Medico-Legal Issues HCA Course 18th October 2016 Anne Morton GP Care Group

Learning Outcomes Explain the meaning of accountability Describe the principles of delegation List the reasons when a HCA should accept a delegated task Apply the principles of delegation to your present role Anne Morton GP Care Group

Accountability Legal accountability relates to citizens obeying the law of the country. Civil law (duty of care) Criminal law (duty towards the public) Employment law (duty towards the employer) Professional accountability additional obligation not to abuse trust and be able to justify our actions to a governing body. Anne Morton GP Care Group

Accepting the delegated task Delegation Delegating the task Is delegation in the best interests of the patient Clinical risk Your authority to do this Consider competence of the HCA Will the HCA benefit from the task Capacity to take on additional work Accepting the delegated task Are you sure the task is not too complex Will you compromise patient care Has the delegator the authority/clinical knowledge Do you have the skills and competence to undertake the task Will it affect your performance Do you have capacity Anne Morton GP Care Group

The HCA & Accountability You are accountable for your actions Social/ethical/legal/contractual accountability Responsible for the tasks you undertake Work within your level of competence HCA must only perform clinical tasks that have been delegated by a qualified Nurse Anne Morton GP Care Group

Principles Of Delegation Serve the interests of the patient and public. Experience, competence and role of the person to whom the task is delegated is appropriate Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the delegated activity is undertaken Anne Morton GP Care Group

Principles Of Delegation Level of supervision and feedback is appropriate to the task delegated Protocols that clearly define the HCA role within a clinical activity and should be regularly reviewed Competences of the HCA reviewed at regular intervals. Anne Morton GP Care Group

Resources https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/publications/pub-004852 https://www.rcn.org.uk/get-involved/forums/hca-ap-network Anne Morton GP Care Group