Supporting Individual Journey: Reflective Journal and Portfolio Report

This report is a reflective journal and portfolio assignment focusing on a healthcare practice. It details the experiences of a care assistant at Hc-One, including challenges and learning outcomes from interactions with service users, colleagues, and supervisors. The report includes specific cases involving an elderly patient with depression, workplace conflicts, and disagreements over patient care. It highlights the importance of counselling, understanding patient needs, and building trust. The portfolio section emphasizes the evaluation of client needs and the development of a more personal and sentimental approach to patient care, with a focus on counselling to address mental health issues. The assignment also references relevant literature on reflection and professional development in healthcare.

Supporting the Individual
Journey through Integrated-
reflective journal and
portfolio

Table of Contents
PART A...........................................................................................................................................3
Developing and maintaining a reflective journal........................................................................3
Developing a portfolio................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

PART A
Developing and maintaining a reflective journal
As a care assistant in Hc- One – LONDON, there are various challenges which are faced
by me. It is usual to face various pleasant and unpleasant cases during performing this activity.
Some of these cases from my personal experience are depicted below:
Case between me and the service user – I work as a care assistant in Hc-One LONDON
which is a care service provider organisation. In order to improve my skills, manager of this
organisation provided my a task of handling an old lady who was facing intense problem of
depression. I studied her case and identified that she lives alone in her house as she is a widow
and her family lives in far away. By conducting a detailed research about similar cases, it was
determined by me that this type of individuals require a sense of belongingness instead of
medication. I suggested to my seniors and other carer that this patient requires proper medication
along with counselling.
As I was familiar with this patient's case thoroughly, I was assigned to conduct counselling
sessions for her. While conducting this process, I considered various aspects by which her
condition can be improved. At the end of her counselling sessions, there was clear sign of
improvement in her.
Due to my constant efforts, patient felt a sense of belongingness which evaded her
depression. This situation happened due to the task which was allotted to me by organisational
management. I accepted this challenge and made several efforts. This situation resultant in
pleasant scenario. I learnt to be calm and understanding with patients of depression (Wald,
2015).
Case between me and my colleagues – While working in Hc-One, an unpleasant
situation occurred between me and one of my colleagues. This organisation received an
opportunity to provide care services to a high profile individual. In order to grab this opportunity,
every care assistant performed their best. In these circumstances, an argument between me and
my colleagues developed upon who is the best option for a care assistant for that high profile
individual. This situation occurred due to intense competition between me and my colleagues.
In order to resolve this issue, I stepped back and ask for another opportunity in which I
can learn some real aspects which are important in health care. This situation could easily be
3

avoided by our organisation. As they has ultimate authority to assign care assistants to service
receiver. From this situation, I learned that when it comes to provide health care services profile
of individual or patient does not matter.
Case between me and my employment agency – While working in Hc-One I faced an
unpleasant situation which raised conflict between me and my supervisor. While working on an
individual's heath report, I identified that this patient require immediate medical attention of a
professional doctor in a systematic environment of hospital. But views of my supervisor were
exact opposite on the situation. My supervisor suggested that this patient should be provided our
service for a bit more longer. Due to few sentimental attachments, I misunderstood concern of
my supervisor and made a perception that he wants to increase revenue and value for this
organisation.
This situation occurred by of my sentiment which were attached to that case. I unfairly
blamed by supervisor to provide immediate medical attention to patient. In order to avoid this
situation I should try to build a trust between me and my superiors and management. From this
case, I learned that in order to provide relevant care services, sentiments should not be developed
with any patient (Boud, Keogh and Walker, 2013).
Developing a portfolio
I work as a care assistant in Hc-One, according to me every patient has different needs such
as medical requirements and counselling needs. Every client must be first evaluated before
proceeding any service. At Hc-One, I try to analyse situation of service users and then deal with
them so that I can better understand their requirements. By using this technique, high level of
client satisfaction can be attained. The main aim of behind using this aspect of delaying with
clients is to fill the gap between what clients need and what they receive (Zepeda, 2013).
By evaluating above cases, it has ascertained by me that I tend toward cases which require
counselling sessions rather than patients who requires medical attention. My way of dealing with
clients is more personal and sentimental which requires a little effort to be improved. I tend to
heal clients with counselling (where required) so that mental issues of clients can be ascertained
and considered as a base for treatment (Furman, 2012).

REFERENCES
Books and Journal:
Boud, D., Keogh, R. and Walker, D., 2013. Reflection: Turning experience into learning.
Routledge.
Wald, H. S., 2015. Professional identity (trans) formation in medical education: reflection,
relationship, resilience. Academic Medicine. 90(6). pp.701-706.
Zepeda, S. J., 2013. Professional development: What works. Routledge.
Furman, G., 2012. Social justice leadership as praxis: Developing capacities through preparation
programs. Educational Administration Quarterly. 48(2). pp.191-229.
5