Principles of Health and Social Care: Implementation and Impact

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the principles of health and social care within the UK healthcare system. It examines the implementation of health and social care policies, legislations, codes of practice, and regulations, particularly focusing on the impact of the Health and Social Care Act (2012) and its implications for partnership working, with a focus on the National Health Service (NHS). The report delves into the challenges and adaptations required for effective policy implementation across different socioeconomic regions and discusses the importance of local policies in addressing specific community needs. It also explores the influence of policies, codes of practice, and legislations on organizational policy and practice, emphasizing ethical and safe care for service users. Furthermore, the report investigates the impact of social processes, inter-professional working, and patient-centered models of care on healthcare delivery. It highlights the shift from a reactive to a proactive healthcare model, the importance of inter-professional collaboration, and the role of continuous professional development in maintaining high standards of care, including the author's experiences working within the Bupa Group, and their contributions to the healthcare system.

Running head: PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
Principles of health and social care
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Task 2
2.1 Implementation of health and social care policy, legislations, codes of practice and
regulations in United Kingdom aimed at improving partnership working between the sectors
dominated by National Health Service (NHS). There are challenges like inadequate policy
guidance and emerging difficulties in working conditions between health and social care sectors
in UK (Munro, Taylor and Bradbury‐Jones 2014). The evaluation by NHS is done to ensure that
they are specific and relevant to the people belonging to different cultural and ethnic population.
The Health and Social Care Act (2012) is an extensive legislation that works at the highest level
in the UK’s health and social care system. The policies guide the health and social care providers
in professional accountability and working of the organizations under health and social sector.
The specific policy standards and regulations provide a platform for patients to raise their voice
and align towards patient-centred model of care. The implementation of policies, legislations and
regulations are streamlined towards the model that involves patients according to individual
preferences, values and needs guiding clinical decisions. Concisely, these norms are
implemented to improve health and social care services efficiency and greater accessibility to
care (Sanderson, Allen and Osipovic 2017).
2.2 The health and social care policies are implemented to guide throughout under the UK
legislation. However, the regions with low or high socioeconomic status would adapt to the
national policies differently. For this, there is a need to develop local policies and procedures that
meet the needs of the local population. Local government bodies or community associations need
to develop local policies in a way that meet the needs of local people in the best possible way.
The local policies and procedures need to adhere to the NHS policy that addresses the local
needs in the health and social care sector. Earlier local and community policies failed to reduce

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the regional differences and as a result, lag behind to catch up the national standards. However,
NHS should be able to develop a higher quality of local policies that reduce the regional
disparities; despite of public funding that may result in strong social cohesion and economic
potential (Lewin et al. 2015).
2.3 Policy, code of practice and legislations has a great impact on the organizational policy and
practice in the health and social care. These policies guide and protect both the health and social
care providers and clients towards practical guidance so that they are able to meet the specific
health and social care needs. The aim of evaluation of legislation, policy and code of practice are
developed in a way that has an impact on the national standards ensuring that they are relevant,
current and clear to practitioners and clients. The policies are developed in a way that ensures
ethical and safe care for all the health and social care service users. The policies and codes of
practice has an influence on the organisational policy in the health and social care is to support
the workers to make changes that can help for the sustenance and transformation of services in
meeting the local needs. Organizational practice and policy is influenced in a manner where
there is possibility of improvement of service users’ experiences and outcomes and removal of
constraints witnessed in the current scenario (Kulik et al. 2014).

