Leadership in Health and Social Care

This assignment delves into the crucial topic of leadership in health and social care. It examines three distinct leadership approaches: concrete, conjoint, and collective. Students are tasked with analyzing these models and their respective implications for effective service delivery within the complex landscape of health and social care.

Contemporary Issues

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Information relating to health and social care reaching public domain...........................1
1.2 Analysing different techniques for disseminating information relating to health and social
care.........................................................................................................................................2
1.3 Manner in which different ways of presentation influence people..................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Ways in which media can be used....................................................................................3
2.2 Manner in public can assess reliability and validity of media information......................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
3.1 Different perspective on any specific issue......................................................................4
3.2 Information on perspectives changed over the course of time.........................................5
3.3 Accessing relevance on the data collected.......................................................................5
3.4 Factors influencing the development of different perspective.........................................6
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
4.1 The extent to which local attitude reflects those found at national level.........................7
4.2 Evaluating the validity of the public attitudes towards the spread of given statements...7
4.3 Consequences of the contemporary thinking for health and social care..........................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Degree of connectivity and networking has been increased to a significant extent. This
has decreased the boundaries between people and linked each other in an exponential manner.
Event occurring at part of the world has its effect with wider domain. People are becoming aware
about the happenings around the globe so that their impacts can be rationalized. One of the
crucial concerns of people is about health and social care. Probability of spreading of any disease
from one region to another is increasing significantly. In that regard, Government and other
legislative bodies make effort to minimize their harmful effects and aware the public. The
present report is prepared to elucidate different components of the process of disseminating
information relating to health and social care. It includes techniques and tools adopted for the
purpose, role and impact of media in changing attitude of countrymen and relevance of the
findings. The report throws light in the context of spread of information related to breakdown of
Ebola virus and its related issues.
TASK 1
1.1 Information related to health and social care reaching public domain
Information about health and social care is reached to public domain in different ways
giving rise the concern to the issues (Feldstein, 2011). There is the official website of health and
social care of UK government which offers disease and wellness information. On the websites,
for public access, policies related to health and social care, government announcements such as
any schemes of compensations etc. are described. Further, there is complete information about
the disease such as its source, spread, cure, treatment and prevention steps are explained.
Government also releases monthly and yearly reports on the health’s' statistics. It provides the
empirical evidences and current status about the disease and health of people (Pugh and Duffy,
2013). In order to reach maximum number of people, newspaper is chosen not only by
government but also by non-profit organisation to provide detailed information about the disease
Ebola and bring awareness about it. Advertisements and documentaries on TV's are telecasted to
make effectual understanding. Along with informative, they are made it attractive to capture the
attention of public. With all these measures adopted by concerned authorities, there are some
other sources from which people gain information that are journals issued by researchers and
scholars working on this disease and detail their findings. With the advancement of technology,
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digital platform is lucratively utilized by authorities to bring awareness about the disease (Older
people, 2016). Due to its use on large extent, information is spread to many people in short
duration of time. Further, information is spread through organizing various programs by
government and other organisation in the form of camps and seminars where expertise and
specialist in the field explain about the disease (Wellington, 2015).
1.2 Analysing different techniques for disseminating information relating to health and social
care
Health and social care is being the highly sensitive issue of concern for both higher
authorities of the state as well public. Hence, it is imperative to analyse the techniques adopted
for the dissemination of information. It is assessed on the grounds of parameters such as
reliability, validity, bias, objectivity and source of information. Among all these parameters,
source of information is the most crucial one. On the basis of that, it is stated that government
sourced releases are the most authentic and reliable ones such as information posted on official
websites, advertisements posted on newspapers, their reports and publications etc. There is high
degree of objectivity which is based on the facts and statistical results. Journals are another
source which is empirically proved but it cannot be accepted unless it is validated by concerned
organisation and are allowed to release for public acceptance. Further, TV bulletins and
documentaries are subjective in nature, so content showed by them can be believed totally
(Sheldon, 2011).
1.3 Manner in which different ways of presentation influence people
Along with the content of health and social care information provided and disseminated
to the public domain, the way in which it is presented is a last significant impact. Hence,
different ways are adopted in the context to make it effective as per the suitability and its use.
