ACCESS TO SERVICE USER’S HOME POLICY
Policy Statement
Global Domiciliary Care Ltd. recognizes that home care and support workers should ensure the security and safety of service users and their homes at all times when providing personal care.
Aim
The aim of the policy is to ensure that service users are protected and are safe and secure in their homes.
Policy
Care and support workers should ensure the security and safety of the home and the service userat all times when providing personal care.
1. During the initial assessment, when care is planned, the security of the home should be discussed and an agreement reached about how the home care worker will effect entrance to the service user’s home. This should be entered in the service user plan.
2. Home care staff should:
a. always carry their identification badge and show it to the service user on entry;
b. always encourage service users to adopt safe home security practices wherever possible, including using door
safety chains, even when they know that it is the home care worker at the door, and requesting identification.
3. Staff should never:
a. agree to leave a key outside a house, in a safe place or on string by the letterbox;
b. attempt to effect forced entry to the home.
4. If it is decided that the home care worker should hold a copy of the service user’s key, thepermission of the service user or their relatives should be made in writing and a suitable entry made to the service user plan. Key holding should never be embarked upon without the express permission of the home care worker’s line manager or supervisor or without an entry being made to the service user plan.
5. Staff who hold keys for service users should:
a. label the key with a code, never with the name and address of the service user, in case the key gets lost;
b. be careful that they keep the key in a safe place at all times;
c. inform their line manager immediately in cases of the loss or theft of keys.
Protocol for Entering a Service User’s Home
Home care staff should:
a. Knock or ring the doorbell or call out before entry, even if they hold a key and can letthemselves in;
b. Always show their identification badge on entry;
c. Offer to check that windows and doors are secure before leaving a premises;
d. Always check that the door is secure as they leave.
Identity Card Policy
Global Domiciliary Care identity cards are provided to all care and support staff entering the homesof service users. The cards should:
a. display a photograph of the member of staff;
b. display the name of the person and employing organization in large print;
c. display the contact number of the organization;
d. display a date of issue and an expiry date, which should not exceed 36 months from thedate of issue;
e. be available in large print for people with visual disabilities;
f. be laminated;
g. be renewed and replaced within at least 36 months from the date of issue;
h. be returned to the organization when employment ceases.
Procedures in the Event of Inability to Gain Access
The following procedure should be followed in cases where the home care worker attends premises but cannot get in or receive an answer from the service user.
The home care worker should check in their diary that they have the right day/time/address.
The care worker should then knock several times and try to raise the service user by calling through the letterbox.
If there is still no answer the care worker should try phoning the service user or theirrelatives, or getting the agency office to do so.
If the problem is not resolved by phone the home care worker should report the situationto their line manager or supervisor, who will continue to attempt to contact the serviceuser and/or their relatives.
If there is cause for concern as to the service user’s wellbeing, the care worker should report this to the agency office and their line manager and/or supervisor, and the policeshould be contacted, either by the office or by the home care worker themselves.
On no account should the home care worker attempt to effect forced entry to the home. Inthe case of an emergency they should always contact the police or an ambulance and wait for them.
If the person appears not to be answering or is out deliberately to avoid receiving the arranged service, this could indicate a need for a review of the service agreement and careplan.
Training
All staff should understand this policy and know how to follow security procedures. Securitytraining is included in the induction training for all new staff. In-house training sessions on security are conducted at least annually and all relevant staff attend.
Quality Assurance Policy
Status of Policy/Procedure
Approved
Title of Policy
Author/Reviewer
Annually
Review cycle:
Date of development
Dr Nujhat Jahan
December 2022
December 2023
Date of next review
GLOBAL DOMICILIARY CARE LTD.
QUALITY ASSURANCE POLICY
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