This page is designed to answer the following questions:
- 5.5a Ensure that where individuals have restricted movement or mobility that they are comfortable. (Care Certificate, Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way)
- 5.5b Recognise the signs that an individual is in pain or discomfort. This could include: Verbal reporting from the individual, Non-verbal communication, Changes in behaviour (Care Certificate, Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way)
- 5.5c Take appropriate action where there is pain or discomfort. This could include: Re-positioning, Reporting to a more senior member of staff, Giving prescribed pain relief medication, Ensure equipment or medical devices are working properly or in the correct position e.g. wheelchairs, prosthetics, catheter tubes (Care Certificate, Standard 5: Work in a person-centred way)
NOTE: This page has been quality assured for 2023 as per our Quality Assurance policy.
An important part of your role as a care worker is to ensure that the individuals that you are caring for are not subjected to any unnecessary pain and discomfort and (where possible) any pain or discomfort is recognised and remedied swiftly.
This is especially true for individuals that have restricted movement or mobility because they may not be able to resolve issues of pain or discomfort without assistance. For example, an individual that is recovering from a surgical procedure may not be able to roll over to a more comfortable position on their own or be able to administer their own prescribed pain relief.
A person-centred approach means having an awareness of the well-being of the individuals that you care for and being able to recognise when they are distressed, in pain or uncomfortable.
This could be identified verbally by the individual telling you that they are in pain or discomfort, but sometimes they may not be able to communicate in this way. You will need to be familiar with the individual’s care plan to understand the different ways they may communicate and make observations for signs indicating the individual is uncomfortable. Some signs of pain or discomfort include:
- A pained facial expression
- Crying
- Screaming
- Gritted teeth
- Aggression
- Changes in behaviour
- Changes in personality
As you spend more time working with individuals, you will gain more insight into their unique personalities, behaviour and methods of communication.
When you have identified that an individual is in pain or discomfort, you should take immediate remedial action. This can include:
- Adjusting their position (if you have relevant training)
- Adjusting their pillows/bedding
- Administering prescribed pain relief (if you have relevant training)
- Adjusting medical devices/equipment such as wheelchairs, prosthetics and catheters (if you have relevant training)
- Making adjustments to the environment (e.g. opening/closing a window)
- Carrying out personal care
- Providing emotional support and reassurance
Remember that when you work with the individual to resolve issues with pain and discomfort, always keep them informed of your actions and obtain their consent.
Sometimes, you may recognise that an individual is in pain or discomfort but not be able to identify the reason why or may not have the necessary training or responsibility to perform remedial actions. In these cases, you should report your concerns to your manager or supervisor immediately so that they can arrange for this to be investigated or actioned further.