Leading in Health and Social Care

This essay explores the challenges of leadership in the health and social care sector, focusing on the issues of time management, staff shortages, employee turnover, and lateness. It examines the application of transformational and transactional leadership theories to address these problems, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. The essay concludes by highlighting the importance of effective leadership in improving patient outcomes and organizational performance.

Leading in Health and
Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Background of Situation/issue/concern.......................................................................................3
Discussion of situation/issue/concern.........................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Leadership can be described as an action of leading a group of people or an organisation.
It consist utilisation of appropriate leadership style for providing correct direction of working to
people and motivate them to improve their performance accordingly. Basically, leading at health
and social care sector is really a very tough job because lives of patients are highly depending
upon an appropriate management and work on time policy (Aveyard, 2014). Therefore, leaders
of health care association needs to be very much attentive and dedicated towards their job role.
In fact, number of health care associations are identified which were focussing on their
leadership because it helps an enterprise in managing various activities in smooth manner. Thus,
current associations are having various leaders which were handling team for running the health
care centre in better ways.
However, this assignment is based on health care centre which is engaged in offering care
services to the society’s member. Their main objective is to facilitate patients with best medical
facilities for resolving various health issues. Thus, this project will highlight the effectiveness of
leadership and its role for resolving various problems at workplace in order to improve outcomes
of care services. Moreover, various theories of leadership will also outlined for suggesting the
distinct ways to leaders of an organization in respect of resolving several business issues.
Background of Situation/issue/concern
The leadership is an important aspects in health & social care as it directs efforts of team
of medical professionals towards case of specific patients in order to make them well-being.
However, proper functioning of an organization is only possible if an enterprise is having a good
leadership. Leaders are responsible for managing entire association in proper manner by
allocating job roles to staff members as per their skills and capabilities. Basically, leaders are
playing very crucial role in managing whole business operations because head of an enterprise is
liable for directing their staff members towards corrective path which facilitate to complete
desired goals appropriately (Martin, 2010). Moreover, proper management is indispensable for
health care sector because number of patients is arrived at any time as future uncertain and
emergency is a mandatory part of any health care sector. This Health care centre is very small
firm which provide medical services to sick individuals as per their actual health problem in
order to make them disease free. They have a main objective to reduce the health issues of an
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individual by treating them in much suitable manner. Along with this, they trying to come up
with several options and alternative ideas for reducing death rates that might incurred due to
dangerous diseases. On the other hand, harrow health care centre is going through various major
issues and problems which affect the functioning of overall enterprise. Along with this, it act as
an obstacle in the success of an organization because employees get failed in satisfying needs of
final users due to the improper management. It’s not easy for health care centre to survive
because staff members of these associations are having a major responsibility towards whole
society due to which they have to be on duty for 24*7. In fact, medical professionals are needs to
be prepared for several types of complex situations of patients that might get arrived at any time
without any indication. Meanwhile, number of issues and problems are identified at health care
centre which influenced the life of patients. Therefore, some of the major issues that may rise at
workplace is described below in detail manner-
Issues
Problem of time management
In Harrow health care centre, numerous of problems are encountered by staff members
and patients both because sometime few employees get sick due to which they have to take
leaves to get well. However it will directly influence on management of work due to shortage of
staff and health of patients. Mainly, staff members of health care centre are liable for taking
care of all the available patients by doing various efforts and treating them medically in
every single hour. This means that care of a patient is totally depend upon employees which
shows that absence of staff automatically affect the care of suffered patients. As a result, health
of users get automatically worsens as they did not get proper medications on desired time due to
improper attention of staff (Reeves and et. al., 2011).
Lack of employees
However, absence of single person at workplace hampered the job of other person
because workload get increased on present employee in terms of attending every patient in time
which may create risk of drug errors. Harrow heath care centre is a very small firm due to which
supervisors are liable for assigning various organizational roles and responsibilities to the staff
members. Thus, absent of single person impacts negatively on the leader’s job in respect of
assigning tasks to people along with managing pending work at workplace accordingly. As a
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result, this will sometime frustrate the employees whosoever are working more than their
responsibilities and effort level.
Employee turnover
Furthermore, sometime few members decided to quit the job due to lack of
cooperation amongst staff members. This circumstance directly influences the company in
negative manner as well as patients. Apart from small-small issues, sometime problem get very
much big such as; employee is only liable for managing technical machinery which is used by
doctors while serving their patients during treatment procedure. It means, if these type of staff
get absent then this will automatically affect the health of patients which is considered as heavy
loss for whole organization (Bambra and et. al., 2010).
