STR - Support Time Recovery - Activity 4.2 - Policies and procedures

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STR / Support Time Recovery Training course

VRQ Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health

Answer to Question 1

Note: Most of the groups I am involved with either do not have official specific policies for the following things or are groups that meet in other peoples buildings where things would be covered by multiple policies, due to this I have listed key points, but not included the policy names. The answers are all based on one group I do.

Topic: Visitors to the workplace

Key points:

New members should be introduced to the facilitators and other members of the group

If non members come into the room (its in a public place where we cannot stop others attending) then confidentiality is very important, not everybody wants people to know they attend a mental health support group

New members must be informed of the groups rules of conduct and what will happen if these rules are broken

Contact details should be exchanged between new members and the facilitator, but everything must be stored in ways not breaching the Data Protection Act, confidentiality guidelines etc.

New members must be informed of the standard "housekeeping" information, such as where toilets are, locations of fire exits etc.

Topic: Emergency procedures in the case of a fire

Key points:

Members should know where the fire exits are

Members should know what the fire alarm sounds like and if it sounds differently in a drill

Members should know the evacuation procedure

Members should know where the meeting point is and who to report to

Members should know the locations of the fire extinguishers and how to use them, but also not to use them unless it's the only way to get out of the building

Members should know not to stop to collect their belongings

Members should know to get out as quickly and safely (i.e. not running) as possible

Fire exits must be kept clear at all times

Fire doors must never be wedged open

Fire drills should be carried out on a regular basis to check that people do know what to do in an actual emergency

Topic: Health emergencies, accidents and first aid

Key points:

All accidents must be recorded in the accident book, these records must be clear and detailed

All members should be informed of who the qualified first aid person is

If an accident involves broken or unsafe equipment then it needs to be removed, replaced or repaired straight away

All first aid persons must make sure they keep their first aid qualifications up to date

A qualified first aid person should be on the premises at all times that members are present

Topic: Customer care

Key points:

All members must be treated equally and fairly at all times

Members should know how to make a complaint and how the organisations complaints procedure works

All financial exchanges between members and facilitators must be recorded and receipts must be given for the protection of both parties

All members should be aware of what the group can and cannot provide

Next: STR Activity 4.3 - Your role
Previous: STR Activity 4.1 - Minimising risk

Please note: The contents of the Level 2 Certificate in Mental Health Students workbook are copyrighted, so I have not included any of the questions, purely my answers which are only copyrighted to me! If you have access to the workbook it will make a lot more sense to you. Please do NOT copy my answers and use them as your own, I have just put them here to give you ideas for any parts you may be stuck on.