Supporting informed choice

To promote the dignity of all individuals they should be fully involved in any decision that affects their care, including personal decisions (such as what to eat, what to wear and what time to go to bed), and wider decisions about their care or support.

Choices can only be made if people have information. If they know the options, the risks and possible implications they can make the choice that is right for them. This is ‘informed’ choice.

Sometimes decisions are difficult even when an individual has all the information available.

Select the tabs below for more information.

informed choices?

How can you support an individual in making

There are a number of ways that you could help the individual to make informed choices.

You can explain information, find people who can share their experiences or ask for the help of specialist workers
Involve other people they trust, like friends or relatives
An advocate might be an additional option to help someone to make a decision where they need additional help to understand and consider their options and the risks

How can you support an individual who lacks the mental capacity to

communicate choices?

Sometimes an individual may not be able to understand and retain the information they need to make a decision or communicate their choice. If this is the case they may lack the mental capacity to make the decision.

The individual may be able to make day-to-day decisions, for example what to wear and what they want to eat, but not able to make complex decisions - for example, about money or medical issues.

In situations where you are not entirely sure about the individual’s capacity, please seek additional advice or guidance.

Risk assessment

When helping a person make decisions about their options, risk assessments are a legal requirement and will give clear guidance on how to keep people safe and prevent danger, harm and accidents.

Every individual should have a risk assessment as part of their care, support, rehabilitation or treatment plan.

Question: What information is in a risk assessment?

Select the image to reveal the answer.

Answer:

A risk assessment contains information on:

The person’s daily care and support, for example personal hygiene or mobility, and how best to protect them and others from harm
Possible hazards to do with the care and support provided and steps that need to be taken to control any risks

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) proposes five steps to risk assessments.

If a new activity is going to be introduced, these five steps of risk assessment must be followed first.

Step 1. Identify the hazards

Step 2. Decide who might be harmed and how

Step 3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

Step 4. Record your findings and implement them

Step 5. Review your assessment and update if necessary

Risk enablement

Risk enablement involves supporting individuals to identify and assess their own risks and then enabling them to take the risks they choose.

Everyone has the right to weigh up and take risks that they believe will make their life enjoyable and worthwhile.

What factors influence people's choices in regards to risk?

Everyone’s choices are shaped by things like their background, values, culture, religion or similar beliefs (if any), education or past experiences.

As a worker you can give your view if their choices affect their health or social care, but it is the individual’s right to make a choice and take any risks once they understand all the information available and are fully aware of the risks.

Answer is 2

The person-centred approach in health and social care tries to involve the individual in the planning of their care and support as much as possible. However, there might be times when someone is unhappy with decisions that have been made on their behalf or with the choices they are offered.

What should you do if an individual is unhappy with the choices made on their behalf?

Choose the correct option then select the pencil.

If it is not within your power to change the decision you should apologise and promise not to make the same mistake again
If it is not within your power to change the decision you should tell them about their right to complain and support them to follow the complaints procedure

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