Lateness of medical staff
Instead of this, some other problems which get incurred at care home is that there are
number of employees are identified which came late at workplace. However, they are not
capable to accomplished their assigned job in proper way and not able to serve patients in better
way. As a result, they are not able to fulfil the needs and requirements of users that automatically
influence the health of patient. Moreover, care taker of health care centre is not able to take care
of themselves which create problem of in their performance in context of reducing focus due to
unhealthy condition. All these issues are somehow shows that leadership in health care sector is
really not appropriate neither this kind of leading will be accepted at health care centre because
there is a matter of individual’s life.
Additionally, some other issues are also determined at Harrow health care centre such as;
staff turnover, sickness and lateness of staff members at their workplace that is not
acceptable at health care. These type of activities affects the final users in negative manner
because patients feel very much inferior as they are not able to acquire appropriate treatment. In
fact, unattended consumers are suffering most because of this kind of casual behaviour of staff
members (Manners, 2017). Moreover, these types of issues and problems influence the Harrow
health care centre in a negative manner and make their position more worsen at marketplace.
Along with this, goodwill of an enterprise also getting affected negatively because of staff
behaviour which resultant into minimization of hospital demand. These situations enforce users
to select another option for their better treatment because Harrow health care centre getting failed
in serving people in proper manner. Apart from this, management of an organization is also
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encountering a problem of high staff turnover. Employees are fed up with improper planning of
health care centre due to which workload get increased because of which few employees are not
behaving appropriately.
Reasons behind issues
Consequently, by assessing all the above issues and problems that is raised at Harrow
health care centre, it has been analysed that there are several major reasons behind it. It involve
different reasons such as mismanagement of an organization, improper rules and regulation,
absence of strictness at workplace and many more. In fact, casual behaviour of employees are
also occurs due to the nature of an organization as they are not taking care of staff which restricts
them to perform their assigned job in better way. For example; Harrow health care centre haven’t
conducted any training and development sessions, growth programmes, motivational events and
many more things which might encourage staff members to improve their performance in order
to attain their set targets. This means that, management team of health care centre are not taking
care of staff members because of which they get failed in performing assigned job and not able
to attain set objectives. As a result, employees feel frustrated and get angry which leads to
change in their professional behaviour to casual one (Fox, 2011).
Main concern and its impact
Hence, it’s a major concern for management team of Harrow health care centre as
they have to pay full attention on their employees by providing several opportunities to them.
Instead of this, there is also reason behind occurrence of other issues of an organization like;
lateness of employees happened because there is an absence of time bound and management
practices. Therefore, these problems affect negatively to the patients of emergency ward as they
will not get proper guidance as well. On the other hand, sickness of individuals also creates
major problems for management because it instantly hampers the job of other by increasing the
work load which converts their better performance into worst.
Therefore, these above explained issues are some major problem and matter of concerned
for Health care centre that create complex situations for management. It means in given scenario,
management is responsible for analysing the whole circumstances. Thus, management of health
care needs to come up with best possible solutions that will help in reducing problems from
health care centre. As a result, company get succeeded in enhancing their business performance
by fulfilling the needs of desired consumers (Weisfeld, 2011). Health care centre needs to take
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necessary measures for resolving all the problems in order to protect their company’s image from
getting destroyed.
Discussion of situation/issue/concern
Health care centre are going through major problems and encountered several employees’
issues due to which company is getting failed in attaining its set targets. Employees are really
indispensable for the success of an organization because all the business operations are handled
and regulated by those staff members only. Therefore, it is essential for managers or leaders of
an enterprise to take suitable initiatives for managing the whole worsen situation that is
influencing company in a negative manner. Throughout the assessment, it has been understood
that development of employees is first or foremost thing that is required at workplace because all
the staff members are feeling very much frustrated as well as neglected.
Causes of issues related to employees
In fact, few members thought that they don’t have any importance at workplace because
work load of absent staff is also shifted to them only. However, management team never did this
purposely as maximization of work load is just a situational demand because of staff absence
(Richard and Shea, 2011). This shows that somehow misunderstanding gets created between
employees and organization due to which employee turnover is getting maximized. In fact, few
members thought that they don’t have an opportunity of future success and development because
management of harrow heath care centre are not offering any training sessions, development
events or any other educational programmes that might be advantageous for staff. As a result,
negative environment created at workplace and staff members are not performing their assigned
job role in proper way. Due to major problems are incurred at workplace. For example; absence
of employees because of illness, late coming at workplace, quitting the organization and many
more.
Solution of problems by applying transformational leadership theory in healthcare
This entire scenario shows that staff members are encountering major problems and issue
at workplace that must be get resolved by leaders. In fact, proper management is requisite at
workplace that will help company in resolving all the problems face by staff members. Leaders
are responsible for managing all the issues as well as liable for encouraging subordinates towards
their set targets by showing them corrective path. Along with this, it help in managing all the
complex business activities in more suitable manner by understanding each or every aspects.
