University Health and Social Care Portfolio of Evidence

This portfolio of evidence delves into the student's journey within the Health and Social Care sector. It begins with an introduction outlining the importance of personal and professional development, followed by a SWOT analysis of a carer's role. The portfolio then explores research and learning styles, including qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and the student's preferred VARK learning style. It further examines potential career roles within the sector, such as health promotion officer and drug and alcohol worker, and assesses the student's suitability for these roles. Key sections include a Belbin test analysis, a discussion of essential skills, and insights into effective team participation and feedback utilization. The portfolio concludes with short and long-term goals and a personal development plan, providing a comprehensive overview of the student's skills, knowledge, and career aspirations in health and social care.

Portfolio of Evidence

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................1
2.0 SWOT Analysis.........................................................................................................................2
The SWOT analysis of a carer in a health and social care :...................................................2
3.0 Research and Learning Styles....................................................................................................3
4.0 Potential roles and suitability.....................................................................................................5
5.0 Belbin Test.................................................................................................................................7
6.0 Key skills required.....................................................................................................................9
7.0 Participating in Meetings/ being an effective team contributor...............................................10
8.0 Utilising feedback for moving forward....................................................................................11
9.0 Short and long term goals........................................................................................................11
10.0 Personal Development Plan (PDP)........................................................................................11
11.0 References..............................................................................................................................13

1.0 Introduction
Working within an organisation is not an easy task to do, it requires proper skills and
knowledge in order to sustain within a company for a longer time span. Considering all the
requirements of employers, could help employees in becoming much more fruitful to the
business organisation (Albertazzi, Becker and Boucinha, 2018). If it is talked about personal
development within health and social care department, it is much needed for every single
individual to develop his/her own personal abilities in order to improvise personal strengths, to
look into the areas that needs proper further development. My portfolio is about showing my
inner strengths and weaknesses related to health and social care sector.
Along with this, what motivated me to adopt the health and social care course is my own
will and interest. I have found that, somehow I feel great for doing something for an individual
and here what can be the best than serving a sick person so that he/she could become healthy
again. This whole scenario has motivated me to go for health and social care course.
Away with this, employability skills are said to be the skills that are required within an
individual at the time of performing different range of tasks at workstation. Since, every
individual is looking forward to earning a good slot of money and this cannot be done without
having a good range of employability skills. Including this, if it is talked about health and social
care department, if an individual do not possess right employability skills, then it is may be
possible that, he/she might not become able to serve patients effectively. On the other hand,
when it comes to consider personal development, then it can be said that this is one of the crucial
factor which is required under health and social care sector. I have found out that, while treating
individuals in a hospital, a nurse or doctors could directly face a range of cases which might
become a whole new experience for them. This will directly put positive impact upon personal
development in a health and social care.
On the other side, professionalism could be considered or defined as the competence or
skill expected of a professional which helps in executing, maintaining and enhancing
productivity of the business organisation. Let's take an example of a Home Care, where a patient
is dealing with Dementia, here it will be required for a carer to treat patients with a good range of
skills and knowledge and this might include proper professionalism where carer cannot scream
and force individual who has dementia to eat right on time and so on.
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Considering the above information and based on my own interest, it can easily be said
that learning is an ongoing process and would require proper development of a career orientation
through which health and social care could directly enhance productivity at the same time. This
is pretty much important for me because, in near future I will be working in health and social
department only. Therefore, having knowledge related to the same department will directly put
positive impact upon my own performance level and competence as well at the same time in near
future.
2.0 SWOT Analysis
The SWOT analysis of a carer in a health and social care :
Strength- The main strength of me is I have keen interest in helping other people. From
