1.2 Explain the importance of following procedures exactly as specified

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Explain the importance of following procedures exactly as specified.

Procedures in health and social care give clear, step-by-step instructions for delivering safe and effective care. In extended feeding, procedures cover how staff prepare, deliver, and monitor feeding through tubes or lines. Following procedures is not just about policy—it’s about keeping people safe, respecting their rights, and protecting staff and employers from harm or legal action.

Ensuring Safety for Individuals

Safety is at the heart of every procedure. Extended feeding has risks such as choking, aspiration (food or fluid entering the lungs), tube dislodgement, blockages, or infection.

By following procedures exactly, staff:

• Reduce the chance of mistakes during feeding
• Prevent accidents, injury, or illness
• Spot problems early, such as pain, vomiting, tube blockages, or infection
• Give a clear, accurate picture during handovers or emergency situations

Missing a single step—such as checking the position of a feeding tube—can have serious, even life-threatening, results. Procedures exist to protect people who are often very vulnerable.

Meeting Legal Obligations

Procedures reflect the law. The Mental Capacity Act, Health and Social Care Act, and safeguarding rules all require safe, well-organised, and respectful care. Failing to follow procedures increases the risk of breaching these laws.

Possible consequences include:

• Legal investigations
• Disciplinary action
• Criminal charges if gross neglect leads to harm
• Loss of registration for individuals or closure of services

Exact compliance protects the person needing care and everyone involved in their support.

Maintaining Person-Centred Care

Procedures often ensure that care is person-centred. This means:

• Respecting the individual’s wishes and preferences
• Documenting specific dietary needs or cultural requirements
• Supporting autonomy and dignity throughout the feeding process

If a procedure requires checking a person’s care plan before feeding, skipping this step can lead to the wrong food or feed being given, upsetting the individual and possibly harming their health.

Standardising Practice Across Teams

Clear procedures create consistency. No matter who is on duty, each person receives care in the same safe way.

Benefits include:

• Clear understanding among all staff about how to deliver feeding
• Easy handover and continuity of care
• Staff can quickly spot and report anomalies or concerns
• Reliable records for future care and audits

Standard practice helps teams minimise risks, avoids confusion, and shows that care is reliable.

Infection Prevention and Control

One of the most important aspects of extended feeding is hygiene. Procedures state exactly how to wash hands, wear gloves, prepare feeds, and clean equipment. Even small lapses can cause serious infections.

• Feeding tubes and lines give direct access to the body, so infection risk is high
• Strict attention to sterile technique is necessary
• Procedures act as a reminder of each small, critical step in the process

Accurate procedure following is often checked during inspections (such as those by the Care Quality Commission).

Protecting Dignity and Rights

Procedures specify steps to protect dignity. For example:

• Explaining the process before feeding begins
• Providing privacy, using screens or closing doors
• Using positive, respectful language
• Checking comfort and offering reassurance

If these steps are skipped, the experience may feel dehumanising or distressing. Procedures guarantee the right level of respect each time.

Accountability and Record Keeping

Accurate record keeping is a common requirement in extended feeding procedures. This protects workers and people receiving care.

• Records show exactly when and what feed was given, by whom, and how the person responded
• Good records help identify patterns or problems
• Accurate documentation is essential for investigations if anything goes wrong

Skipping steps in record keeping can hide errors or allow problems to continue unnoticed.

Professionalism and Trust

Following procedures exactly builds trust between workers, people in care, families, and external bodies.

It signals:

• Professionalism and care
• Respect for employer policies
• Compliance with regulatory standards

Families and individuals are more confident in care workers who are precise and predictable.

Training and Supervision Links

Employers train staff in procedures during induction and offer refreshers. Procedures allow supervisors to:

• Support staff development
• Spot areas needing further training
• Hold staff accountable if standards slip

By always following exact steps, staff demonstrate competence and willingness to learn.

Avoiding Miscommunication or Errors

Procedures include clear instructions on communication, such as:

• Who must be notified if a tube comes loose
• How to escalate complications
• What to write in care records
• How and when to inform family or other professionals

Missing these steps can lead to poor handovers, confusion, or things being missed, increasing the risk to the person’s health and safety.

Supporting Audits and Care Reviews

Regular audits—internal checks—look at how well teams follow procedures. Accurate compliance:

• Makes audits easier and more positive
• Highlights successes
• Uncovers early signs of problems
• Assists in reviews to update or improve care

Care is always improving; following procedures gives valuable feedback for this process.

Legal Protection for Staff and Organisations

If something goes wrong, the first question asked is usually, “Did workers follow the procedure?” When staff act exactly as required and record their actions, there is clear evidence of meeting duty of care. This protects both individual staff and their employers from blame or legal action.

Protecting Well-being and Reducing Stress

Clear procedures give staff confidence. Uncertainty increases anxiety and errors. Precise, repeatable processes reduce stress for all involved, allowing people to work efficiently and safely.

Consequences of Not Following Procedures

Ignoring, skipping, or “making up” steps can result in:

• Injury, illness, or distress for people receiving feeding
• Loss of trust and complaints from families or professionals
• Investigations by regulatory bodies or the police
• Loss of job or criminal charges in serious cases
• Reputational damage to individuals and organisations

Staff are never allowed to ignore or change procedures unless formally trained and authorised to do so.

Supporting Personalisation While Maintaining Safety

Procedures do not stop care being personal. They protect those receiving care while allowing some flexibility within safe boundaries. For example, times and types of feed can be adapted, but steps for tube safety, consent, and infection control cannot be changed without clinical agreement.

How to Follow Procedures Well

• Read and understand written procedures fully
• Ask questions if unsure about a step
• Attend required training and refresher sessions
• Keep up to date with changes or new rules
• Never guess or skip a step because of time pressure—always complete every requirement
• Report any errors, near misses, or potential risks immediately

Managers should regularly review staff performance, check understanding, and update procedures as guidance changes.

Final Thoughts

Following procedures in extended feeding, exactly as they are written, supports safety, dignity, and high standards. Procedures turn complex tasks into clear, manageable steps, controlling risks and meeting legal duties. Staff protect themselves, their team, and the people they work with by following these instructions every single time. This commitment makes care safer, more personal, and more accountable—today and in the future.