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Task 3
3.2 And 3.3
Inter-professional working environment is effective as it has the ability to transcend inter-
professional boundaries. Through collaboration with the seniors, colleagues, there is better
sharing of information and as a result, conflicts can be bypassed largely. When professionals
work together in a positive professional relationship, there is better achievement of common
goals and work together in solving complex issues.
SOCIAL PROCESSES
It has profound impact on the health and social care services in different ways. The involvement of the service users in the policy development and reform
is a key focus in the UK healthcare system. Concisely, the engagement of patient-centred model and user engagement within the healthcare system can
promote social inclusion and public cohesion within UK healthcare system.
Patient centred model of care
The introduction of patient-centred model of care in the
healthcare system is an important aspect for both practitioners
and service users.
The involvement of service users in the care model is the basis
for health and social care services.
The partnership between the practitioners and healthcare users is
essential for improving inter-professionalism in the environment
and strengthening of individual influences on the health and
social care and policy.
Reactive-oriented to a proactive model
The engagement of users and social processes direct
healthcare policy shifting the current approach from
reactive-oriented to a proactive model.
The incorporation of service users in the health and
social care help to anticipate ethnic and demographic
changes along with meeting of needs of diverse
population.
Inter-professional working
In UK, the health and social care system is trending towards inter-professional working
approach.
They are promoting collaboration of practitioners and healthcare professionals for
meeting the needs of the clients in the best possible way.
NHS is incorporating this approach into the legislation that
emphasizes establishment of positive working relationships
between professionals in the health and social care organizations.
This helps to establish a more holistic model of care like patient-centred care and sharing of information
that create more efficient and effective care plans for clients fulfilling their needs.
However, there are barriers in the implementation of inter-professional working
environment like lack of training, support and need for continuous reform and
evaluation that determine the level of care provided by the UK health and social care
system.
Inter-professional working environment is effective as it has
the ability to transcend inter-professional boundaries.
Through collaboration with the seniors, colleagues, there is
better sharing of information and as a result, conflicts can be
bypassed largely. When professionals work together in a
positive professional relationship, there is better achievement
of common goals and work together in solving complex
issues.

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Task 4
4.1 Being a member of Bupa Group within the UK healthcare system, I work with the
professionals who deal with practical problems. While working with this professional team, I
fund healthcare to the service users and provide healthcare services. As a Bupa member, we
work for the clients to create excellent client experiences, deliver safe money and provide
exceptional care in the complex healthcare system. At Bupa, we reinvest profits by providing
better healthcare for customers and health insurance so that service users live longer, happier and
healthier lives. As a member, I have the responsibility to maintain professional standards and
work under code for ethics that adhere to health and social care policy. There is also effective
sharing of knowledge within the working environment where I am held accountable for the
maintenance of high expertise level and carrying out duties. Moreover, we Bupa members help
customers by funding healthcare through national and international insurance and provide
healthcare services through hospitals, primary care clinics, aged care and dental centres.
Being a Bupa member, it is my responsibility to demonstrate purpose, values and core
principles of Bupa while working in the professional environment. The understanding of one’s
roles and responsibilities, it provides a more holistic approach towards patient-centred care. My
future practice is influenced by health and social care policies that improves efficiency and
quality of UK healthcare system.
4.2 In the health and social care sector, one work to assist in the implementation and reforming
of healthcare policies. Working in the healthcare sector that is practiced in varying clinical
settings, organizational policy is important and contribute to its efficient working and
organizational success. With a combination of practical and organizational insight, healthcare

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members work towards enabling and directing organizational policy and in performing their
respective duties. My contribution towards the healthcare system is safeguarding people and
work towards directing organizational policies in protecting service users. There is need for
protecting service users’ rights so that best practices are performed and as a result work towards
promoting ethical practice. The effective management of clients and by getting involved in
continuous professional knowledge and development, one can contribute to development and
implementation of health and social organizational policy (Truong, Paradies and Priest 2014).
4.3 For the meeting of good practices, professional development and continuous learning are
vital. There is requirement of professional training so that there is proper skill development for
the meeting of needs of the changing population. For the professional learning, continuous
dissemination and reviewing of current research is required in the health and social care.
Evidence-based practice is also important where there is incorporation of evidences into practice
facilitating highest quality of care to the service users. For the implementation of evidence-based
practice, effective implementation is required for the gathered evidences. Through training,
professional development can be achieved as professionals acquire required skills and
knowledge in delivering healthcare to people and in safeguarding people residing in hospitals,
clinics and aged care facilities. These strategies aid in protecting the rights of the service users
and in safeguarding, them while working in inter-professional collaborative environment and
adhering to practice standards (Busse, Aboneh and Tefera 2014).

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