5.

Workplace Policies and Procedures

When you start working in a care facility, you will be oriented about s

policies and procedures. As a worker in the care facility, you will be required to follow

these policies and procedures when you carry out your tasks.

Example:

As a care worker

for reporting observations about a client the personnel you should report to,

the format for reporting (e.g. progress notes or reports, observation charts), the

prescribed templates for these reports, and other reporting requirements.

Note that organisational policies and procedures in care facilities are developed

based on legal and ethical requirements, as we previously illustrated in the example

we used about elder abuse and negligence.

Another example would be policies and procedures regarding health and safety of

its clients and workers. Mostly, these policies and procedures align with legal

requirements of Work Health and Safety legislation and regulations.

Other organisational policies and procedures such as those relating to Privacy and

Confidentiality, Codes of Conduct, Grievance and Complaints Procedures, etc. are

more or less based on ethical requirements set in the aged care sector. Can you

recall what some of these ethical requirements are?

Work Health

& Safety

Code of

Conduct

Privacy &

Confidentiality
Grievance &

Complaints

Work Hours

& Dress Code

Quality

Standards

Specifically, workplace policies, procedures, and protocols are typically developed

and reviewed following this process:

1. Define Scope of Policy

Policies can be developed in anticipation of needs or to address needs. The

scope of the policy guides the development of the policy. It may specify

individuals or groups to which the policy pertains, and policies, legislation,

regulations and agreements to which it refers or relates.

2. Research, Plan, and Design Policy

The analysis of relevant information that could inform the development or

review of policies is necessary to identify impact, appropriateness and

implications on existing policies, systems, and stakeholders. Data analysis,

review of related literature and studying current best practices are also

pertinent.

3. Identify and Consult Relevant Stakeholders

Identified stakeholders in the planning and design stage need to be consulted

as regards drafting the policy. Consultations are done to ensure that key

principles are included and that potential constraints from the new policies

may be clarified or addressed. Those participating in the consultative process

should also offer feedback as needed, even after consultations.

4. Draft Policy

It is important to draft the policy in consultation with stakeholders, and to

consider those who will implement it. Ensure that wordings or the complexity

of the language are appropriate. Maintain consistency in formatting the

document and if possible, use a template.

5. Review and Revise

In this stage, the new/revised policy will be reviewed. The outcome of the

review, may be to:

a. receive approval of the policy; or

b. revise the policy based on recommendations

A policy may be reviewed and revised several times until an agreement is

reached or standards/criteria are satisfied.

6. Implement

Implementation will involve communicating the outcome of the policy

change or the new policy to all previously identified stakeholders and other

parties who require this information.

As you noticed, implemented policies, procedures, protocols also undergo a number

of review and oftentimes revisions as shown by the arrows pointing to earlier steps

in the process.