3.1 Describe unsafe practices that may affect the wellbeing of individuals

This guide will help you answer 3.1 Describe unsafe practices that may affect the wellbeing of individuals.

Unsafe practices in health and social care are actions, omissions, or habits that put people at risk of harm. These practices threaten a person’s safety, dignity, health, and rights. Even small unsafe actions can have serious consequences. Recognising and avoiding unsafe practices is central to delivering high-quality care.

In this guide, we cover some examples of unsafe practices, how they occur, and why they can harm adults with mental health needs.

Poor Moving and Handling Techniques

Incorrect lifting, transferring, or supporting individuals can cause injuries to both the person being supported and the worker. Unsafe examples include:

• Lifting someone manually without proper equipment or a second staff member
• Ignoring individual moving and handling plans
• Using broken or unsuitable equipment
• Not receiving or following the correct training

Consequences can include bruises, sprains, pain, or more serious injuries such as fractures or long-term mobility loss.

Failing to Follow Infection Control Measures

Infections can spread quickly in care settings. Unsafe infection control practices are:

• Not washing or sanitising hands between tasks or individuals
• Reusing single-use items (such as gloves or aprons)
• Ignoring procedures for cleaning and disinfecting equipment
• Handling food, waste, or bodily fluids without protective clothing

Poor infection control can result in illness outbreaks, causing discomfort and danger to vulnerable adults.

Administering Medication Unsafely

Giving medication without proper training or following procedures puts individuals at risk. Unsafe practices include:

• Using wrong doses or medication due to not checking records
• Administering medication not prescribed for the specific person
• Failing to record medication given or refused
• Leaving medicines unattended in accessible places

This can lead to overdoses, missed doses, allergic reactions, or dangerous interactions.

Ignoring Safeguarding Procedures

Failing to act on or report signs of abuse, neglect, or unexplained injuries can have a huge impact. Unsafe practices in this area are:

• Not reporting suspected abuse to a manager or the safeguarding team
• Not listening or taking people’s concerns seriously
• Minimising or dismissing warning signs
• Failing to record and follow up incidents

Ignoring safeguarding can leave individuals exposed to ongoing abuse, emotional trauma, or serious harm.

Lack of Confidentiality

Unsafe practices in handling information include:

• Discussing personal details where others can hear (for example, in corridors or public areas)
• Leaving records where unauthorised people can access them
• Sharing confidential information without proper consent

Breaching confidentiality can cause distress, damage trust, and put people in risky situations.

Disregarding Care Plans or Risk Assessments

Every person should have a personalised care plan and risk assessment. Unsafe practices involve:

• Not reading or updating care plans before providing support
• Ignoring agreed ways of working for individual needs or preferences
• Skipping scheduled reviews, meaning important changes go unnoticed

This can lead to individuals receiving unsafe care that does not match their current needs.

Not Supporting Choice and Consent

Unsafe practice can occur when workers:

• Make decisions without consulting the individual
• Do not seek or respect consent before giving care
• Pressure, rush or manipulate people into agreeing
• Ignore people’s wishes or preferences

This affects well-being by undermining dignity, independence, and trust.

Inadequate Supervision or Lack of Training

If staff are not well-trained or supervised, unsafe and unskilled care is more likely. Examples of this include:

• Carrying out skilled tasks without proper training (such as giving injections or using specialist equipment)
• Not being observed or assessed regularly
• Not attending refresher training on key topics like safeguarding or first aid

Unskilled staff can make mistakes that seriously harm individuals.

Unsafe Use of Restraint

Restraining someone physically or by restricting their freedom must follow the law and best practice. Unsafe use includes:

• Using restraint without proper training
• Applying restraint as a punishment, not as a last resort for safety
• Not recording or reporting episodes of restraint

Incorrect restraint can lead to physical injuries, distress, or trauma.

Poor Nutrition and Hydration Practices

Not supporting people to eat and drink well is an unsafe practice. This could mean:

• Failing to provide food and fluids at the right times
• Ignoring dietary needs or allergies
• Not assisting people who need help with eating or drinking
• Withholding food or drink as a form of control

These actions can cause dehydration, malnutrition, and further health complications.

Disrespectful and Undignified Behaviour

Unsafe practice is not only physical. Emotional harm can be caused by:

• Speaking rudely, shouting, or using demeaning language
• Ignoring requests for privacy
• Failing to provide care in a respectful, person-centred way

This damages self-worth and can worsen mental health issues.

Final Thoughts

Unsafe practices in health and social care put people’s dignity, health, and safety at risk. They may be caused by lack of knowledge, poor training, cost-cutting, or bad habits not being challenged. Good workers are alert to these dangers and speak out to prevent harm. Recognising unsafe practices is a first step to keeping individuals safe, healthy, and respected.