Government releases are done in the form of formal presentation when it is presented which
comprises facts and figures. It is done without any exaggerations and added content in it. But
along with providing the authentic data, it is presented in a simple manner so that people
understand it in a better way. Whereas, advertisements posted on the printed media and telecast
on TV's are attractive in order to capture the attention of large number of individuals belonging
to all groups of people (Robson and McCartan, 2016). It enables better understanding of the
disease and information about it in an informative and effective way. Further, journals and
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research papers presented by the scholars presenting theories along with empirical evidences
make readers believe in the content and follow the information. Instead of creating vague, flow
of information makes the strong base of understanding.
TASK 2
2.1 Ways in which media can be used
Considering as the fourth pillar of democracy, media has been playing a vital role in
connecting the government bodies and public in various dimensions. In spreading information
related to health and social care, it has a significant role to play (Reeves and et.al, 2011). There
are three forms of media which are utilized for the purpose. These are broadcast, print media,
internet and outdoor media. Print media includes newspapers and magazines containing variety
of articles. Broadcast is about reaching large number of people through mediums such as
televisions and radio. Various programs related to information about Ebola are broadcasted on
these platforms. Outdoor media is about detailing information on Billboards, sky-writing,
blimps, AR advertisements etc. and further internet acts as a medium for connectivity in the form
of websites and social media. They have a significant impact in changing the attitude of
behaviour. Fundamentally, it has three impacts such as: Widening knowledge domain: Media which reaches large number of people increases the
knowledge of people about something specific. Such as earlier people have no or limited
knowledge about the epidemic disease like Ebola but due to its efforts, public came to
know about its cause, symptoms, treatment and prevention methods (Pugh and Duffy,
2013). Cultivation of perceptions: Media influences the perception of people about anything.
Responsible media shows both the sides of coin about all the aspects of situation
prevailing to enable people to create their own perceptions. Further, media is responsible
for creating influences such as panic, fear and awareness about the disease.
 Set agenda: Media is very influential in creating the agenda for any program of event.
Such as, in the case of spread of Ebola, media played a vital role in bringing awareness
about the disease which has further created pressure on political authorities to take action
on it and prevent its entry in the country through enhancement of security.
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2.2 Manner in public can assess reliability and validity of media information
Rational public believe and accept information as it is displayed by the media. In order
to assess the validity and reliability of media information, there are various grounds (Munn-
Giddings and Winter, 2013). These are as follows:
Source of information: People seek sources from where the information is provided by
media. Hence, in that regard, print media publishes the information along with the sources from
where it is gathered to make it authentic on broadcast platforms such as TV's and Radio's.
Scientific evidences: If, any inference is made about trends of data, then people seek
scientific or statistical evidences to believe on the information (Lowes and Hulatt, 2013).
Objectivity: Objectivity is the major concern of people to rely on any information given
with reference to any disease or related to it. Hence, people's prime focus is on reports and
publications released by authentic agencies and groups. On the other hand, it is identified that
content shown at TV shows is subjective and biased in nature, not broadcasting overall picture of
any incident or cause hence, it becomes less reliable for public.
Hidden agendas: Agenda of presenting information by any of the media is identified by
public. In that reference, further perceptions are created by public. It is realized that it is posted
to generate traffic on websites or to gain TRP for any program.
TASK 3
3.1 Different perspective on any specific issue
In the process of providing optimum level of health services, rendering quality care to
older people is the key issue rising in UK (Lehnert and et.al, 2011). Each country has different
point of view to caring older people and accordingly, it is dealt and services are provided. It
includes attitudes towards older people along with institutional practices and policies towards it.
There are different perspectives exist among different counties, service providers and general
people. Having different cultural values for this, USA and Japan believe in independent living
whereas countries like India have inclination for respect and care for older people. Further, from
the research, it is found that among the practitioners, government organisations, service
providers and public, there are different perspectives about the health and social care of older
people. In case of service providers like hospitals and non-profit organisations, there are mixed
views of service users. There is undermining of respect and dignity of older people (James and
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Prout, 2015). There is negative attitude of professionals and nursing staff challenging the dignity
of elderly. Going through different health care units, it is found that there is an alarming situation
in maintenance of quality of health care provided to older encountering prejudiced attitudes at
different levels of service system.
