Safe Working Practice

This page sets out how Occupational Therapists will ensure that they remain safe whilst at work.

Statement 1

Occupational therapy staff should take responsibility for systematically assessing and managing the risks involved in providing a service.

All staff have a responsibility to maintain safe working practices and where appropriate draw any risks to the attention of Managers and Senior Staff.
The occupational therapy service will follow Guernsey Council policies in identifying and managing real or potential risks.
All occupational therapy staff have a responsibility to be aware of the above policies and procedures.
All departments are subject to annual risk reporting and identified risks will be recorded on the Council Risk Register.
Occupational therapists will undertake risk assessment where risks are a necessary part of occupational therapy intervention, e.g. home visits, manual handling.
All occupational therapy staff will comply with the Guernsey Council incident reporting procedure and fully co-operate with investigation of any such incident that occurs.

Statement 2

Occupational therapy staff who are lone workers or working alone away from their base will take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work.

All lone workers will follow the recommendations of the Guernsey Council lone working policy.
All occupational therapy staff will comply with the local reporting/monitoring system of lone workers in their area; see occupational therapy service lone working procedure.

Statement 3

Occupational therapy staff will maintain an approach to manual handling that abides by the law but should also facilitate active rehabilitation of people in their care, thus enabling them to exercise control and autonomy in their lives.

All occupational therapy staff will attend mandatory manual handling training annually.All staff will follow the Guernsey Council manual handling policy and guidelines.

Occupational therapists will make themselves aware of or complete formal risk assessments of patients to ensure assistance is provided safely where required.

Ensure outcome of risk assessment is documented.

Ensure manual handling regimes are sensitive to needs and wishes of patients and their carers.

Ensure staff who are untrained or have muscular-skeletal problems do not perform tasks which will put them at risk.

Statement 4

Occupational therapy staff will use all equipment appropriately and with regard to the safety of staff and patients.

All staff will:-

Only use the most appropriate equipment for the task.
Only use equipment for the purpose for which it was manufactured.
Provide information and training to patients/carers to ensure safe use and care of any equipment supplied.
Handle all equipment with regard to manual handling operations.
Ensure equipment if hygienic and safe for use.
Not transport equipment in their own vehicles as this is a role of the community equipment service.
By preference all occupational therapy staff will refer to the Community Equipment Service for provision of loan equipment to patients.

Equipment procedure

Task	Process	Appendix	Form (location)	Send to:	Notes/Contact info
Existing Equipment	Complete assessment to identify appropriate equipment Check catalogue or store to establish whether in stock. Complete requisition form in full. Use appropriate catalogue.	5.1	Pad per therapist	Fax to CES (original in file)Maybe email option soon	Occupational Therapy manager to ensure therapists are on authorised prescriber list held by Carl Beardsmore. Contact CES to Book 'authorised Prescribers' Training. CES (Tel: 528163) Mgr Paul Stretton (669233)
New equipment	Complete assessment to identify appropriate equipment For equipment under £250, complete requisition form in full, detailing supplier information, product code and cost. Obtain manager authorisation on For equipment over £250, complete Occupational Therapy clinical reasoning report and submit to children equipment sub-group (held monthly). Orders requiring urgent agreement should be discussed with Occupational Therapy manager	5.1		Fax to CES (original in file)Maybe email option soon	Provide completed requisition with report to equipment subgroup and this will be faxed directly to the store if the provision is approved.The report will be returned to the therapist detailing the outcome and action required.
Collection of Equipment only	Complete form and tick collection	5.1		ÔCES
Design of special equipment (consult with manager)	Complete form for CES(or refer to REMAP)	5.2	CES Occupational Therapy Technician Referral	ÔCES
Wheelchair/Buggy	Complete Wheelchair Application form if eligible to provision from EMC ie. permanent disability.If not eligible from EMC, consult Occupational Therapy manager and follow procedure for equipment provision 5.4	5.4		EMCCES	Need to attend accredited prescriber Training and gain PIN Number
Mobile HoistsSlings	Following assessment, follow equipment provision procedure. Orders to be placed with CES. (Equipment not yet in CES catalogue)	5.1	CES requisition form	ÔCES	Joint visits can be booked for assessment and demonstration

Fund raising procedure

Task	Process	Appendix	Form (location)	Send to:	Notes/Contact info
Fund Raising Account	Cheques from Voluntary Agencies in response to fund raising must be made payable to: "Parkfield Voluntary Grants Account". To arrange payment to a supplier or the client, complete form	7.1	Parkfield Voluntary Grants Account Memo Admin Mgr.	Ô Admin Mgr	Attach to form any covering letter you want to be sent with the cheque.
Funder Finder	Complete form	7.2	Funding Search Questionnaire	Ô DIS	For i Disability Information Service to search for Voluntary/Charitable funding.