Certificate in the Awareness of Prevention of Falls Level 2

Module 1

Understanding the context of falls

Understand the legislation and guidance relating to falls and falls prevention

1. Describe current legislation relating to falls and falls prevention including: – safeguarding and duty of care – health and safety – moving and handling
2. Outline the current guidance relating to falls prevention from these bodies:
   • Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
   • National Service Framework (NSF) for England for older people (Standard six: falls) 2001
   • Public Health England – Falls and fracture consensus statement 2017
   • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 2017
3. State current national statistics relating to falls and older people

Understand the reasons for falls

1. Define the term ‘fall’
2. Identify situations or activities that may cause an individual to fall
3. Describe fall-related injuries
4. Outline the reasons why the risk of falling and bone fractures may increase with age
5. Describe why falls should not be viewed as an expected consequence of ageing

Understand the consequences of falls

1. Outline how falls can be a concern in different settings including:
   • Hospitals
   • Residential care
   • In the community
2. Explain how falls can impact on an individuals’ well-being including:
   • Physical
   • Psychological
   • Social
3. Explain the financial costs of falls and bone fractures to:
   • Individuals
   • The NHS
   • Care services including residential homes, community care
4. Describe the potential impact of falls on health and social care service providers

Understand the benefits of falls awareness and prevention

1. Outline own duties and responsibilities in falls prevention and awareness
2. Identify the benefits of falls awareness and prevention programmes for:
   • Individuals who require support
   • Individuals who care for others
   • Health and social care service providers
3. Describe different methods which can be used to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of falls
4. Explain the duties and responsibilities of health and social care service providers in reducing the occurrence and effect of falls

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Module 2

Understanding the factors and risks of falls

Understand factors that can increase the likelihood of falls

1. Describe factors that might contribute to an individual being susceptible to falls including:
   • medical/clinical
   • sensory
   • psychological
   • lifestyle
2. List factors in the physical environment that can increase the risk of falls
3. Outline how the physical health and wellbeing of an individual can impact on the risk of falls
4. Explain how unsafe practice of others may contribute to the risk of falls

Know how risk profiles are used to identify the likelihood of falls for older people

1. Explain what a risk profile is
2. Describe how risk profiles can vary among older people including:
   • active older people living in the community
   • older people who require support to live in the community
   • older people in a hospital setting
   • residents living in a care home

Understand how falls may be caused by personal factors

1. Describe how aspects of an individual’s physical health and well-being may cause them to fall
2. Explain how specific health conditions may be associated with falls including:
   • neurological conditions (eg Parkinson’s Disease)
   • osteoporosis
   • postural hypotension
   • infection
   • stroke
   • cognitive impairment
3. Outline how medication use can impact on the risk of falls
4. Explain how the psychological well-being of an individual may contribute to and cause them to fall
5. Identify how lifestyle factors could result in a fall including:
   • unsuitable clothing and footwear
   • alcohol and substance use
   • nutrition and hydration

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Module 3

Understanding the assessment, recording and reporting requirements of falls

Know what a ‘multi-factorial approach’ is and how it is used to benefit falls prevention Knowledge

1. Outline the term ‘multi-factorial approach’ in relation to falls prevention
2. Explain why a multi-factorial approach to falls awareness and prevention is important
3. Outline the components that should be included in a multi-factorial assessment

Understand how falls should be assessed, monitored and recorded

1. Explain why the monitoring of falls is important
2. Outline procedures for reporting and recording falls within legal guidelines including:
   • Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (2013)
   • requirements of the regulatory authority (CQC)
   • local authority requirements
3. Outline how falls should be recorded and monitored in own setting
4. Explain how and when information relating to a history of falls should be communicated between different services or care settings

Know and understand the reasons for effective risk assessments

1. Describe why risk assessments for individuals likely to fall should be carried out
2. Outline the content of an environmental risk assessment

Understand the importance of learning from falls to improve care

1. Explain how and when safeguarding concerns should be raised in relation to falls incidents
2. Describe the reasons why a review should take place following a fall
3. Outline strategies that should be implemented following a fall
4. Explain why training in falls awareness and prevention is important

Understand multi-agency and specialist support available for falls prevention

1. Describe how organisational policies and procedures should be used to reduce the incidence and minimise harm from falls
2. Describe the roles of professionals involved with falls prevention including:
   • Occupational Therapists
   • Physiotherapists
   • Falls teams
   • Reablement services
3. Define the term multidisciplinary approach
4. Outline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in relation to falls management
5. Identify national and local sources of support and information
6. Describe the support available in your local area

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Module 4

Understanding best practice in relation to falls management

Know methods and interventions to reduce the risk of falls

1. Describe a range of interventions that can mitigate individual risk factors including these:
   • cognitive impairments
   • health problems that may increase the risk of falling
   • postural hypotension
   • mobility problems and/or balance problems
   • medication
   • continence problems
   • vision impairment
   • footwear
   • psychological factors
2. Explain how aspects of the care environment can be modified to reduce the incidence of falls
3. Identify how assistive technology can be used to minimise the risk of falls including:
   • mobility aids
   • telecare
   • aids and adaptations (including grab rail, adapting shower)
   • modifications to the environment

Understand how individuals can reduce the risk of a fall

1. Describe the ways in which health care and social care workers can encourage individuals to participate in falls prevention programmes
2. Explain how evidence-based falls prevention exercise can benefit an individual in reducing the potential of falls
3. Outline the steps that individuals can take to reduce the likelihood of a fall

Understand how to reduce the impact and minimise harm in the event of a fall

1. Outline the actions to be taken to safeguard an individual during a fall
2. Describe the steps taken to minimise the risks to a care worker when supporting an individual during a fall
3. State what good practice measures are when supporting an individual during a fall
4. Identify what must not be done when an individual is falling
5. Outline the immediate care and support of an individual following a fall
6. Describe how and when further assistance may be needed in different care settings following a fall
7. Describe why it is important to use approved moving and positioning techniques and equipment

Please use our enquiry form or contact us by telephone if you have any queries about this qualification or would like to express an interest to enrol onto this course. A member of our team will be happy to answer any questions, help to make sure this course is right for you and/or your staff team, and talk you through what is involved in enrolment and course completion.

Upon enrolment, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will assist you through achieving successful and meaningful completion of your award. All of the electronic resources, workbooks and assignments required for you to complete the course will be emailed to you for you to commence working with at a time of your convenience. Your tutor will work with you to set targets and milestones that are achievable for you and will check in with you regularly, providing assistance whenever necessary.

On successful completion of your award, your assessor will coordinate with the awarding body for the issuance of your certificate, which will be promptly delivered to you.

Including Assignment, Workbook and Resources:

The full cost of this qualification is £150 per person which is duly invoiced at the point of enrolment.

Upon completion and certification of this qualification, the certificate(s) for you/your staff members will be sent to you.