3.2 Information on perspectives changed over the course of time
Collecting information about the perspectives on health and social care, it is found that it
has been changed significantly over the course of time with an aim to bring improvements. From
the perspectives of public, changes came in health and social conditions have triggered supported
extended in the families to their elders (Hartholt and et.al, 2011). The manner in which people
used to perceive the idea of ageing has been reversed again. Earlier with the changing scenario
and social norms, people were moving towards individualism and were becoming ignorant about
situations faced by old people. Now, people are becoming concerned about their elders and
providing care as well as support to them who are required to live their life happily and
satisfactorily. Along with this, government and other legislative organisations are also making
efforts to bring improvements in the quality of health services. Like in UK, 60% of the social
care budget is allotted for the care of people above 65. Various steps are being taken by
government to improve standards of services at care homes, extend the accessibility to services
through programs such as for cataract services, breast screening programs and other, ensure
fairer funding and adopt ways to provide them healthy living through immunization (Glasby and
Dickinson, 2014). Earlier sources of information gained by the public were limited, but now,
they can access information from many sources such as websites, government reports and
publications, Bulletins, media, journals and other related that has enabled them to be aware about
current situation.
3.3 Accessing relevance on the data collected
Relevance of the data collected is measured on the basis of validity and accuracy. It is
evaluated through the findings obtained by the research conducted in regard with the consistency
and applicability. Relevance of the data is accessed on the grounds of sources of information,
sample size of the people from whom views are obtained, statistical evidences found from the
reports and publications released by the government and other organisations such as NHS etc.
From the analysis, it is found that there are certain principles and objectives laid such as to shape
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its services as per the needs and requirements of older people, supporting and valuing staff
members working at the organisations, working to minimize the errors and improvement of the
quality of services to provide the comprehensive range of services etc. (Feldstein, 2011).
3.4 Factors influencing the development of different perspective
With the change of time, perspective changes significantly with respect to the health and
social care services provided for the older people. Media: Media has been playing a vital role in influencing the perspective of people.
Different forms of media are used to reach people in the form of providing information.
Without the involvement of media in such social issues, improvement cannot be possible.
It works in two direction that is bringing awareness among public and keeping a check on
government for providing support and help, on behalf of public to live democracy
(Feldmann and Geisbert, 2011). Legislation: Country running under the set of rules and regulations performs with
efficiency due to certain boundaries to comply with legality. Earlier laws framed were
generic in nature applicable to all the health and social services. With the realization of
need and empirical data, stating alarming conditions in the quality of health and social
care services for older people have led Government to frame laws for their protection and
providing support. It includes set of conditions that are needed to maintain by hospitals
such as number of beds, funds invested, quality of services provided by nursing staff etc.
In that regard, NHS also invests certain amount of budget for the care of people above 60
and other related (Evertson and Weinstein, 2013).
 Culture: Culture also plays a vital role in framing of perception of people about the
health and social care provided to older people. Values and beliefs are the articulation of
customs and adaptations held by people in the surroundings. In some countries,
individualism approach are adopted with less inclination towards the care of older group
whereas countries such as china and India consider elderly as a vital source of experience
and wisdom and are preserved by providing support in different forms. This cultivates the
perception of individual to provide personal support along with helping organisations
such as NHS, social services and voluntary organisations.
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TASK 4
4.1 The extent to which local attitude reflects those found at national level
Breakdown of Ebola Virus has created the situation of panic in the minds of people due
to the reasons such as fast spread among the people, slow recovery, less availability of treatment
and its accuracy. Attitude of people residing at local and national places is different on many
grounds with certain similarities (Currie and Lockett, 2011). Awareness: People at local places are not endowed with the specific knowledge about the
disease related to its cause, diagnosis, cure, treatment and prevention whereas people at
national level possess full understanding about the disease due to wide availability of
sources. Social services: At national level, understanding the harmful and threatening
consequences of the disease, there is a significant involvement of the organisation’s
offering social services. On the other hand, at local places, it is less considerable in
nature. Employment: At national level, government is making efforts with reference to provide
effectual services to the patients and prevent the spread of disease all around the country
but at the local level, government is not as active and possess ignorant behaviour (Brett
and et.al, 2014). Further, at national level, training and development sessions are
conducted to improve the efficiency of nursing staff and professionals along with the
increase of knowledge about the disease. But, no such efforts are taken at ground level.
 Immigration: It is the process through which outsiders enter any country. At national
level, strict prevention methods are taken. There are certain measures adopted to detect
and diagnosis the presence of deadly virus to stop them to cross the border but at local
level, such measures are not the part of procedure.
