•Client 1 – Job Descriptions
General practitioners:
General practitioners are doctors who look after my client’s health in their local area.
They usually see my client in their office (often called a surgery); they might also do some home visits.
To find out more, the GP asks careful questions. They also check my client’s notes, which are often kept on a computer.
Next they might examine my patient, eg, listening to their heart, looking into her ears and throat, and taking her blood pressure.
Having made a diagnosis, the GP might:
- give my patient advice, eg, to rest
- write a prescription for medicine
- do some minor surgery
- Ask my patient to see a hospital expert (a specialist).
To be a GP you must want to work with people. You have to give patients advice, support and encouragement, as well as treatment.
You will need strong problem-solving skills and a curios mind. You have to work well under pressure.
To become a GP, you usually have to do a five-year degree in medicine, followed by several years’ further training and experience.
The last time my client went to see a GP was three months ago. She had a sore throat. When she entered the room, she was first welcomed, and then she sat in a chair in front of the GP’s table. Then the GP asked some questions about her health lately, then he asked her to seat in the special chair/bed. At this point he examined my client, listened to her heart, looked into her ears and throat, and taking her blood pressure. Then he made the diagnosis a low cold. He gave her some advices to make sure the cold didn’t get worse.
Opticians:
Opticians test my client’s eyesight and make sure eyes are healthy. They prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses.
They find out how much my client can read with each eye. They use instruments to shine light into and magnify parts of the eye.
As well as testing eyesight, they look for injuries, and diseases like glaucoma, passing my client to a doctor if there is a serious problem.
Opticians work out which strength lenses patients need in their glasses. If suitable, the patient might be able to use contact lenses.
Apart from high street opticians’ shops, there are opticians in places like hospitals, and companies that make lenses.
To do this job, you must enjoy working with people. You need to be patient, tactful and able to calm nervous people.
You must be able to explain things clearly. You also need to be good with your hands, eg, for fitting contact lenses into patients’ eyes.
The last time my client went to see an optician was six months ago just to make a check-up. She entered the room and sat in a chair in front of the optician’s chair. Then he asked her a list of questions that was being stored in a computer. After answering the questions, eg, how’s her optical family history, if she was having problems to see closer or in a long distance, when was the last time she went on an optician, etc. She sat in a special chair with instruments to see through the eye. The optician explored her eye looking for something unusual. Then he made her diagnosis. Nothing was wrong, so that was it.
Dentist:
Dentists diagnose, treat and prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
They study my patient’s medical records and examine their mouth, looking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and other problems.
Dentists drill, prepare and fill decayed parts of the teeth (cavities). They take out decayed or infected teeth.
They repair teeth by fitting crowns, or replace them with bridges and dentures. Dentists also remove plaque, polish teeth and fit braces to correct crooked teeth.
They advise my client on how best to look after her teeth – eg, cutting down on sugary foods, and brushing teeth regularly and properly.
You must be able to use your hands skilfully.
You need to get a degree in dentistry to become a dentist.
You must be able to use computer’s systems to store data about patients.
The last time my client went to see a dentist was four months ago. She went to make a check-up. She entered the room, sat in the special chair and the dentist came with her historic. He asked her some questions and the he started to examine her mouth looking for something not usual. Then he applied a Fluor paste and leaves it in her mouth for ten minutes. The he cleaned it properly. After this, she sat on the chair near his table for a brief conversation. He advised her about how to clean the teeth properly and how important it is.
Client 2 Profile
Name: Client 2
Age: 16
Life stage: Adolescence
▪Client 2 profile case study
My second client is a male. He is 16, in his adolescence. He lives in Rochdale with his older brother. His mom died 7 years ago in a car accident, and his dad is living in Canada because of his work. He lives in a big house bought by his dad. He and his brother take care of everything of the family in England. His dad came here to visit then once a month. He misses his family all together like they used to be when he was a little boy. He lives in the same house since he was born, so he always has flashbacks of when his mother was alive.
He is doesn’t eat healthy. Most of his diet is based on fast food frozen food and sweets. But he exercises a lot. He goes to the gym 4 times a week. He smokes a lot. He drinks a big amount of alcohol per week, mainly when he goes out. Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He never had a operation.