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Basically, various types of leaders are available at workplace who are having their own way and
style of running business operations or follows own path to handle distinct situations (Creek and
Lougher, 2011). At the same time, there is an availability of suitable theory of leadership that can
support leaders while performing their role. In fact, leadership approaches are applicable in
various situations that might follow by leaders according to the circumstances for handling it in a
proper manner. Therefore, some of the useful theory of leadership that must be followed by
leaders of Harrow health care centre is described as follows-
Transformational leadership theory- As per this approach leaders of LHSC have to
work with their team members for determining the requirement of change. For example; LHSC
have to design a vision for assisting employees towards change through inspiration and
implement modification in tandem with committed members of a team. It’s an appropriate part
of Full Range Leadership Model. This theory of leadership aids in enhancing the motivation,
morale and performance of employees with the help of several mechanisms. However, there are
almost 4 elements of transformational leadership which is referred as 4 I’s such as; idealized
influence (II), inspirational motivation (IM), individualized consideration (IC) and intellectual
stimulation (IS). Idealized influence is a term which means leaders are acting as a role model for
their staff members such as; leader walks the talks admired from this to their employees. For
example; leader of LHSC (health care centre) enforce their staff members to work towards set
target by inspiring them with their proper management such as; leaders needs to come up with
punctual time which encourage their employees to come on defined time which reduce the
problem of time management (Hitesh Bhasin, 2018).
Retaining employees
On the other hand, retention of staff members also gets encouraged due to the
impressive behaviour of leaders. Secondly, inspirational motivation of transformational approach
shows the ability of leaders for inspiring others and encourages them towards set targets with
their vision. Thirdly, “Individualized consideration” which demonstrates that employers must
have loyal concern towards their staff and feels for subordinates in order to support them towards
self-actualization. Hence, this personal concerned between leaders and employees helps in
creating trust amongst organizational members and with higher authority. Basically, it’s a really
indispensable factor for the success of Harrow health care centre because all the members of
team are relying on each other and working together which helps in making instant decisions.
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Lastly, Intellectual stimulation shows the challenges of leaders which is face by them while
motivating employees towards innovative and creative (Dinh and et. al., 2014). Most common
misunderstanding about transformational leaders is that they are very soft but in reality they are
continually give challenges to their team members for higher level of performance.
Improving policies and regulations for employees
Hence, it has been understood that transformational leadership is playing very crucial role
in reducing the problems faced by staff members in terms of encouraging them appropriately.
Along with this, direct teammates with their own experience, knowledge and talent. In fact, by
using this approach, leaders are working within the group in order to understand the issues which
is raised at workplace. As a result, leaders can instantly take actions for resolving the problem
that is incurred at Harrow health care centre by working with staff members for enhancing their
performance by getting higher level of productivity. Along with this, transformational leader also
have an option of designing strict rules and regulations for encourage every member to follow
them. As a result, this strategy can easily resolve the problem of late comers because strict rules
enforce members of staff to come office at specified time for reducing the negative influence of
breaching the regulation (Gili and et. al., 2012). Moreover, experienced leaders know how to
treat patients who are suffering from distinct type disease such as; requisite to cover face with
clean cloth for protecting themselves from instant affection.
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Illustration 1: Difference Between Transactional and Transformational Leadership

(Source:Difference Between Transactional and Transformational Leadership, 2017)
Solution by applying transactional leadership theory in healthcare
On contrary to this, transactional leadership approach is another theory which is
followed by leaders for concentrating on supervision, company and performance. Basically, this
framework shows that leaders encourage their subordinates with the use of both rewards and
punishments. However, leaders who follows this path always trying to identify faults and
deviations from their staff members in order to take instant action for resolving that problem in
much better manner. Basically, this type of leadership is suitable in crisis or any emergency
circumstances as well as for those projects which needs to be carried out in a particular style
(Braveman, Egerter and Williams, 2011).
Leaders who follow this approach have to act in a specific expected way which is
described here. Meanwhile, Leaders of LHSC requisite to set targets, articulate explicit contracts
associated with expectation of leaders from their team members and how they have to reward for
specific efforts and commitment. Along with this, they are responsible for giving particular
feedback on each and every task performed by employees. Moreover, these leaders of LHSC
always focussing in maximizing the efficiency of established routines as well as process and off
course too much concerned about following of organizational rules instead of conduct
modification in structure of an enterprise.
