Leadership in Health and Social Care

This assignment discusses the importance of leadership in the health and social care sector. It highlights the problems faced by a healthcare center and the impact of leadership on resolving these issues. The discussion also includes various theories of leadership and their application in the healthcare sector.

Leading in
Health and
Social Care

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Background of Situation/issue/concern...........................................................................................1
Discussion of situation/issue/concern..............................................................................................4
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Leadership is a term which shows the quality of an individual to lead a team or an
enterprise in order to attain their set targets by encouraging all the teammates to perform
effectively towards their assigned job role. 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 on time working (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 in resolving various problems that get incurred at workplace. Moreover,
various theories of leadership will also outlined for suggesting the distinct ways to leaders of an
organization regarding how to resolve several business issues.
Background of Situation/issue/concern
This Health care centre is very small firm which is involved in offering medical services
to their desired consumers who are suffering from certain type of disease. Their main objective is
to reduce the health issues of an 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. 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 by taking corrective measures (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. On the
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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 24*7. In fact, needs to be prepared for several types of complex situations 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-
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 leave
that directly influence the 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 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 are not able to get proper care at
specific time period (Reeves and et. al., 2011).
However, absence of single person at workplace hampered the job of other person also
because workload get increased on present members as they have to now take of the
responsibility of absentee also. 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 hamper the leader’s job assigning process as now they
have to make sure that pending work also get managed by distributing it into various persons
which are present at workplace. As a result, this will sometime frustrate the employees
whosoever are working more than their responsibilities and effort level.
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 also. 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
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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).
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 because of which they get
failed in accomplishing 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 that create major problem in the health because of inattentive behaviour of staff
members. 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
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.
Consequently, by assessing all the above issues and problems that is raised at Harrow
health care centre it has been analysed that there is a major reason such as; mismanagement of an
organization, improper rules and regulation, absence of strictness at workplace and many more
due to which these problems occurred. 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
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conducted any training and development sessions, growth programmes, motivational events and
many more things which might encourage staff members and motivates them to work towards
attaining 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).
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
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. In fact, few members
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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.
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.
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 on
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
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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).
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.
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.
Hence, it has been understood that transformational leadership is playing very crucial role
in reducing the problems faced by staff members by encouraging them with their motivational
events. 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,
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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.
Comparison –
Transformational-
 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-
 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.
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 as follows-
 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
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efforts and commitment. Along with this, they are responsible for giving particular
feedback on each and every task performed by employees.
 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.
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 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
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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 enterprise such as;
 Requisite to conduct motivational programmes on monthly basis for encouraging their
staff members towards set targets.
 Provide flexible hours for refreshing the minds of staff which helps in reducing the stress
level.
 Promote the existing or previous subordinates by conducting appraisal programmes as
well as reward the person who get succeeded in attaining its set targets and objectives.
 Implement strict rules and regulations for minimizing the percentage of breaching
company’s norms.
 Hire extra employees for rotating the job by offering leaves to all the staff in order to
maintain equal environment at workplace.
 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.
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
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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. For example; transformational leadership theory is a kind of approach
which is used by leaders of an enterprise for inspiring their staff members towards set targets and
goals. Hence, LHSC main motive is to resolve all the problems such as; sicknesses of staff
members, late coming at workplace, mismanagement, increment in staff turnover and many more
issues. Thus, all the problems are resolve by the help of proper functioning of leadership
approaches.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aveyard, H., 2014. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide.
McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Martin, V., 2010. Leading change in health and social care. Routledge.
Reeves, S and et. al., 2011. Interprofessional teamwork for health and social care (Vol. 8). John
Wiley & Sons.
Bambra, C and et. al., 2010. Tackling the wider social determinants of health and health
inequalities: evidence from systematic reviews. Journal of Epidemiology & Community
Health, 64(4), pp.284-291.
Manners, R.A., 2017. Professional dominance: The social structure of medical care. Routledge.
Fox, S., 2011. The social life of health information, 2011 (pp. 1-33). Washington, DC: Pew
Internet & American Life Project.
Weisfeld, V.D., 2011. Jonas and kovner's health care delivery in the united states. Springer
Publishing Company.
Richard, A.A. and Shea, K., 2011. Delineation of self‐care and associated concepts. Journal of
Nursing Scholarship, 43(3), pp.255-264.
Creek, J. and Lougher, L., 2011. Occupational therapy and mental health. Elsevier Health
Sciences.
Gili, M and et. al., 2012. The mental health risks of economic crisis in Spain: evidence from
primary care centres, 2006 and 2010. The European Journal of Public Health, 23(1),
pp.103-108.
Braveman, P., Egerter, S. and Williams, D.R., 2011. The social determinants of health: coming
of age. Annual review of public health, 32, pp.381-398.
Umberson, D. and Karas Montez, J., 2010. Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for
health policy. Journal of health and social behavior, 51(1_suppl), pp.S54-S66.
Lewis, S., 2015. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), pp.473-475.
Uhl-Bien, M., 2011. Relational leadership theory: Exploring the social processes of leadership
and organizing. In Leadership, gender, and organization (pp. 75-108). Springer,
Dordrecht.
Dinh, J.E and et. al., 2014. Leadership theory and research in the new millennium: Current
theoretical trends and changing perspectives. The Leadership Quarterly, 25(1), pp.36-62.
Online
Hitesh Bhasin , 2018. [Online]. Available
through<https://www.marketing91.com/author/admin/>
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