mannerwhich would not call into question yoursuitability to work in a health Make sure you can justify and areaccountable for your actions or youromissions to service users, youremployer, members of the public,your supervisor, and others.

6 Guidance StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1. Treat each person as an individual,promote independence and self care andassist service users to exercise their rightsand make informed choices about Always gain consent before you begin anytreatment or care and Support people srights to accept or decline any treatmentor care. 3. Consider, respect and protect the privacyand dignity of service users, carers andcolleagues. 4. Contribute to a safe health careenvironment that is fit for practice. 5. Always make sure your actions oromissions will not harm the person'shealth or wellbeing or delay their not abuse, neglect, harm or exploitservice users, carers or Challenge and report dangerous, abusive,discriminatory or exploitative behaviouror Always take complaints seriously,respond to them in line with theorganisations policy and inform a senior member of and uphold theprivacy, dignity, rights andwellbeing of service users andtheir carers at all times.

7 Guidance StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1. Value and understand the part you play inthe team, recognise and respect theroles and expertise of colleagues in theteam and from other agencies anddisciplines and work in partnership Work openly and co-operatively withservice users and their families and treatthem with Work openly and co-operatively withcolleagues including those from otherdisciplines and agencies, and treat themwith respect4. Honour work commitments, agreementsand arrangements and be reliable Promote and maintain the delivery ofhigh quality care to service users. 3 Work in collaboration with yourcolleagues as part of a team toensure the delivery of highquality safe care to serviceusers and their StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1.

8 Communicate respectfully with serviceusers and carers in an open, accurate,effective and straightforward wayensuring Communicate effectively and consultwith colleagues as Always explain and discuss the care orprocedure you intend to carry out with theservice user and only continue if they giveinformed Document and maintain clear andaccurate records of your care and reportany changes or concerns in the conditionof individuals immediately to a seniormember of Recognise the limits of you role,knowledge and competence whencommunicating with service users, carersand in an open,transparent and effective way topromote the wellbeing ofservice users and carers. Guidance StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1. Regard all service user and carerinformation as confidential2.

9 Only discuss or disclose relevantinformation about service users tomembers of the team or otherprofessionals who need information tohelp plan care or Always seek guidance from a seniormember of staff regarding anyinformation or issues that you areconcerned Always discuss issues of disclosure witha senior member of a person s right toconfidentiality, protecting andupholding their the quality of care toservice users by updating yourknowledge, skills andexperience through personaland professional StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1. In agreement with your supervisorensure up to date compliance with allstatutory/mandatory Participate in and take responsibility forthe personal development process andKSF to Support achievement of thecompetence required for your Undertake competence based trainingand education in line with local reviewprocesses accessing effectivementorship and supervision to improvethe quality and safety of care to Maintain an up to date record of trainingand Contribute to the learning anddevelopment of others StatementsAs a Healthcare Support worker in Wales you must:1.

10 Respect the individuality and diversity ofservice users, carers and colleagues andnot discriminate or condonediscrimination against them in any Promote equal opportunities for serviceusers and Report concerns to a senior member ofstaff as soon as promote equality all serviceusers, colleagues andmembers of the public areentitled to be treated fairly andwithout of Conduct To be responsible and answerable for To Support or actively encourage To maintain (a custom or practice) User- A person who uses services The action of working with someone To be open to public To be successful in producing a desired or A person competent or skilled in a To leave out or excluded10. Supervise- The active process of directing, guiding andinfluencing the outcome of an individuals performance of atask Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skillto do something To have due regard for someone's feelings, wishes,or An experienced person who trains and counselsemployees or Worthy of trust; An established or official way of doingsomething16.