"it is important that you report any concerns you have to the relevant person"

This message has been repeated several times. Don’t blame us – we didn’t write the standards. However, you can blame us for the gruesome hands photo – we did choose that!

By now you should have an idea of who you need to report concerns to.  

These could be:

We used some nice images of animals to make up for the hands photo.

If you have any concerns about any of the individuals you support, you must report these to the relevant person. 

This could be a senior member of staff, a carer, or a family member. If there are concerns about safeguarding, you can also refer to a safeguarding lead or specialist.

Even if you think your concerns are small and not worth reporting, discuss them with your manager. They may be big to the individual. If the individual has capacity, you can discuss your concerns directly with them to see how they feel. 

Remember, if you are unsure of anything or something happens that makes you uneasy, it is your duty of care to report your concerns. If you are concerned about the actions of a family member or carer, you can check with your manager if it is acceptable to approach the individual and get some guidance on how to do this sensitively.

Here are some examples.

Example 1

Gorka is an individual you support. He regularly joins in with group activities in his supported living house. This week you have noticed that he is not enjoying the activities and appears to be distracted. You ask him what is wrong and he says “nothing”. 

You raise your concerns with a supervisor. When the supervisor speaks to Gorka’s family, he finds out that his sister is very ill and this has upset him.

By raising your concerns on your observations of the individual, he can be offered extra support to talk about his feelings and worries about his sister. He feels better once he has talked to someone and begins to enjoy the activities again. The activities act as a positive distraction and help him release energy, improving his emotional wellbeing.

Example 2

Helena has refused to get washed and dressed for three days. You are concerned. Helena usually actively participates in washing and dressing with your prompts and guidance.  You raise your concerns with Helena’s husband. He does not know why and says that she is just being awkward. 

You ask a supervisor for advice. She suggests you ask Helena some questions and communicate with her in a positive way. When Helena begins to relax, she tells you that she is in pain and is scared of what the pain may be. 

Reporting your concerns has enabled you to support Helena to face her fears and see a doctor about her pain.

Well done, you have completed this course on privacy and dignity in care. If you have any feedback for us, we would be ever so grateful to receive it. Thank you very much lovely people.