HLTHIR601B
Develop and implement strategies to enhance client safety

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement communication strategies to enhance the inclusion of clients and carers in planning and delivering health care services and to support honest communication with clients relating to risk and adverse events

Application

Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect specific legal and ethical requirements and issues relevant to the workplace, role and function


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Promote partnerships between client and service provider

1.1 Develop strategies for staff to include clients and carers in planning and delivering health care services

1.2 Identify and support opportunities for staff to involve clients and carers in their care and treatment

1.3 Assist and support staff to clarify and respect the rights of clients and carers through all stages of tests, procedures and treatments

1.4 Assist and support staff to clarify and respect the choices of clients and carers in planning and delivery of health care services

1.5 Identify ways in which clients, carers and the community can contribute to improving health care services

1.6 Support staff to ensure clients and carers are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback about delivery of health care services

1.7 Provide staff with strategies and techniques to ensure clients and carers are effectively educated about their condition, treatments and available health care services

1.8 Provide staff with appropriate training and resources to support the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services

1.9 Create environments and structures to support optimal client and community involvement in health service planning and delivery

2. Enhance client understanding of risk

2.1 Ensure clients and carers are provided with quality information relating to risks involved relating to their health, proposed treatments and ongoing service delivery

2.2 Ensure clients are supported as required to make informed decisions about proposed treatments and ongoing service delivery

2.3 Support the provision of information about the beneficial and harmful effects of care and treatments according to individual circumstances and priorities

2.4 Ensure staff understand the importance of obtaining consent from both ethical and risk management perspectives

3. Manage communication relating to adverse events

3.1 Establish clear processes for managing adverse events and near misses within scope of work role

3.2 Develop open disclosure guidelines based on National Open Disclosure Standard

3.3 Ensure staff know the open disclosure guidelines and how they apply to their work role

3.4 Support staff to apply open disclosure guidelines when clients suffer adverse events and/or near misses

3.5 Ensure clients and carers are supplied with information about available support services

3.6 Ensure emotional and trauma support services are provided to clients, carers and staff who have been involved in an adverse event or near miss

3.7 Disseminate information about learning from adverse events and near misses throughout the organisation

3.8 Foster community awareness of the occurrence of adverse events to enhance client involvement in health care services

4. Evaluate effectiveness of client safety strategies

4.1 Conduct regular organisation self-assessments in relation to cultural and linguistic competence

4.2 Evaluate effectiveness of strategies to involve clients and carers in planning and delivery of health care services

4.3 Evaluate effectiveness of strategies to prevent, manage and communicate adverse events and near misses

4.4 Seek client feedback on an ongoing basis and incorporate into evaluation strategies

4.5 Identify opportunities for improvements in practices and processes impacting client safety

4.6 Provide feedback and recognition to staff to establish and maintain behaviour and attitudes that support and enhance client safety

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Effective methods for educating clients about their conditions

How client decisions are influenced by the way risk information is presented

How clients can be involved in educating health care providers

How to apply decision support service models to accommodate decisions based on individual preferences or cultural and religious beliefs

How to engage consumers, clients and carers at every level of health care service delivery and involve them in health improvement activities

How to evaluate the beneficial and harmful effects of care and treatments

Key principles underpinning partnerships with consumers, clients and carers

Models and characteristics of treatment decision-making

National Open Disclosure Standard

Relative effectiveness of methods for communicating risk information to clients and carers

Role and responsibilities of the organisation in open disclosure

Role of clinical risk management and quality improvement processes in open disclosure

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Actively seek suggestions from clients and carers on improvements to health care

Develop a variety of methods to foster routine collaboration between health care providers and their clients and carers

Establish clear processes for managing adverse events and near misses in their organisation

Foster community awareness of the role clients and the community can play in improving health care and making the health care system safe

Incorporate principles of open disclosure into organisation guidelines

Integrate risk information into client information materials

Provide guidance and coaching to clients in decision-making, communicating with others, accessing support and handling pressure

Provide reports to staff about the importance of engaging clients and carers in health care delivery

Provide training to staff in the appropriate use of decision aids

Promote opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues, including practices to ensure efficient use of resources

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the particular workplace

Assessment involves access to an appropriate workplace or simulated realistic workplace setting, using relevant organisation policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Range Statement

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Client's rights may include:

Treatment with reasonable care and skill

Right to refuse medical treatment

Confidentiality of information

Access to information held about them including medical records, registers

Right not to be discriminated against

Right to make a complaint

Right to be involved in decisions regarding treatment and care

Legal obligations and requirements may relate to:

Privacy

Anti-discrimination

Consent to medical treatment

Duty of care

Release of patient information, including medical and other clinical records

Coroners Act

Child protection

Industrial relations

Trade practices

Poisons legislation

Retention of human tissue

Equal Employment Opportunity

Occupational health and safety

Infection control

Contractual obligations

Licensing laws

Consent of client may include:

Written

Verbal

Implied

Available support services may include:

Emotional support

Advocacy

Complaint information


Sectors

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

This unit contains Employability Skills


Licensing Information

Not Applicable