Overview
Assessment Guidance
Individuals’ well-being: in this context, well-being refers to that of people accessing care and support services. Well-being is broad concept referring to a person’s quality of life. It takes into account health, happiness and comfort. It may include aspects of social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, intellectual, economic, physical and mental well-being.
Factors: factors affecting wellbeing will be different for different people. Learners should show consideration for environmental, physical, social and psychological factors. These include:
• being treated as an individual
• being treated with dignity and respect
• being given choices
• communicating effectively with them.
The environment may include both the physical environment and social environment
The physical environment could be:
• bedroom
• handbag
• personal belongings.
The social environment includes personal boundaries, subjective feelings etc.
Range of services and resources: learners should consider a range of services and resources available within their organisation and external to their organisation that could support individuals’ different wellbeing strengths and needs.
Early indicators: these may also be referred to as ‘soft signs’ of deterioration and include: Restlessness, confusion, temperature changes, changes in mobility, pain, discoloured skin, changes in appetite, breathing difficulties, changes to urine or bowel habits, sickness, changes in mood or temperament.
Appropriate tools: tools will vary depending on learner’s role and organisational practices. They may include, but not limited to: ‘Stop and Watch’, RESTORE2, NEWS2, SBARD (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, Decision) as well as technological aids.
Appropriate action: actions will vary depending on learners’ role and organisational practices, as well as the specific change in an individual’s wellbeing. Action may include referring to a colleague or another organisation.
Self-esteem refers to a person’s feelings of self-worth or the value that they place on themselves.
Characteristics of high self-esteem
• Willing to try new things
• Copes well under pressure
• Emotionally stable and confident
• Happy to share own ideas and experiences.
Characteristics of low self-esteem
• Feeling of worthlessness
• Reluctant to try new things
• Struggles to cope in new or challenging circumstances
• Does not value own opinions and over sensitive to other’s opinions.
Self-image refers to the way an individual sees themselves, both physically and mentally. An individual’s self-image is developed over time and influenced by the experiences they have encountered.
Characteristics of a positive self-image
• Feeling confident
• Comparing self positively with peers
• Content with own looks and has belief in own ability
• Received positive feedback on looks and image.
Characteristics of a negative self-image
• Doubts own ability
• Compares themselves negatively with peers or images on social media/TV/magazines
• Received negative comments from friends and family on physical appearance or
mental ability.
Identity: Our identity refers to our view of ourselves, who we are and what makes us who we are. People gain a sense of identity from feeling valued, wanted and part of wider group and community in which they live or a community with which they identify.
Person-centred approaches include:
• treating the person as an individual, with dignity and respect
• looking at the individual as a whole person, not just meeting one aspect of their needs
• listening and helping the individual to make informed choices
• working in partnership with the individual.
Aim
The aim of the unit is to ensure that the learner understands the importance of individuals’ well-being and how to support this in practice using person-centred approaches.