Perform work within identified policies, protocols and procedures What are policies and protocols? Policies? Policies may include a statement of the service’s philosophy, or basic beliefs, as well as step-by-step procedures that relate to how things should be done in practice. They are often developed by staff and management together. Policies often shape the direction of the service. Service policies are an important source of information about your legal and ethical obligations, and should support your decisions concerning duty of care issues. Protocols? Where policies are unwritten there are usually standard practices for dealing with certain situations. Legally such ‘unwritten’ standard practices and protocols are still considered to be policies and can be taken into account when a breach of duty of care is considered. For example, if the service doesn’t have a policy on staffing numbers, this is still assumed knowledge as it is in the Regulations, so the obligation to follow the regulated ratios still holds. This is true with most other directions, simplified in policies and procedures, but originally held in Acts, Regulations or other legal documents. If a policy contradicts an Act or Regulation, then you need to follow the law.
Perform work within identified policies, protocols and procedures What are policies and protocols? Policies? Policies may include a statement of the service’s philosophy, or basic beliefs, as well as step-by-step procedures that relate to how things should be done in practice. They are often developed by staff and management together. Policies often shape the direction of the service. Service policies are an important source of information about your legal and ethical obligations, and should support your decisions concerning duty of care issues. Protocols? Where policies are unwritten there are usually standard practices for dealing with certain situations. Legally such ‘unwritten’ standard practices and protocols are still considered to be policies and can be taken into account when a breach of duty of care is considered. For example, if the service doesn’t have a policy on staffing numbers, this is still assumed knowledge as it is in the Regulations, so the obligation to follow the regulated ratios still holds. This is true with most other directions, simplified in policies and procedures, but originally held in Acts, Regulations or other legal documents. If a policy contradicts an Act or Regulation, then you need to follow the law.
9255_readings.docx