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  • Lead Adult Care Worker

    Skills Scan
  • The Lead in Adult Care will guide and inspire teams to make positive differences to someone’s life when they are faced with physical, practical, social, emotional, psychological or intellectual challenges. They will be a leader of the care team and will develop and implement a values-based culture at a service or unit level. They may be responsible for business development, financial control, organisational resilience and continuity as well as for managing risk and leading on organisational change.

  • Please enter your email address (upon completion of this skills scan you will need to click on the submission button. Once you have done this, the completed skills scan will be emailed to you and your line manager. You will need to upload your completed skills scan to the OneFile learning assessment record that you have opened to access this skills scan)

  • We need to ensure you require substantial learning and development to access a funded apprenticeship. You do not need to research topics to answer. This is about what you may already know or do, so we can get a baseline and create a personal learning programme. You may also wish to state areas you would like to develop further.

    Please rate each question with Yes, Some or No

    Please note if you answer Yes or Some to any of the questions, a drop-down box will appear and you will need to write about what you already know and/or do. If you have any qualifications, competency evidence or certification appliable to the question, it is very important you attach these to the OneFile learning assessment record (LAR) that you have opened to access this skills scan. Please ensure you always maintain confidentiality and avoid putting any names of colleagues/patients.

  • Duty 1:

    Act within the limits of own competence and within agreed ways of working, following the relevant local and national standards, policies, and protocols used in the workplace.
  • Skills - Work in line with legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role. Work within the scope of practice, the limits of own knowledge and skills, escalating and reporting to others when needed.

    Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide safe and non-discriminatory person-centred care and support with individuals’ established consent. Implement a duty of care, recognising and responding to safeguarding and protection concerns and acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm:

  • Knowledge - The legislation, policies, standards, local ways of working and codes of conduct that apply to own role. The scope of practice, limitations of own competence, including limitations of own role in relation to medication and who to ask for support.

    The principles of ‘person-centred care and support’, including principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, active participation, consent and choice. The principles of a ‘duty of care’ and ‘safeguarding’, the signs of abuse and ways to reduce the risk of abuse:

  • Duty 2:

    Promote choice, independence, health and wellbeing for adult care.
  • Skills - Key skills in adult care include effective communication to help individuals make informed choices, empathy to understand and support their preferences, and the ability to motivate and assist them in health-promoting activities.

    Balancing encouragement with respect for personal choice ensures individuals feel empowered and respected:

  • Knowledge - Promoting independence, choice, health, and wellbeing in adult care involves encouraging self-care, providing support, and respecting individual choices. Understanding the benefits of improved health, like enhanced quality of life and reduced illness, is essential.

    A person-centred approach tailors care to individual needs and values, promoting autonomy and dignity:

  • Duty 3:

    Personal well-being when working in adult care.
  • Skills - Key skills for personal well-being in adult care include effective time management to balance work demands with personal life, strong stress management techniques like mindfulness or exercise, and the ability to seek and utilise support systems.

    Effective communication and assertiveness are also crucial in setting boundaries and ensuring a healthy work-life balance:

  • Knowledge - Maintaining personal well-being when working in adult care requires understanding the importance of self-care and stress management. Recognising signs of burnout and knowing strategies to prevent it, such as regular breaks, healthy lifestyle choices, and seeking support when needed, is essential.

    It's also important to understand the impact of emotional and physical well-being on job performance and the quality of care provided:

  • Duty 4:

    Use communication methods and techniques to overcome barriers and meet individuals’ wishes, preferences, and needs.
  • Skills - Key skills for communication in adult care include active listening to grasp individuals' concerns and preferences, clear articulation of information to ensure comprehension, and empathy to connect on a personal level.

    Additionally, effective communication requires the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion, resolve conflicts diplomatically, and collaborate with colleagues and healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

    These skills collectively contribute to building trust, enhancing the quality of care, and promoting a supportive environment for individuals in adult care settings:

  • Knowledge - Effective communication in adult care involves understanding the importance of clear, empathetic interaction. It includes recognising the diverse needs and preferences of individuals and adapting communication styles accordingly.

    Knowledge also encompasses knowing how to interpret non-verbal cues and fostering an environment where individuals feel valued and understood through respectful dialogue:

  • Duty 5:

    Maintain the health, safety, and security of yourself and others in the workplace by identifying risks and taking appropriate action to keep people safe.
  • Skills - Maintain a safe and healthy working environment, using infection prevention and control techniques including hand washing, sanitisation, disinfection and personal protective equipment (PPE).

    Maintain the safe supply, storage, use and disposal of supplies and equipment. Move and handle equipment or other items safely and assist individuals. Take appropriate action in response to concerns, risks, incidents or errors and near misses arising in the workplace.

    Perform basic life support techniques. Recognise and respond to potential conflict, challenging behaviour or an escalating situation:

  • Knowledge - The principles of infection prevention and control and the importance of good personal hygiene, hand hygiene and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Local systems and processes to manage the supply, storage, use and safe disposal of stocks and supplies.

