Care Certificate Standard 9 Answers Awareness of Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disabilities 

Care Certificate Standard 9 Answers

The Care Certificate 9 answers are specifically designed for individuals whose support needs are different e.g. they are people with dementia, learning disabilities, and mental health conditions. You may recall the previous standard answers in the links below:

• Care Certificate Standard 6 Answers: Communication 
• Care Certificate Standard 7 Answers: Privacy and Dignity 
• Care Certificate Standard 8 Answers: Fluids and Nutrition

Activity 9.1a Discuss the situations of individuals who are dealing with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, psychosis, dementia, and learning disabilities and what should be the plans regarding the future care of such patients

This is the list of how someone with physical, social, or psychological conditions may feel:

Dementia – upset, angry, forgetful, frustrated, confused, and scared. Learning disabilities – unable to comprehend, difficulties with communication, and frustration. Anxiety – out of control, high heart rate, tearful, upset, and worried. Depression – suicidal, tired, unmotivated, tearful, and sad. Psychosis – delusional, scared, confused, and unable to distinguish between reality and imagination. This is how each condition impacts an individual’s plan of care:

Learning disabilities – positive behavior management, effective communication, and support with daily tasks. Dementia – emotional support, occupational therapy, support with daily tasks, reminders, and promoters. Psychosis – medication, reassurance, delusion recognition, special support such as a psychologist, counselor, or cognitive behavioural therapy. Depression – specialist support, emotional support, medication, and encouragement to maintain relationships. Anxiety – encouragement, praise, reassurance, and specialist support e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy, psychologist, or counselor. 

A care worker should know these conditions about the individuals they support. This helps take necessary steps regarding future care. This way individuals who may have these issues can get the best care delivery. The needs and experiences of people with health conditions can vary a lot, which is why the care and support might need to be different for each of them. It is important to assume that someone is medically sane unless their medical reports say otherwise. This way promotes human rights and adjustments might need to be made for individuals with special care. 

Activity 9.1b How can mental health conditions change an individual’s needs and how do you work with individuals with such conditions?

Individuals with mental health conditions do not get equal life chances. A care worker needs to understand that the causes, the issues, and the solutions are all connected. All of this combined makes up for a proper care plan. An individual with mental health conditions – whether it is learning disabilities, dementia, or any other condition – may become irritated over small matters. This irritation may result in intense anger. Such patients can be tricky to handle. 

If a care worker does not know of the legislation and policies, they may never be able to take care of the individuals in the way they should. The experiences of individuals with mental conditions require a medical model of disability and how it supports those individuals. Standard 9 of the care certificate further focuses on the importance of early detection of mental health conditions.

If you notice that the individuals you support are showing signs of mental health conditions, it is time to think that they might need to be adjusted to a different place or might need to be carried somewhere else where they can get professional help. Once learning disabilities are identified and health and social care workers are hired, it does not stop the work. A good care worker knows how to support an individual with learning disabilities and what is it that their special care needs.