Case Study
You have just received a telephone call stating that four-year-old Jack will not be in for a while because he has been admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis. You are aware that acute meningitis is on the list of notifiable diseases. A colleague tells you that you must phone all the parents now to let them know that Jack is in hospital.
- Who, if anyone, do you need to notify about Jack’s condition?
- Should you phone the parents as your colleague has said? Explain your reasoning.
- Where, and how, can your setting get support and guidance on how it should respond to this news?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the responses you have to the above scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague or friend and ask them to tell you whether they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your assessor.
