Introduction

This document outlines the information required, and the expectations of a Hireup Support Worker when providing support with catheter care and of the Client when catheter care is required on shift.

This policy aims to ensure the standard of service delivery remains safe and high quality and to provide guidance to Support Workers, outlining what duties are acceptable for them to complete and what duties are outside of the scope of a Support Worker.

A catheter care plan is to be completed by an appropriate, registered health professional, such as a doctor or catheter care nurse. This plan should be reviewed every 12 months or as otherwise stated by the treating health professional. 

Hireup Values 

Hireup’s values provide us with the direction in which we engage with our community and develop policy and process across the business. 

We recognise that catheter care is intensely personal in nature, and only a part of a person’s overall support needs. By upholding the value of ‘the person is the point’ we take an individualised approach to catheter care.  

Hireup acknowledges Clients and their families are experts in their individual catheter care support. Central to this understanding is the principle of ‘championing choice’ and control for Clients to make informed decisions about their catheter care support. Whilst Hireup is not responsible for the assessment or development of a Client’s catheter care plan, we support Clients to engage with suitable health professionals and to be involved in the planning and management of their catheter support, as well as any individual training arrangements. 

Definitions 

Support Worker: a person that provides support to the Client, typically in a paid capacity. 

Catheter: a flexible tube inserted into the bladder to empty it of urine.

Suprapubic Catheter (SPC): a surgically created connection between the bladder and the abdominal wall created to drain urine from the bladder.

In-dwelling Urinary Catheter: a flexible tube inserted into the bladder and left in situ to drain urine.

Intermittent Catheter: a flexible tube inserted through the urethra, into the bladder every time the bladder needs to be emptied and is only left in the bladder for a few minutes at a time.

External Catheter: also known as a uridome or condom catheter. An adhesive sheath that covers the penis and has a tube at the end which is connected to a drainage bag.

Stoma: an opening to the inside of the body, created surgically or occurring naturally (for example, the mouth, nose or anus).

Catheter Care Plan: a document that outlines for service users:

• Communication preferences
• Type of catheter
• Catheter care routine and regime
• Equipment needed
• Risks to look for and action required to respond to risks (including autonomic dysreflexia management)
• Troubleshooting and emergency management 

Guidelines

Service Provider 

As a service provider, Hireup will: 

• Work with the Client (or their Account Manager where applicable) to determine what support they need from Hireup, and determine what documentation is required.
• Determine areas of catheter care that are within the scope of practice for a Support Worker to complete. Intermittent catheter support cannot be completed by Support Workers without prior written approval from Hireup.
• Provide Support Workers with written procedures for the Provision of Catheter Care and infection control, in conjunction with the Client (or their Account Manager where applicable) and their treating Health Professional.
• Ensure Support Workers have access to support plans and associated documents and ensure these plans are only updated by a registered and relevant health professional.
• Identify areas of education and training for Support Workers.
• Provide appropriate training and assessment of Support Workers in relation to the safe provision of catheter care, including regular supervision.
• Provide Support Workers with access to personal hygiene guidelines. 

Support Worker

A support worker MAY: 

• Perform any task that is listed on the plan, apart from those listed in this policy that require written approval from Hireup, or that must be completed by a health professional. If concerned or unsure, talk to the Client (or their Account Manager where applicable), and contact the Hireup support office for support.
• Access supervision outside of scheduled supervision timeframes by contacting Hireup directly.

A support worker MUST: 

• Complete online training modules provided by Hireup prior to providing catheter care support or within the allocated time frame, unless otherwise specified by Hireup.
• Follow the support plan as provided and raise any concerns with the Client (or their Account Manager where applicable) immediately as well as notify Hireup.
• NOT change any part of the plan or deviate from the plan provided.
• NOT provide intermittent catheter care support without prior written approval from Hireup.
• NOT insert, remove or reinsert the catheter if it is dislodged or requires changing without prior written approval from Hireup.
• NOT provide support with urinary catheter flush/bladder washout.
• Report any issues or concerns arising from the delivery of catheter support (such as dislodged catheter tubes, changes in urine appearance, stoma site changes) to the Client (or their Account Manager where applicable) and/or their health professional immediately, followed by an incident report to Hireup once safe to do so.
• Identify any gaps in knowledge and report these to Hireup for further advice.

• Only provide support in line with the duties outlined in the Support Worker guidelines for catheter care.

Client

A Client MUST:

• Provide Hireup with an honest and accurate account of their support needs.
• Provide a support plan to Hireup that outlines their specific catheter care requirements, completed by an appropriate, registered health professional.
• Have the plan reviewed by an appropriate, registered health professional when changes occur. At a minimum, the plan should be reviewed every 12 months unless otherwise indicated on the plan.
• Advise Hireup of any changes to support needs, requirements or the catheter care plan.
• Report any concerns regarding Support Worker’s capability in providing catheter care support to Hireup for further advice.