He is in his first year of college. He is doing a course involving graphics. He really enjoys his course, although it is really hard. He would like to get a degree in this area.
His favourite hobby is to play soccer. He usually play soccer with her friends in the weekends. When he was in high school he used to play for the school team. He really liked it. When he is playing he forgets about his problems.
He has got a good self esteem. He considers himself good looking. He has got a girlfriend that gives him support when needed. He just can’t get totally over his mother’s deaf. Constantly he is thinking about how different things could be if she was still alive. He misses his dad a lot. But he has got a good relationship with his bigger brother. They confide themselves. He has got many friends as well. There’s always people in their house, or even a party on weekends.
▪Client 2 Health Questionnaire
Please give details of any medication that you are currently taking.
Have you had any illness in the last 3 years, if so please give details below
Have you received any hospital treatment in the last 3 years, if so please give details?
Please give details of any health or social care services that you currently use or have used in the last three years.
What allergies do they have? Does their weight affect their health?
Client 2’s Health Needs
Physical
My client needs a healthy balanced diet, particularly because he is still in his adolescence. He is still in formation of his body, so he needs all the nutrients of all groups of foods, such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Don’t forgetting about drinking lots of water.
He needs to exercise regularly, but not a lot in a way that can affect his health.
He needs to do regular check ups to make sure he goes to his adulthood totally health. Check ups like eye tests, developmental tests and dental tests.
He needs to keep taking regular medicine when needed.
Intellectual
He goes to College, so he keeps his mind occupied with his work and homework.
He is always taking extra courses involved with sports which are very good.
However, he thinks that now how many sports as possible, better. He should talk to a professional about how important it is to keep the balance and do not exaggerate.
He hasn’t got a good knowledge about medication. He just takes his regular medication when needed.
Emotional
He has got a girlfriend. They have been in this relationship for five months. She gives him a lot of support and encouragement.
He likes her a lot.
He has a lot of support from his older brother as well. They are best friends and confide themselves.
Thankfully his family has got a good money source. He feels safe by knowing that that he’ll always have what he needs, as well as be able to do university without worrying about saving.
He has got a high self esteem. He considers himself a good looking guy. He is good at most of the things that he does.
Social
He has got lots of friends. They are very important for him because they are always there for him when most needed.
He is always going out with his friends, going on trips on holidays or throwing parties.
It makes his self esteem goes high, because he gets on with usually everyone.
His favourite hobby is to go to the gym. Whenever he haves some spare time he goes by himself, or sometimes when his brother is free, he goes with him.
▪Client 2 Brainstorm
Service Table
•Client 2 – Job Descriptions
Physiotherapist:
A physiotherapist treats my client when he has a problem moving a part or all of their body. This could be because of an illness, injury, etc.
They use a number of different treatments to help injuries and problems with muscles and joints.
First, the physiotherapist will talk and examine my client, to decide what the problem is.
Then, he plan and teach exercises to help the patient regain balance, strengthen muscles and learn how to relax.
Physiotherapists use massage and wheelchairs, and teach the patient how to use them.
They choose things like crutches and wheelchairs, and teach the patient how to use them.
Physiotherapists also help my client to avoid problems, eg, by giving him health education and advice.
You’ll need to be patient, sympathetic and firm, to encourage and reassure patients. You must have an interest in biology, and be good with your hands.
To do this job, you’ll need to complete a degree in physiotherapist.
The last time my client went to see a physiotherapist was one year ago. He went there because he had broken his arm. In the first consult he asked some questions about how was his arm. Then they started to do sessions of physiotherapy that was about doing exercises with his arm.
Orthodontics:
Orthodontics is a specialty of that is concerned with the study and treatment of (improper bites), which may be a result of irregularity, disproportionate relationships, or both.
Orthodontic treatment can focus on dental displacement only, or can deal with the control and modification of facial growth. In the latter case it is better defined as "dentofacial orthopedics". Orthodontic treatment can be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons—improving the general appearance of my patient's teeth and face for cosmetic reasons—but treatment is often prescribed for practical reasons, providing the patient with a functionally improved bite (occlusion).