Significance of transactional theory
Therefore, leaders makes strict rules and regulations for dealing with lateness on order to
enforce each and every individual to come office on a set time period. According to social
psychologist R.P French and Bertram Raven in 1959, powers are classified into five distinct
forms. Furthermore, in around 1965 Raven have revised this model by adding sixth form by
splitting informational power. This shows that leaders who follow transactional approach while
handling the situation of health care centre will just encourage employees to follow certain rules
and regulation of an organization. Along with this, punish those staff members who are taking
unusual leave without any reason. At the same time, give rewards to those employees whosoever
is working extra as well as completing the task of other person also in its absence. This
behaviour of specific employee impresses the leaders of LHSC and they will definitely give
reward to them for accomplishing their assigned job role in better manner (Umberson and Karas
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Montez, 2010). Some of the major action which might be taken by transactional leaders at health
care centre for resolving the raised issue is discussed as follows-
Staff turnover- For resolving this problem, leaders of an organization tried to identify
the reason behind this such as; employees are expecting promotion, hike in salary and many
more benefits that they require are not fulfilled by an organization. Thus, leader needs to go for
designing strategy such as; employee’s appraisal programmes in order to encourage staff
members towards business targets. Therefore, these kinds of solutions can be used by manager of
harrow health care centre for employee retention. Additionally, promotions of existing
employees are also another option that might be used by company for motivating staff to
continue their terms for long duration.
Lateness of employees- This problem are mainly raised because of improper
management practices due to which transactional leaders will go for implementing strict norms,
rules and regulation. It helps in maintaining suitable management of business activities in
working hours. Along with this, leaders also take some strict actions against those members who
are avoiding rules and organizational policies that aids in minimizing the percentage of late
comers’ employees at LHSC (Lewis, 2015).
Sickness of workers- Health care centre is liable for managing the health and safety of
staff members for enhancing their productivity as well as performance. Thus, it is essential for
leader to conduct a health care plan so that each and every member can follow it for reducing
sickness issues which incurred at LHSC.
Consequently, all the above steps and procedures refers to some necessary factors which
must use by leaders of Harrow health care centre for reducing the issues that had occurred at
workplace. In fact, leaders have to follow the theories for directing their staff members towards
set targets for enhancing their performance by satisfying needs of patients. As a result, this will
help an association in establishing its positive goodwill at marketplace by resolving all the major
issues by understanding those in suitable manner (Uhl-Bien, 2011). Throughout the assessment,
it has been understood that leaders of Harrow health care centre needs to follow certain steps and
procedures for proper functioning of an organisation is given here. Firstly, requisite to conduct
motivational programmes on monthly basis for encouraging their staff members towards set
targets. Secondly, provide flexible hours for refreshing the minds of staff which helps in
reducing the stress level. Thirdly, promote the existing or previous subordinates by conducting
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appraisal programmes as well as reward the person who get succeeded in attaining its set targets
and objectives. However, implement strict rules and regulations for minimizing the percentage of
breaching company’s norms. Moreover, hire extra employees for rotating the job by offering
leaves to all the staff in order to maintain equal environment at workplace. Additionally, all these
will help manager of Harrow care centre in motivating employees and encourage them to work
towards attaining organisational goals. It helps them in providing effective services to patient.
Comparison between transformational and transactional leadership theories
Transformational leadership theory-
Strength – This approach is very much lenient because leaders get involved with staff
members for understanding the need of change by interacting with staff members. As a result,
this approach creates positive and friendly relationship with subordinates.
Weakness – Foremost drawback of this framework is that leaders reduce the difference
between staff members and subordinates due to which sometime employees not listen to their
supervisors and say anything without thinking. As a result, it may hamper the professional
environment of workplace.
Transactional leadership theory-
Strength – According to this theory, leaders can easily promote professionalism at
workplace by rewarding employees for their best performance as well as punishing them because
of worst performance. This helps in maintaining a equal environment at workplace.
Weakness – It’s a very strict theory where leaders are too much serious on their rules and
regulations without having a friendly behaviour with staff members. As a result, employees get
afraid in expressing their views or opinions in front of their leaders due to which confusion
created that further convert into major conflicting circumstances.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been summarized that leaders are playing very eminent role
in resolving various problems which might incurred at health care centre. However, number of
issues is identified at workplace which is resolve by proper management of leaders. In fact, they
also used suitable theories and act according to the situation by understanding various aspects.
Throughout the analysis, it has been understood that LHSC have taken numerous of initiatives
for managing their business operations as well as for smooth functioning of an enterprise by
taking corrective steps.
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REFERENCES
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Hitesh Bhasin. 2018. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.marketing91.com/author/admin/>
Difference Between Transactional and Transformational Leadership. 2017. [Online]. Available
through: <https://iedunote.com/transactional-transformational-leadership-difference>
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