*News from Liaise a sister company, part of Liaise*
Healthcare workers are essential to the provision of an effective response to the needs of all service users and, as such, it is important that they understand both their responsibilities and rights with regard to the support they provide.
Healthcare Workers have a Duty of Care to Service Users
Healthcare workers have a duty of care to all service users, which is rooted in a moral obligation to act in the best interests of each individual service user at all times. This includes providing a safe and respectful environment, within which everyone has the right to respect, privacy and seamless access to open channels of communication.
Everyone has the fundamental right to have access to good quality health care and support and as a healthcare professional, it is ultimately their responsibility to ensure that every service user experiences this basic human right. Creating and maintaining a safe environment is achieved in several key ways, including providing service users with the range of services they require and consistently delivering each of these services at an appropriate time, in an appropriate place.
Service users also have the right to be treated with respect at all times and healthcare workers must always provide support in a manner that demonstrates consideration and courtesy for a person’s religious beliefs, culture, sexual orientation, and right to privacy. Maintaining open channels of communication is critical here and all information must consistently be delivered in ways service users and their families can easily understand.
The Rights of Healthcare Workers
As healthcare workers provide essential services, it is imperative that they recognise their own rights in order to maintain a safe working environment for themselves, their co-workers and service users.
Healthcare providers have a responsibility to provide safe working conditions for the healthcare workers delivering support within their care homes. This includes implementing appropriate safety precautions and providing systems to ensure that healthcare workers consistently experience respectful and considerate interactions with their superiors. Abuse, harassment and attack must not be tolerated and healthcare workers maintain the right to report and/or formally register a complaint should they experience any of these unacceptable behaviours.
Healthcare workers also have the right to access the tools they need to provide the right support to each individual service user. They also have the right to a sufficient amount of personal time during their shift to keep nourished and hydrated. Not only does this contribute to the physical and mental well-being of every healthcare worker, but it also enables them to fulfil their responsibilities to the best of their ability.
Healthcare workers provide myriad essential services to their communities right across the globe and make a tangible difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. If you are looking to build a career that will allow you to make a real difference in the lives of people within your community and beyond, browse our available care home jobs in Basingstoke today.