    The principles of safe moving and assisting individuals and moving and handling equipment. The meaning of ‘risk’ in the workplace, ways to raise concerns and own responsibilities in relation to incidents, errors and near misses. Techniques and principles to safely perform basic life support.

    The common causes of conflict and how to respond to them in the workplace:

  • Duty 6:

    Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
  • Skills - Undertake own training and development activities and contribute to the training and development of others.

    Participate in appraisal to support professional development. Reflect on and develop your own practice:

  • Knowledge - The importance of continuing personal and professional development. The local arrangements for appraisal of performance in the workplace.

    The principles of reflective practice:

  • Duty 7:

    Record, report, and store information related to individuals, keeping information confidential.
  • Skills - Record and store information related to individuals securely, including the safe use of technology.

    Report and share information related to individuals securely and in line with local and national policies, maintaining confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure:

  • Knowledge - Ways to record and store information securely, including the safe use of technology.

    The principles of confidentiality, duty of confidence and disclosure:

  • Duty 8:

    Understanding Mental Capacity and Restrictive Practice for Adult Care.
  • Skills - Key skills in managing mental capacity and restrictive practices include conducting capacity assessments with sensitivity and respect, involving individuals in decision-making to the extent possible, and implementing least restrictive measures when necessary.

    Effective communication skills are essential for explaining decisions and gaining consent, while advocacy skills empower individuals to voice their preferences and challenge restrictive practices when appropriate.

    Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and ongoing training to stay updated on legal and ethical guidelines further enhance the ability to provide respectful and person-centred care in adult settings:

  • Knowledge - Understanding mental capacity and restrictive practices in adult care is crucial for ensuring ethical and lawful support. Knowledge involves grasping the principles of mental capacity, including assessing an individual's ability to make decisions and implementing safeguards when capacity is impaired.

    It also includes awareness of legal frameworks governing restrictive practices, such as the Mental Capacity Act, and knowing when and how to apply them appropriately while prioritising the individual's rights and dignity:

  • Duty 9:

    Understanding own role and supporting others in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and challenging discrimination.
  • Skills - Key skills for promoting EDI and challenging discrimination in adult care include effective communication to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

    Listening actively and empathetically to individuals' experiences of discrimination or exclusion is crucial for providing support and addressing concerns sensitively. Advocacy skills enable a lead adult care worker to champion equality and challenge discriminatory practices effectively within the organisation.

    Collaborating with colleagues to develop inclusive policies and practices ensures that EDI principles are embedded in all aspects of care provision. Together, these skills contribute to fostering a supportive and equitable environment where individuals receive dignified and person-centred care:

  • Knowledge - Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) while challenging discrimination in adult care requires a solid understanding of both legal frameworks and social dynamics.

    Knowledge involves knowing the Equality Act and other relevant legislation that protect against discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. Understanding diversity encompasses recognising and respecting individual differences, cultural backgrounds, and preferences.

    It also involves awareness of systemic barriers that can perpetuate inequality and hinder inclusion within care settings:

  • Duty 10:

    Implementing a person-centred approach in the adult care setting.
  • Skills - Key skills include active listening, effective communication, empathy, critical thinking, and collaboration with individuals and healthcare teams to develop and adapt care plans that are responsive and holistic:

  • Knowledge - Promoting person-centred care as a lead adult care worker involves understanding individual needs, respecting autonomy, and creating tailored care plans that meet legal standards and enhance well-being:

  • Duty 11:

    Understanding polices and agreed ways of working to your duty of care.
  • Skills - Key skills for fulfilling duty of care and duty of candour include attentiveness to individuals' needs and safety, proactive risk assessment and management, and effective communication to foster trust and transparency. Empathy and sensitivity are crucial when addressing incidents or concerns, demonstrating compassion while maintaining professionalism.

    Leadership skills enable a lead adult care worker to promote a culture of openness and learning within the team, ensuring that responsibilities are understood and upheld across all levels of care provision. Together, these skills and knowledge contribute to creating a safe, supportive environment where individuals receive dignified and responsible care:

  • Knowledge - Understanding duty of care and duty of candour as a lead adult care worker is essential for ensuring ethical and legal responsibilities are met. Knowledge involves comprehending duty of care, which requires prioritising the well-being and safety of individuals in care, adhering to regulatory standards, and taking reasonable steps to prevent harm.

    Knowledge of duty of candour includes knowing when and how to communicate openly and honestly about incidents that have caused harm or may have caused harm to individuals, ensuring transparency, learning, and accountability:

  • Thank you for completing your skills scan

    check the emails you have entered are correct before clicking on the submission button.

    Your Email : {yourEmail}

    Managers Email : {email8}

    Reminder: your completed skills scan will be emailed to you immediately, please upload to the skills scan learning assessment record on OneFile, with any other evidence. This is very important as your allocated coach will review before the planning meeting.

    Please inform your manager they will receive your skills scan.

    At the planning meeting with your coach, your line manager will be asked to confirm it is correct and /or identify further areas of development.

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