I work nights and have a lady who doesn't want to get up at 7 in the morning but day staff tell me her daughter wants her up so I have to do it. This lady is in residential care and is capable of making her own decisions. Do I have to do it to keep the daughter and day staff happy? | QCS

Hi Sheila, I work nights and I have a lady who doesn’t want to get up at 7 in the morning but day staff tell me her daughter wants her up so I have to do it. This lady is in residential care and is capable of making her own decisions.

Do I have to do it to keep the daughter and day staff happy?

Sheila Scott
Answered by Sheila Scott

 

Hi Cathy,

 

Thank you for your question.

 

This can be a common situation where challenges arises from family members (and even other staff) making requests that may sit outside of a service users choice, your role  in these situations is always to advocate for the service user in ensuring their wishes, choices and preferences are expressed and taken into account.

 

As this lady has the capacity to make her own decisions you should establish the reasons for the daughters (and/or other staff’s) wish to get her mother up at 7, and include the service user in this ‘conversation’. That way you can all be in agreement moving forward.

 

Outcomes must be recorded on a care plan to ensure that the views of the service user are taking into account and all staff are clear on how to support them.

 

Where agreement cannot be reached between the service user/other staff and the daughter, you should escalate this to your line manager.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Best Wishes.

 

Sheila

 

About Sheila Scott

Sheila Scott OBE from National Care Association (NCA). Care is Sheila’s life; she possesses a strong command of the issues facing the care sector informed by her long career as a nursing professional, the owner and manager of a care business and as a leader in the care sector. 3. Read more

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