Undertake tissue viability risk assessment for individuals
Overview
This standard covers undertaking risk assessment in relation to pressure area care and the risk of skin breakdown. This assessment will take place across a variety of health and social care settings, throughout hospitals, including operating departments, hospices, nursing and residential homes, day centres, and individual's own homes. Risk assessment will include the use of different assessment tools selected for use to fit the individual and the environment. The assessment could be undertaken by a variety of staff within the varied care settings and is an ongoing process demanding constant review and evaluation.
Users of this standard will need to communicate effectively to meet individuals' needs and wishes and work in line with health and safety legislation, policy and practices.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1. identify and agree the roles and responsibilities of yourself and others in undertaking tissue viability risk assessment for individuals
P2. provide support to the individual, ensuring that you respect their rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs and dignity
P3. identify individuals who may be at risk of impaired tissue viability and skin breakdown
P4. identify any pre-disposing factors which might increase risk
P5. identify any external factors which you should consider in your assessment
P6. collect the relevant documentation, including agreed assessment tool for use before starting the assessment
P7. establish consent and access information on undertaking tissue viability risk assessment for individuals
P8. assess the individual's risk of tissue breakdown using the criteria laid down in the assessment tool you are using
P9. inspect the general condition of the individual's skin, identifying risk factors, using safe handling techniques when assisting the individual to move during the assessment
P10. inspect specific areas of skin for pressure or risk of pressure and identify risk
P11. agree, in consultation with others, how often the risk assessment should be reviewed and record the frequency of assessment in the care plan and other relevant records
P12. undertake the review using the criteria involved in the initial assessment if appropriate
P13. identify when the current assessment tool, or frequency of review are no longer appropriate due to changes in the individual's condition or environment
P14. complete all relevant documentation required for undertaking tissue viability risk assessment for individuals
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions, legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols needed to undertake tissue viability risk assessment for individuals
K2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
K3. the principles, practice and procedures associated with informed consent
K4. the needs of individuals including issues relating to dignity, confidentiality, and privacy
K5. the importance of applying standard infection control precautions to undertaking the assessment of skin breakdown and the potential consequences of poor practice
K6. relevant research that has been undertaken in respect of risk assessment for pressure area care
K7. how you might involve the individual
K8. the risk assessment in relation to the holistic care of individuals
K9. what to look for when you assess the skin
K10. when initial assessment should take place and why
K11. the frequency of review and re-assessment
K12. the degree of support and guidance needed by the individual
K13. the anatomy and physiology of the healthy skin
K14. the changes that occur when damage caused by pressure develops
K15. what is meant by shearing forces
K16. the pre-disposing factors to pressure sore development
K17. the sites where pressure damage may occur
K18. the assessment tools available for use in the assessment of risk of pressure sore formation
K19. the importance of escalating concerns
K20. safe handling techniques
K21. the importance of sharing your findings with others and the individual concerned
K22. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements with regards to tissue viability risk assessments