The last time my client went to see an orthodontist was a week ago because of his braces. He goes to an orthodontist every month. Every time he seats at the special chair and the orthodontic comes with new pieces for the braces, or the orthodontic puts more pressure between the structure of the braces to put his tooth straight.
Connexions:
Personal advisers work for Connexions service, which aims to give advice and help my client. They help my client to make choices about their education, training and work options. They also give advice on any other issues that might affect my client, like health, money or housing.
One of the aims of the Connexions service is to offer extra help to my client when need it most.
They work in school and colleges, and in the community, in places like Connexions drop-in centres.
Personal advisers don’t just work with my client; they also spend time with parents/carers and others who are interested in my client’s welfare.
Different personal advisers have expertise in different areas. Some have previously worked as careers advisers; others have a background in youth work or social care.
Good communication skills are very important if you want to be a personal adviser. You should also have good organisation and team skills.
To become a personal adviser, you usually need to have a qualification in careers advice, social work or youth work.
You also must be good at communicating with people, and explaining different points of view.
The last time my client went to see a connexions adviser was two months ago because he had to do training somewhere and he couldn’t find a proper place that suited his preferences. He entered the office of one of the advisers and sat in a chair. They talked about all the possibilities, and she advised him for the best.
Care Value Base
Care Value base is a series of factors that the health and social care practitioners have to apply when helping my clients through their needs. There are seven areas that the carer has to make sure is not affecting my clients’ physically, or mentally.
Anti-Discriminatory Practice
My clients, as well, as everyone else, have the right to enter a surgery and expect to be respect and treated with an anti-discriminatory practice. This theory is applied by treating everybody in the same quality of care and support, and do not discriminate, or to be unkind because of race, age, religion, gender, appearance, size, accent, disability, where you live, ethnicity, and social class. Also, in the care value base, are the expectations from every person working the health and social care are not to show prejudice to my clients, by making a pre-judgement in their heads just based on looks.
For example, if my client 1 goes to see a Dentist, that is a statutory sector, she expects to be treated in the same way that if she was a private patient, with all the politeness, kindness and sensibleness as possible. Also, just because she is over weight, the GP cannot treat her differently, especially if her medical condition is made worse by her weight. She deserves to have the same treatment as someone who is a private patient.
The same happens with my client 2, in a situation that he enters the connexions room, the adviser is not supposed to discriminate or be prejudice because he is a teenager and he may be rebellious and his problems are alcohol and drugs related; nor because of the area that he comes from. The adviser needs to listen attentively demonstrating interest to help his problem, independent of his background.
Confidentiality
My clients need to know that they can totally trust the health carers that they may need. Therefore, doctors and social carers must keep all my clients private details safely protected.
My clients may be put in risk and their self esteem damaged if confidential information is shared with others. The confidential information that is given to health practitioners must not be shared with a stranger as much as if the person is part from the family or a friend.
There are legal requirements to keep personal records confidential. This means that all my clients information, and everyone else, as a patient whether held on paper, computer, visually or audio recorded, or held in the memory of the professional, must not normally be disclosed without the consent of the patient. It is irrelevant how old the patient is or what the state of their mental health is; the duty still applies. Files must be securely stored and computer files must be password protected, and only certain staff will have access to them.
However, healthcare services will share information about my clients’ medical details, with their consent, so that they can receive the best care of their needs.
For example, the information that is collected from my client 1 on her Opticians’ consulting room goes to her files in the GP assessment, so that if the GP needs to prescript some medication, he will know what is most suitable and will not interfere in any other parallel treatment.
My client 2’s information is shared as well, between his dentist and his orthodontist. Before he could be sent to the orthodontist for a more specific treatment, his health profile, which previously had also been shared with the GP; went to his orthodontist data storage; making it easier, because his orthodontist would not need to collect standard data, which have been already collected.
Individual Care
When my clients are being analysed, they have the right to be seen as an individual with unique needs. Health services need to consider their age, medical history, family background, any parallel medication or treatment, lifestyle.
