Personal Development Plan for Health and Social Care Student

This article discusses the challenges faced by a health and social care student in higher education and the corresponding activities undertaken to address the learning needs. It also outlines the developmental areas for the second semester to improve skills and competencies as a health worker.

Research and Professional Studies 1
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
By:
Course Tittle:
University Name:
Date:

Research and Professional Studies 2
Introduction
My PDP will cover the main challenges that I have encountered while entering my higher
education, the specific learning needs I have identified and the corresponding activities I
undertook in semester one to address the needs. Additionally, this PDP will address my
developmental areas in semester two regarding my skills and competencies as a health and
social care/policy student. Lastly, my PDP will have a brief conclusion.
Entering higher education
Being my first time in venturing into advanced training in addition to a new academic
environment, I have experienced a lot of challenges. First, the lack of awareness of the skills
and competencies needful to succeed in higher education (Altbach et al., 2011). This gave me
problems while undertaking the technical courses which made me strain a lot. Secondly, the
high costs of higher education which made me feel alienated and not worthy to pursue
advanced education like my colleagues (Stone and O'shea, 2013). Furthermore, the delay of
financial support from the federal government worsened the situation.
Specific learning needs
I am not very confident in public speaking, and I often shy away from a large and new crowd.
I also found it difficult to handle my statistic classes. It came to my realization also that I was
not well conversant with the ethics and practice standards of health workers. To address these
learning needs, I decided to do presentations, and my peers would first evaluate me and then
my lecturer. My weakness in statistic class was addressed by enrolling in a statistic course.
And lastly, the learning need of ignorance in health workers’ ethics was addressed by
registering for an additional class on principles and ethics for health workers.
Developmental areas

Research and Professional Studies 3
Since my objective is to become a health social worker, I intend to develop my active
listening skills, verbal communication skills, and written communication skills by attending
classes on communication skills. To further build intelligence, creativity, and empathy, I will
undertake assignments on various scenarios of social work and be assessed by my tutor of
critical think in (Cournoyer, 2016). I also plan to develop professional boundary setting skills
by attempting tests of myriad situations that a health worker is likely to experience in the
actual field. I also intend to equip myself with the skills on human development stages by
enrolling for a psychology class (Argyle, 2013). Other fundamental social worker skills that I
plan to develop include organizational skills and coordination skills: these will be attained
through personal study and fieldwork. To be able to practice these various skills that I expect
to learn, I will volunteer to work for a local organization.
Conclusion
With the outlined PDP I hope that the decision to enter into higher education will be an
excellent experience irrespective of the challenges that I have faced in my first semester.
Since I have identified my areas of weakness and the corresponding areas of development
that are relevant to my profession as a health worker, the second semester would not be much
of a challenge, and thus I am confident that my goals of becoming a professional social health
worker are still valid.