I did my placement for the NVQ 2 at Limetree Care Centre.

This is a Registered
Care Home within the borough of Lambeth. It is a two storey building with a larg
e garden and is a home for about 100 individuals. The home runs on a 24 hour bas
es on day and night shift. The clients are mostly elderly individuals with varie
d kinds of care needs and support. The staff team comprises of a manager and six
full time support workers.
My first day of placement was on the 20th November, 2007. When I arrived at
the care home at 7:45 am I was made to sign the visitorâ s book in the reception, b
efore I was led to the managerâ s office. This is the policy and procedure of ac
cessing the building, and for the security, health and safety of all visitors.
I introduced myself to the managed as soon as I met him. He in turn began by
telling me that the day is mainly for induction. He briefly described to me
the structure and plan of the home and all the routine activities. He then too
k me to the ground floor i.e. the Residential Elderly Mental Illness unit (EMI u
nit) and introduced me to one of the Senior Health Care Assistant (SHCA) who in
turn introduced me to other staff members including the kitchen staff and all th
e residents.

The SHCA took me round the building including the wards, kitchen laundry ro
om lounge etc. She explained to me the general routine activities in the home:
helping clients to bath, preparing and serving them breakfast, lunch and supper;
preparing beds and maintaining cleanliness within and around the home. She show
ed me all the fire exits the emergency procedures of the building. The SHCA als
o showed me samples of reports and records in use in the centre, for example, th
e individuals daily report, visitors log book, the accident and incidence oc
currences records, the daily dietary record book, care plan review reports , dai
ly temperature recording book and the personal training record. She emphasized
to me the need to complete records fully and accurately, because such records mi
ght be used in court or for future identification about individuals. She went o
n to talk about the home policy and procedure on client confidentiality and the
Basic Principles of the data Protection Act; why it is important to maintain the
confidentiality and security of records and reports. She maintained that I sho
uld not disclose information about individuals to others who do not have a rig
ht or need to know the information, and above all she explained to me where t
o seek permission from when accessing records and reports regarding my clien
ts. By late afternoon I joined the health care assistants (HCS) in the main wa
rd. Moreover, my main task was to observe methods of communication; how clients
and Health care assistants communicate at work, and to identify the best form
s of communication and language needs of clients. I observed how factors such
as active listening, space and positioning, focusing on the individual, body la
nguage, eye contact, signs etc. are essential for effective communication and
well being of clients in the care setting . Example I had used non-verbal comm
unication and eye contacts when communicating with clients having hearing diffic
ulty. I tried to listen well and without interruption before I appropriately r
esponded to their concerns, needs, wishes and preferences. My induction day end
ed at 8pm. The first day of placement at the care centre was interesting and I e
njoyed it because I was able to see in-practice the things that I have learned i
n my theory lesson in college.

All through the days that followed on my placement, I was under constant supervi
sion and guidance by my team leader and the senior health care assistant. I got
involved in key activities like preparing food in the kitchen, and serving lun
ch and supper to clients. I ensure that I prepare the dining area to make eati
ng and drinking enjoyable and also to allow good interaction between my clients
and other people. I ensure that I work with the individuals and key people conce
rn to identify the level of support and type of nutrition the individuals requir
e. When preparing food I make sure I examine the individuals care plans to know
their nutritional requirements and dietary needs, their preferences and choices;
and the amount of help required in eating and drinking. In addition I observed
the rights and values (religion, beliefs, culture) of individuals with regards
to their well being.
I observed the general food - hygiene principles and the health and safe
ty issues relevant to care practice, and I ensured that I use any specialist equ
ipment or protective covering for my client when it is necessary. I make sure I
frequently washed my hands between tasks, and wear protective garment eg.
Coloured apron during mealtime I avoided using my finger in to see if a meal
is hot.
I observed that one of my clients to be assisted in feeding had difficulty in
swallowing. And according to his care plan I responded appropriately to question
s and issues raised about his food and drink. And prior to and following fee
ding my client, I ensure I discussed with other key work mate issues about
the kind of active support that my client needed, nutritional requirement
s and dietary needs, his preference and choices; beliefs and hygiene needs.
The action I took was to use the thickening powder prescribed for him. I ensur
e that I added the powder to his drink to reduce the risk of him chocking on f
luids. I actively supported my client to eat and drink in a manageable quanti
ty and at his own pace an appropriate manner. I make sure that I assisted my cli
ent clean himself of spills and droppings after meal.
I observed and then recorded the food intake of my client according to the in
dividual care plan and legislation
I maintain good standards of food hygiene in the kitchen as well as keeping the
areas where food is served and dining areas hygienic, clean and safe.

