Example: refer any breach or non-adherence to standard procedures

Helene is an aged care worker at a low-care hostel. She arrives at Mrs Watson’s unit and assists her with her morning medication. While helping administer the medication Helene notices that the blister pack from the previous evening still has tablets in it. Supporting Mrs Watson to take her evening medication is one of the responsibilities of the worker on afternoon shift. Helene talks to Mrs Watson about the tablets and calls her supervisor to let her know about the missed medication. Helene’s supervisor advises her to finish assisting with the morning tasks and to prepare a report identifying the tablets that remain in the evening blister.

Upon returning to the office Helene completes an incident report and submits the report directly to her supervisor. Noting that one of the medications is to control Mrs Watson’s seizures, and that skipping this medication may make Mrs Watson more susceptible to a seizure over the next few hours, the supervisor organises for a support worker to spend the morning with Mrs Watson.

Helene has met her duty of care to Mrs Watson by reporting the missed medication. Her supervisor will investigate why the breach in procedures occurred and follow it up with the relevant worker.