When my client 1 goes to the GP, he needs to know her previous medical history from her records. He has to make sure he is giving her the medication needed, nut it cannot affect her own health problems. Or either put in risk some disease coming through her family background.
My client 2, while consulting with the connexions adviser, has the right to not be treated as another adolescent. The adviser needs to consider his own problems, as well as his background, age and lifestyle; trying not generalize his situations.
Promoting and Supporting Individual Rights to:
●Dignity
All health and social care services have to preserve my clients’ dignity throughout their needs, by being polite and demonstrating respect on possibly shameful situations that can happen.
For instance, my client 1 smokes a lot, so when she goes to her dentist, he has to be polite dealing with how yellow her teeth can looks. Or whenever she has to weight herself in front of strange people, and because she is overweight, the nurse should be polite and do not put emphasis on her weight, which could cause humiliation. When she goes for a cervical smear test, she could lose her dignity through the test, so the practical nurse has to try to deal with this situation being more sensible as possible, for example, leaving the room while she gets undressed and comfortable on the chair.
Also when my client 2 goes to consult a connexions adviser, he can possibly get embarrassed with some of the problems may be dealing with. So the connexions adviser role’s is to help him, and make sure his self-esteem and confidence is not lost along the way.
If my clients’ dignity is lost, they could face awkwardness, humiliation, shame, embarrassment and self-esteem lost.
●Independence
Health and social workers have to help my clients through their difficulties and needs, but not let their independence drop down. Also, health and social workers need to teach and explain to my clients some self instructions in some of their treatments required. It is very important so that my clients have a choice about what needs to be done, and understand why and what they need to do.
When my client 1 goes to the dentist, he teaches her how to properly take care of her teeth, and what could happen if she does not do it. Also, since she is a smoker, he explains to her the consequences of smoking in her teeth.
Once my client 2 broke his arm, he felt like he had lost part of his independence, because for doing specific things, like taking a proper shower, writing, eating with a knife, he would need someone else’s to help him. Also when he goes to see a connexions adviser, he is presented to a lot of choices for his possible problems, then with his independence, he will choose the one that suits better his needs.
●Health & Safety
Health and safety is about reducing my clients’ risks and hazards in order to keep my clients safe when they are using health and social care services.
As my client 1 enters the dentist’s consulting room, the dentist’s assistant asks her to wear an apron that will protect any liquid to spit on her clothes. When the dentist comes, he is wearing a uniform so that we are able to see he is clean and tidy. He after that washes his hands, puts on disposable mouth guard and gloves in front of my client, in order that there is no risk of contamination as his hand in will go inside my client’s mouth. All the items that the dentist will be using must be sterilized, since they are used in all patients. Sterilizing is a process that eliminates transmissible agents from a surface, by usually heating it. When needed an injection, the dentist would open the new pack of disposable needles in front of my client, and after the using it, would put it in the special bin.
While consulting a GP, he would wash his hands before starting the consult with my client. The GP would wear disposable gloves and a uniform showing cleanness and tidiness. Cheaper instruments would be disposable plastic ones, for example the stick that he uses to see through the throat, would only be pack opened in front of my clients. However, the expensive instruments, as could not be used as a disposable, would need to be sterilized after each patient, as a stethoscope used to hear my client’s heat beat.
On a visit to an optician’s surgery, the optician also would be wearing a clean and tidy uniform. The cables and wires coming from the machines used to see through the eyes would be properly hidden, so that there is no risk of my client falling on them. The equipments would need to be health checked and approved. The equipped chair that is commonly used would need a disposable cover that would be changed in every interval between patients.
Previously my client 2 could put on the braces, the orthodontist asked an X-ray of his teeth area. In the X-ray room, no on is allowed if not my client, because of how harmful the ray is. Even the assistant goes for a separate room. Before my client sits down on the special table, the machines above him are pulled to the side so that he can safely go up by the small steps ahead the table. Also the X-ray assistant that helps him uses a tidy uniform.
When he goes to see a connexion adviser, in the room there should not be any trailing wires and the room should be in a suitable temperature, not too hot, not too cold.
