Professional Values in Health and Social Care -UNIT 4

Running head: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE -UNIT 4
Health and social Care -UNIT 4
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE -UNIT 4
The term caring can be defined as the ability of social workers to incorporate the five
core values which are highly crucial in professional nursing (Batenburg, van Walbeek and in der
Maur 2013). The above mentioned nursing values include dignity, altruism, autonomy, dignity
and social justice and these values are found to be highly essential for baccalaureate education.
In thus reflective essay, I will not only be focusing on my strength as well as weaknesses but will
also determine the influences of the same in the field of social care as well as health care.
As a healthcare service provide the three chief professional values I maintain while
providing care to a healthcare service user are equality, compassion and dignity. As per my
opinion, demonstrating respect and compassion for both the colleagues as well as healthcare
service users enhances the performance as well as bonding of a team. In my professional life, I
always ensure to treat all my peers and clients with respect and dignity, irrespective of their
financial condition, educational qualification, social status and other personal attributes. During
my professional life, I personally feel that, for a healthcare service user, respectful attitude of the
healthcare service providers towards him to get recovered completely. Apart from valuing the
dignity and demonstrating compassion to my peers and clients, I always embrace equality and
justice in my professional life. This process involves recognizing as well as practicing the
responsibilities as well as rights of myself and my team members. In order to demonstrate the
commitment towards social justice, principles and democracy, I always maintain transparency
and fairness in my practices with respect to age, gender and disability status of an individual. The
above mentioned values are generally complex and are referred to as “ideals that shapes
professional practices” (Kitson et al. 2013). Apart from the three above mentioned values, the
fact that I always try to maintain punctuality and abide by all the rules as well as regulations
associated with my profession can be considered as two of my strengths.

2HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE -UNIT 4
While the above mentioned factors can be considered as my strengths, it is undeniable
that I also have several weaknesses which adversely affect my performance as efficient
healthcare service users. Two of my major weaknesses include lack of effective communication
skills and rigidity in the thought process when it comes to CALD (Culturally and Linguistically
diverse) clients. Lack of interpersonal communication skills provides hindrance in my way of
exchanging thoughts and feelings with my peers and clients. Not only that, healthcare users who
are under my supervision often find it difficult to freely share their feelings as well as
communicate with me. However, in my profession, effective communication with the clients is a
vital factor that imposes a high impact on the welfare of the patients. Effective communication is
also crucial in order to create as well as maintain a bond with the peers and thus create an healthy
professional relationship (Crawford and LePine 2013). Hence, in order to enhance my
professional performance and boding with my peers I should master the art of interpersonal
communication. Another barrier to my professional life includes cultural incompetence towards
the CALD clients. This weakness of mine acts as a barrier in the process of demonstrating
respect towards the beliefs and practices of my CALD team members and clients along with
responding according to their cultural and linguistic requirements. Hence, in order to eradicate
the issue I am learning the importance of cultural competence and pursuing education on the
same.
The fact that I am punctual makes me an reliable employee and provides me with the
capability of completing my tasks within the stipulated time. Additionally, my virtue of
compassion, dignity and equality helps me to enhance the experience, quality of health services
and the overall health outcomes of the clients under my supervision. When it comes to my