Qualification: Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care (RQF)
Unit: Unit 18: Decision Making in Adult Care
Learning outcome: 2 Understand communication for decisionmaking
Assessment criteria: 2.2 Outline the range of stakeholders to whom a decision may need to be communicated
- The Individual Receiving Care: The primary stakeholder is the person receiving care. They should be involved in the decision-making process to the greatest extent possible, according to their capacity.
- Family Members: The individual’s family members often play a crucial role in their care and support and may need to be included in the communication process, respecting the individual’s wishes and confidentiality rules.
- Carers or Guardians: Carers or guardians, whether professional or informal, need to be aware of decisions as they will often be responsible for implementing or overseeing those decisions.
- Medical Professionals: Depending on the nature of the decision, it may be necessary to communicate with various medical professionals involved in the individual’s care. This could include doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, and pharmacists.
- Social Workers: Social workers who are involved with the individual may need to be informed of decisions, especially if those decisions have implications for the individual’s social care or living arrangements.
- Legal Representatives: If the individual has a legal representative or advocate, they would also be a key stakeholder to whom decisions might need to be communicated.
- Support Workers and Volunteers: Any support workers or volunteers who interact with the individual should also be informed of relevant decisions.
- Management: The care supervisor’s direct management or the organisation’s leadership may need to be informed of certain decisions, particularly those that have implications for organisational policy, resource allocation, or risk management.
- Regulatory Bodies: In certain situations, particularly those involving serious incidents or changes to the individual’s care or living arrangements, it may be necessary to communicate decisions to regulatory bodies, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in the UK.
- Other Service Providers: If the individual uses other services, such as day centres, respite services, or educational services, these providers may need to be informed of decisions that affect the individual’s participation or needs in these settings.
- Peers and Community Members: Depending on the decision, it may also be relevant to communicate with peers or other community members involved in the individual’s life.
- By identifying and communicating with all relevant stakeholders, a care supervisor can ensure that decisions are understood, accepted, and implemented effectively.