2C Keep the workplace safe

It is important that people with support needs are happy with the care they receive, whether it is in their own home, a residential setting or a care facility. Part of the national standards relating to care services is that the personal requirements of the person with support needs are taken into account when planning a service for them. An important part of this is helping people with support needs feel safe and secure.

Understanding plays a large part in making a person with support needs feel protected and cared for. For example, a person with a physical disability may need to be hoisted from a wheelchair into a pool chair to let them participate in a hydrotherapy session. They may feel very insecure in the hoist, as they are wearing bathers and in a particularly vulnerable and exposed position. You can help them feel more secure by talking to them as they are hoisted, making sure they know what to expect next and addressing any immediate concerns.