Another routine activity in the home was assisting clients to use the toilet and
changing pads from elderly incontinence. As the practice involves providing
personal care I ensure that I maintain the privacy, dignity and respect of the i
ndividuals throughout, and not to discriminate them. I also consider the individ
ualsâ cultural differences surrounding toileting practices. I assisted them to
communicate their personal wish to use the toilet to me either verbally or use f
lash cards or call- bell if they prefer a commode or bed pan. I ensure that I
followed the health and safety practices by making sure that the individuals
skins is washed clean and dried thoroughly and that they are comfortable, a
nd have the chance to properly wash their hands and genital areas afterwards.
I make sure that I protected myself by wearing gloves and apron, and wash my han
ds afterwards and in between dealing with different individuals. I immediately
disposed of all soiled linen, gloves and aprons so as to minimise risk of cross
of infection. I then record and report any problem or infection and maintain cli
ent confidentiality according to legal and organisational procedures.
Washing and bathing clients is a daily routine in the care home and is done eve
ry morning and evening. This is to keep clients clean and prevent them from cat
ching infections. Key areas of concern are mouth, skin, hair, nails, feet, genit
al areas and care of the teeth. Before I assisted any of my clients with washing
and bathing I assessed how much of the personal care that they can provide for
themselves. This is to encourage their independence and choice and maintain thei
r privacy. I ensure that I understand and respect my clientsâ cultural requirement
s, dignity, preferences and needs. For example most of my elderly clients was
h with soap and water, while few others with sensitive skin conditions /or all
ergies used moisturizers. Moreover, I have encouraged and respected my clientâ s ch
oice of shoes and clothing as well. I make sure I maintained the practices rel
ating to personal hygiene and personal care of the care home such as frequent ha
nd washing, wearing gloves etc. I support and encourage individuals to understa
nd and overcome their concerns about he use of creams, seeking additional suppor
t from work mate where necessary. Report and record any problem about changes t
hat might have occured to my clients.
Furthermore, I have got involved in moving and handling clients within and aroun
d the care home. These are daily tasks in the care home and I ensure that I am a
ware of, and follow workplace health and safety procedures. Before I start a
ny handling and moving task with clients I always assess the risk involved , e
xamine the environment and remove any hazard that might pose a health and saf
ety risk to the clients and myself. I ensure that I take the clients needs, wis
hes, preferences and choices. I assisted individual with limited mobility to mov
e with the right aid of equipment or support aid, such a walking stick, or walki
ng frame. Similarly, I have assisted clients in most moving and transfer procedu
res such as transfer from bed or chair to a wheelchair or vice versa by using ho
ist. I have always sought the assistance and support of my workmates when handli
ng and moving clients. I have involved in other routine activities such as che
cking patientâ s BP; taking their body temperatures and assisted in updating clie
ntâ s files and records. I did a couple of late shifts also by way of gaining furt
her experience. Finally, the placement comes to am end on the 15th December, 200
7.
In conclusion I enjoyed the placement because I was able to put into prac
tice most of the things I did in my theory lessons at college. I have devel
oped my skills in safe food handling, preparation and storage; I have developed
techniques in feeding clients with physical disability; I have developed my skil
ls in working relationships with colleagues and residents, I have increased my a
wareness of health and safety at the care home; I have improved my skills and un
derstanding in the use of some clinical equipments/ / tools (thermometer, BP mon
itor, Hoist etc) in the care setting. I have acquired a better understanding on
how to response to individual differences of clients and how to administer medic
ine. Finally, I did relate well with the regular staff and they had been v
ery helpful and supportive to me throughout my placement.