Undertake agreed pressure area care
Overview
This standard covers undertaking pressure area care for individuals, following the individual's care plan and risk assessment, and relevant protocols and procedures within your work area. It is aimed at prevention, maintaining healthy skin and preventing breakdown. It will link to the standards on moving and handling individuals, and is applicable in a variety of care settings including hospitals, care homes and the individuals own home.
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 agreed pressure area care
P2. respect the individual's rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs and dignity
P3. provide support to the individual, ensuring that you respect their rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs and dignity
P4. establish consent and access information on undertaking agreed pressure area care
P5. follow the plan of care, maintaining the privacy and dignity of the individual at all times
P6. encourage the individual to be involved in their own pressure area care
P7. ensure that you can carry out the procedure without obstruction from clothing or bedding
P8. identify any changes to the individuals skin condition and report these changes to the appropriate member of staff
P9. utilise pressure relieving aids appropriately, according to the care plan and manufacturers' instructions
P10. leave the individual in a comfortable position and situation according to the plan of care
P11. complete all relevant documentation required for undertaking agreed pressure area care
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 agreed pressure area care
K2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
K3. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
K4. the principles, practice and procedures associated with informed consent
K5. the needs of individuals including issues relating to dignity, confidentiality, and privacy
K6. the importance of applying standard infection control precautions when undertaking agreed pressure area care and the potential consequences of poor practice
K7. the pressure sore risk assessment tools used in your work area
K8. the uses of pressure sore risk assessment tools
K9. why you should tell the individuals what you are doing
K10. the normal anatomy and physiology of the skin
K11. the pressure sites of the body
K12. the changes in appearance of the skin when skin integrity is at risk
K13. the factors which put individuals at risk of skin break down and pressure sores
K14. the factors which can help prevent skin break down and pressure sores
K15. the importance of moving individuals correctly, and the consequences of poor moving and handling techniques
K16. why it is important to follow the care plan and risk assessment tool
K17. the importance of team working in relation to pressure area care
K18. the pressure relieving aids available and their uses
K19. the importance of escalating concerns
K20. how to source up to date information on pressure area care and pressure relieving aids
K21. other individuals who you might involve in pressure area care
K22. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation following undertaking agreed pressure area care