the starting of the course I started developing skills that will help me to become a carer. A carer
is a person that experiences most of the patients in palliative care. I have a good control of home
based care. I can establish a good and close relationship with patients easily. It can be said that,
close relationships mainly enhance the trust of patient, which helps in providing right services to
patients and it also aid in building belief among family members of the patient. I have knowledge
about the maintenance of pain control, comfort and quality care of the patient at home. Clinic
has a strong ethos of openness, sharing and commitment to increasing patient confidence and I
have the capability to help the patients.
Weakness- My weakness is that I have to complete my studies and do my daily work
and this is not important for me to give my whole time in treating patients and taking care of
them. Another weakness is that I am not clear of the roles and responsibilities of the carer or a
nurse. I will be able to learn the abilities of nurses and take care of patients easily but on the
other hand there are very less families who trust the carers and keep them at home to treat their
family members. There is a possibility sometimes that I have to handle foreign clients or patients
who speak some other language other than English and I don't know how to communicate with
these people. The nature and culture of every person is different and it depends on various
factors like country, region, language, of the person. I have to work hard to help and take care of
the patients effectively.
Opportunities – In present context, opportunity which I posses in this field is, this sector
has a good future where I might get the opportunity to offer individuals with right services. The
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professionals like nurses, surgeon and chemists will be enhanced so it will definitely increase the
chances of carer need in future.
Threats - The main threat as a carer to me is that I do not know how to handle people
from different countries. In today's scenario, there are some patients who are from other
countries and so it is a threat to me. The increase in the technology of health and social care will
reduce the need of physical help to the patient.
3.0 Research and Learning Styles
Learning and research styles are being considered as some of crucial factors which
directly needs proper attention by a peer when it comes to going through a whole new subject,
course, job or at any other stage (Bianchi and Tallon, 2018). Considering the information, there
are a range of research and learning styles which may aid in reaching to new heights in specified
time frame. Here, if it is talked about research methods, that I can use a range of methodologies
and these are qualitative and quantitative. Basically, it is required for the individual like me to go
through the topic and find out which research fits the job in order to improvise overall
knowledge.
Qualitative research methodology: This is being considered as one of the effective
method which stays enclosed with perceptions, feelings and other tasks. Along with this, it
consists with a range of things like opinions, reasons and motivations. It provides insights into
the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.
Qualitative Research is also used to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into
the problem. Qualitative data collection methods vary using unstructured or semi-structured
techniques. Since I am doing health and social care course, it can easily be said that this research
will mostly help me out while performing range of tasks or in order to hit targets related to the
problem in specified time frame.
Quantitative research methodology: This type of research method can be used by me in
order to quantify the problem by way of generating numerical data or data that can be
transformed into usable statistics. It is used to quantify attitudes, opinions, behaviours, and other
defined variables – and generalize results from a larger sample population. Quantitative Research
uses measurable data to formulate facts and uncover patterns in research. This type of
investigation type can be used by me when it comes to conduct the investigation in a rightful
manner where I am looking forward to collect exact outcome.
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Learning Styles:-
Each of us processes and distinguishes information differently based on our personality
patterns, how we interact socially and a general like or dislike for the subject matter or interest.
We all like to learn about subjects we are interested in and often struggle in areas that hold no
interest (Crosby and et. al., 2018). Basically, there are four basic learning styles which could be
utilised by an individual in health and social care department, and these are: Visual, Aural,
Read/write and Kinesthetic. Based on the test which I have given here is the results are presented
beneath:
(Source : The VARK Questionnaire, 2019)
 Visual – Considering the above mentioned test, which I have given over here is 3 out of
18. This means, I am less effective as a visual learner because somehow I do not prefer to
see or observe things.
 Auditory/Aural – This style includes learners to be much more preferable to learn by
listening. Under this, what exactly the ratings that has been given by me is 4 out of 18
which shows I am less effective among this style as well.
 Kinesthetic (movement) – These sort of learners prefers physical experience and here I
got 5 which means, I might be strong enough under this type style which may aid me in
understanding the learners lifestyles in specified time frame.
 Read/Writer – This is being considered as one of the best style that I am having which
basically lead me to improve my employability skills in specified time frame.
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Illustration 1: The VARK
Questionnaire, 2019

