Provide advice and information to individuals on how to manage their own condition

This standard covers establishing individuals’ requirements for information and providing advice and information to enable them to manage their condition, adopting a suitable lifestyle to optimise their health and wellbeing.  The term ‘individual’ in this standard is taken to mean anyone with whom you come into contact whether they are service users, their family or significant others, colleagues, or other professionals. You need to relate to each person as someone with their own particular needs for information and advice and develop a full understanding of their requirements and how these can best be met.  This standard depends on your being able to communicate information effectively and being responsive to any queries.

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1. access and accurately interpret all relevant work instructions and information
2. work safely at all times and in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols
3. deal promptly and effectively with any problems within your control and report those which cannot be solved
4. identify and minimise hazards and risk in the workplace
5. communicate with the individual and key people at a pace, in a manner and at a level appropriate to the individual's understanding, preferences and needs
6. respect the individual's rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs, and dignity
7. provide support to the individual and carers and ensure health and safety measures are implemented at all times
8. create environments suitable for confidential discussions

9. clearly explain:

   • who you are and your role in providing advice and information
   • the name and nature of the organisation you represent
   • your organisational policy on confidentiality and record keeping

10. find out about the individual's lifestyle and make a general assessment of whether and how their lifestyle could be adapted to enable them to manage their own condition

11. enable individuals to express their requirements for advice and information
12. find out the individual's level of knowledge about their condition and any misconceptions that they may have
13. make an assessment of the individual's requirements and confirm this with them
14. explain the benefits that adapting their lifestyle may have on their condition
15. demonstrate respect for people as individuals when interacting with them and acknowledge their cultural and religious needs and their rights to make their own decisions in the context of their own lives
16. refer the individual to alternative or additional sources of advice and information as appropriate to meet their needs
17. respond appropriately to any concerns the individual may have about adapting their lifestyle
18. agree with the individual achievable targets for optimising their health and wellbeing
19. help the individual to develop plans to adapt their lifestyle and agree actions, targets and any additional support required
20. agree date to review the individual's progress and requirements
21. maintain the confidentiality of information received from individuals and share information only with those who have the right and need to know
22. complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

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1. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere
2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
3. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions and information
4. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
5. the duty to report any acts or omissions that could be unsafe/detrimental to you or others
6. the hazards and risks which may arise during the execution of your work role and how you can minimise these
7. how to adapt communication styles in ways which are appropriate to the needs of the individual  
8. the correct use of any equipment and PPE to protect the health and safety of you and others
9. evidence-based practice and its role in improving care
10. the principles, practice and procedures associated with informed consent
11. the needs of individuals and carers including issues relating to dignity, confidentiality, and privacy
12. organisational management structures, roles, and responsibilities
13. the procedures and methods relating to the coordination of inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams within and across services
14. the nature of the conditions dealt with by your organisation, their different forms and their effect on individuals and their families
15. your own values, beliefs and attitudes, and how they could impact on your work
16. why the ability to listen effectively is important
17. how to recognise the sort of information and advice that individuals may be trying to request when they may not have the terminology, confidence or skill to give an accurate specification
18. the information people need in order to be able to make informed lifestyle choices
19. how adapting lifestyle can enable an individual to manage their own condition
20. the range of reasons people may have for resisting change and how to identify and overcome these reasons
21. the impact that empowering individuals to manage their own conditions has upon the individual, their family/carer and health services
22. how to help people develop realistic and achievable plans to adapt their lifestyles
23. the importance of monitoring and reviewing progress towards adapting a lifestyle, and how to do so effectively
24. how an individual's cultural or religious beliefs could affect their ability to adapt their lifestyle in certain ways and how to respond to this
25. the range of services available locally and nationally for people who need information and support in making and maintaining changes in their lifestyle, and how to access these services
26. how to create environments suitable for confidential discussions
27. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

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2

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2026

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Current

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Original

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Skills for Health

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SFHGEN14

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Health and Social Care, Health and Social Services Officers, Health Associate Professionals, Health Professionals, Health, Public Services and Care, Healthcare and Related Personal Services

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2259

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Advice, information, condition

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