Challenge poor practice or failure to work in agreed ways

For this assessment criterion, you will be required to demonstrate that you are able to challenge poor practice or failure to work in agreed ways in a way that promotes change.

As health and care professionals, all partners will have a legal duty of care and so it is essential that this is clearly understood amongst partners, adhered to and documented in all agreed ways of working. Where it is believed that a health or care professional is not exercising their duty of care, it must be challenged because it could result in unsafe working practices or litigation. Tort law is the legal system that can be used to sue individuals and organisations for damages caused by negligence. For health and care organisations, a case for negligence can be pursued if the duty of care can be shown to have been breached.

Therefore, you should have written agreements with partners about how poor practice should be recorded, reported and shared. This will include shared whistleblowing and safeguarding policies. You may also elect representatives from the partnership to take on designated roles, such as that of safeguarding lead, to whom all safeguarding concerns should be reported.

Once these policies and procedures are agreed upon, you should follow them if you become aware of unsafe practices. This is the responsible way to promote change that supports the best interest of service users and ensures high-quality, safe and effective care.