Along with this, my own note taking technique where I used markers to select the
important points which might aid me in enhancing my own skills in specified time frame. On the
other hand, it can also be said that I would require to manage the special needs in enhancing
skills and requirements. Considering all the points, it can easily be said by me is that using all the
above discussed above mentioned learning styles, if I am going to have all of them will directly
aid me in reaching completing the health and social care course in much more rightful manner.
This will aid me in near future as well.
4.0 Potential roles and suitability
Considering the health and social care course, which I am doing will open a wide range
of opportunities for me in near future. I have found out that, based on the learning regarding my
current course, I may become a successful health promotion manager, healthcare manager, nurse,
drug and alcohol worker, community health worker and so carer, registered nurse, healthcare
practitioner and so on. What I am looking forward to become a youth worker based on my
qualifications and the course which I am pursuing. On the other hand, a proper description of
some of these roles are given beneath:
Different designations and their roles (health and social care sector) :
Health promotion officer : Health promotion officers basically performs work to enable
and encourage people to increase control over their state of health. Here, it is being found that
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major role of health promotion officer is to improvise health education among individuals
regarding different diseases or health related issues in order to build up or standardise the
lifestyles.
Drug and alcohol worker : Basically, this type of worker helps individuals to recover
from all the illegal substances (alcohol or solvents) which they are addictive off. Here, the main
role of drug and alcohol worker is to helping clients to access services such as counselling,
healthcare and education regarding drugs and alcohol so that they can quit (Fagereng, Gottlieb
and Guiso, 2017).
Community health worker : Community health worker (CHW), can be defined as the
individual of a community, which basically selected by community members in order to offer
basic medical care to the community, which they belongs to. Main role here is to enhance the
standardisation of the health of group.
Healthcare management : In present time, healthcare management is being considered
as the profession which basically offers leadership, management along with the direction not
only to individuals but to organizations regarding health services. Role of a healthcare
management is to manage all the services regarding from distribution of essential tools within the
operation theatre to shifting staff from service to another.
From all of the above mentioned roles, the designation which is fascinating me is,
community health worker because the role is pretty amazing as I might become able to improvise
health rate of the whole group. In my past, I have worked in the same field as volunteer which
made me feel like, I should continue on the same field as it will give me a privilege to serve
patients or vulnerable. Along with this, I got some skills like knowledge related CPR and many
other health related services which I can transfer to my colleagues at the time when they face
issues regarding heart strokes in public or even at the care home. Here, it is also required for the
individual to focus on the code of conduct that are linked with health and social care department.
This might aid in practising the services which do not impact upon health conditions of an
individual who is dealing with the stroke because, CPR sometimes could work in a wrong way as
well which might lead individual straight to death.
Along with this, 6Cs of nursing basically stand for the professional commitment to
always deliver excellent care which an individual whether he/she is a community care worker or
a healthcare practitioner and these are given below:
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Care : This is one of the crucial factor which is needed to be followed by an individual lie
me while serving to the patients. This basically, showing caring which ultimately defines the
person along with the work which is done by him/her.
Compassion : This is being considered as another crucial element where care is being
given or served considering relationships based on empathy, respect and dignity.
Competence : This means all those in caring roles that are needed by an individual to
understand all health related needs that are required by a patient.
Communication : Communication is being considered as one of a crucial element which
is needed by an individual in order to deliver proper care to the clients that are dealing with
different range of diseases. This type of element is used by individuals (community health
worker) from starting point (admission of patient) to end point (discharging of the patient).
Courage : Another element from 6cs, where right servings for individuals are being given
considering a range of personal strengths along with setting visions as well. This can be applied
at the time when patient is demotivated as he/she already knows that someday, he/she will die
due to the chronic disease.
Commitment : Last element from the 6cs theory of health and social care, where
commitment is basically being given to the patients to serve the best and to make them cure in a
short span. This can be applied at the time when patient has started recovering from a critical
situation.
5.0 Belbin Test
According to Guesmi and et. al., (2018), within the healthcare profession, teamwork
plays a crucial role because it is the sector which runs 24*7 and an emergency can come at any
point. In order to serve patients with the best, it is required for a care home, hospital or any
emergency point to have effective team work. With the help of this, importance can easily be
seen where individuals within a team can distribute the work as per the requirements. Along with
this, it is being found that every single individual within a team has its own role, which has its
own importance as well at the same time. Recognition of the same would help team in assigning
tasks to individuals as per their own capabilities within health and social care sector.
On the other side, it can also be said that while performing services within health and
social care industry, it is required for to develop teams which could be done through focusing on
a range of theories like Belbin's team roles approach and so on.
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Belbin's 9 important facets are given beneath :
1. Driver – This is being considered as one of the most important facet, where it is essential
energetic and ambitious. Driver is being considered as one of a crucial or a strong point
where it is being considered as a motivator and it will challenge others at crucial times.
2. Completer – Another crucial facet where individual stays much conscientious and feels
responsible for the team's achievements.
3. Expert – An individual who is an expert has skills along with the expertise required for
the specific task at hand.
4. Explorer - Explorer in here practically stays extrovert by nature.
5. Innovator - The innovator is often the creative generator of a team.
6. Analyst – This type of individual consist with tendency to be reserved and critical.
7. Chairperson – Person who is a chairperson has really very strong coordinating role.
8. Executive – An individual sometimes referred to as the organizer.
9. Team player – If it is talked about a team player then he/she avoids conflicts, is cares for
his/her staff and basically fosters the harmony.
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(Source : Your team roles. 2019)
Based on the above mentioned test, it can be said that the role which I play within the
health and social care sector i.e. Driver. Considering the data within the test, it is being analysed
that I would require to work on my skills related to Executive and Team player at the same time
because based on the given test I got have 6% as the team player skill. Along with this, I have
8% as executive skills and in order to become successful in my own field, it is required for me to
work on these.
6.0 Key skills required
It has been analysed that, there are a range of key skills that are required by an individual
(healthcare professionals) or by me being as a healthcare professional at the time of performing
services within a healthcare department. Some of these skills that are required for being a
Community health worker and these are given beneath :
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Illustration 2: Your team roles, 2019