Ou K101 Tma 06

Part A
How a care worker who has just started work can ensure that unacceptable practice does not occur

This essay will discuss issues of care and examine how a care worker who has just started work can prevent poor-quality care being provided. The assignment will consider the relationship between the care worker and service user, then move on to discuss the impact of a care worker's behaviours and attitudes. This relates to the five key principles of care practice which are; maximising potential; having a voice and being heard; respecting people's beliefs and preferences; supporting rights to appropriate services and also respecting privacy and confidentiality (The Open University, 2014a). It will also look at sub-culture practices 'where inappropriate attitudes or bad practice have developed over time and become the norm' (Chandler, 2014). Finally, the essay will consider how handling personal information can affect practice, which includes working alongside relevant guidelines.

The first way that a care worker can ensure that unacceptable practice does not occur is to build and maintain a positive relationship with the service user. This is important in order to maximise the service user's full potential, as supportive relationships are 'central to improving outcomes for individuals and their families' (Social Care Institute for Excellence, n.d.). This involves ensuring that there is appropriate social interaction, for example choosing formal or informal communication. Care workers will need to decide which to use 'depending on the situation … and the person' as it important to communicate with service users in their chosen ways (Sannah et al, 2012). This also relates to the second and third K101 key principle, as it involves actively listening to the service user and also respecting service user's preferences.
Positive relationships also involves emotional control which is part of behaving in a 'professional' manner (Lawler, 1991, p.142). This is in...