4.2 Evaluating the validity of the public attitudes towards the spread of given statements
Validity of the public attitudes in relation to the information, “Ebola virus is suspected to
be used by virus” is evaluated on certain grounds such as Reaction of people after encountering
the statement, prevention measures taken by them and degree of their involvement in the social
services.
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 Reaction: Reaction of people is the most apt method adopted to identify people's attitude
such as wither stream of panic, fear flow among the people or they will be indifferent
with the statement. Further, rational thinking accounts when people verify the source
from where information is released (Aveyard, 2014). Prevention measures: It refers to the degree of alertness came in people towards
susceptibility. Frequency of movement will get decrease and more hesitation will be there
while having colloquy with others and related.
 Involvement: It also accounts the increased involvement in social services.
4.3 Consequences of the contemporary thinking for health and social care
Going through the different stages, there are improvements came in the health and social
care. This has led many positive results towards the quality extended to the service users.
 There is increased awareness about the disease due to which steps are taken by the
individuals themselves on their indigenous levels.
 There is a significant increase in the allotted budget of government and other
organisations are seen to target the components such as promoting health measures,
improving quality of health services, prevention of disease from spreading it out and
other related.
 Regulations and laws are imposed by the government and other legislative bodies for the
protection of service users.
 Accountability of the authorities and service providers such as professionals and nursing
staff has been increased to a great extent (Aveyard and Sharp, 2013).
 Minimum level of standards is followed at all the places for providing services.
CONCLUSION
With the increase in connectivity and networking, people are becoming more aware about
the events happening at the national and international level. Providing quality services in health
and social care has become concern of the countries. Hence, various measures are adopted by
authorities to make people aware about contemporary issues in health and social care to
minimize its harmful consequences (Baize and et.al, 2014). In the above case study, spread of
information related to Ebola and other selected issue that is care of older people have significant
positive impacts.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aveyard, H. and Sharp, P., 2013. A Beginner's Guide to Evidence-based Practice in Health and
Social Care. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Aveyard, H., 2014. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Baize, S. and et.al., 2014. Emergence of Zaire Ebola virus disease in Guinea. New England
Journal of Medicine. 371(15). pp.1418-1425.
Brett, J. and et.al., 2014. Mapping the impact of patient and public involvement on health and
social care research: a systematic review. Health Expectations. 17(5). pp.637-650.
Currie, G. and Lockett, A., 2011. Distributing leadership in health and social care: concretive,
conjoint or collective?. International Journal of Management Reviews. 13(3). pp.286-
300.
Evertson, C. M. and Weinstein, C. S., 2013. Handbook of classroom management: Research,
practice, and contemporary issues. Routledge.
Feldmann, H. and Geisbert, T. W., 2011. Ebola haemorrhagic fever. The Lancet. 377(9768).
pp.849-862.
Feldstein, P., 2011. Health care economics. Cengage Learning.
Glasby, J. and Dickinson, H., 2014. Partnership working in health and social care: what is
integrated care and how can we deliver it?. Policy Press.
Hartholt, K. A. And et.al., 2011. Societal consequences of falls in the older population: injuries,
healthcare costs, and long-term reduced quality of life. Journal of Trauma and Acute
Care Surgery. 71(3). pp.748-753.
James, A. and Prout, A., 2015. Constructing and reconstructing childhood: Contemporary issues
in the sociological study of childhood. Routledge.
Lehnert, T. and et.al., 2011. Review: health care utilization and costs of elderly persons with
multiple chronic conditions. Medical Care Research and Review. 68(4). pp.387-420.
Lowes, L. and Hulatt, I., 2013. Involving service users in health and social care research.
Routledge.
Munn-Giddings, C. and Winter, R., 2013. A handbook for action research in health and social
care. Routledge.
Pugh, G. and Duffy, B., 2013. Contemporary issues in the early years. Sage.
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Reeves, S. and et.al., 2011.Interprofessional teamwork for health and social care (Vol. 8). John
Wiley & Sons.
Robson, C. and McCartan, K., 2016. Real world research. Wiley.
Sheldon, B., 2011. Cognitive-behavioural therapy: Research and practice in health and social
care. Routledge.
Wellington, J., 2015. Educational research: Contemporary issues and practical approaches.
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Online
Older people. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/
198033/National_Service_Framework_for_Older_People.pdf>. [Accessed on 24th
February 2016].
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