Leadership and Managing Care Organizations: A Comprehensive Report

This report delves into the core concepts of leadership and management within healthcare organizations, using Barchester Healthcare as a case study. It examines the importance of interpersonal skills, particularly through the lens of the Gibbs Reflective Cycle, and explores how these skills contribute to effective team dynamics. The report analyzes the roles of leadership and management, decision-making processes, problem-solving strategies, and the application of change management theory to promote organizational innovation and development. The student's reflection on personal experiences as a junior nurse provides a practical perspective on the challenges and rewards of leading and managing in a healthcare environment. The report highlights the significance of communication, empathy, and professional conduct in providing quality patient care and fostering a collaborative work environment. The report also discusses the importance of leadership in ensuring adherence to regulations, promoting staff development, and fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion. It concludes with an action plan for continuous improvement in leadership and management practices.

Running head: LEADERSHIP AND MANAGING CARE ORGANISATIONS
Leadership and Managing Care Organizations
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................2
Reflective journal:...........................................................................................................................3
Lo2- Evaluating interpersonal skill in the context of theoretical framework by building
strengths of staffs:........................................................................................................................3
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle...........................................................................................................3
Blogs- Summative task....................................................................................................................8
LO1: Critically analyses leadership and management concepts in the development of self, and
others within the team..................................................................................................................8
Role of leadership:...................................................................................................................8
Implication of management in healthcare:..............................................................................9
LO3: Utilize key concepts in decision making and problem solving applied to both
professional and organizational goals........................................................................................10
LO4: Critically analyze change management theory in order to support organizational
innovation and development initiatives.....................................................................................12
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................................14
References:....................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction:
The employees are one of the most significant assets in an organization, as they hold the
responsibility of running its internal functionality. Therefore, appropriate technique needs to be
implemented in order to manage them properly and thus lead them towards proper direction. In
the context of health and social care organization, efficient employees with relevant skills is very
much needed in order to promote the health and wellbeing of patients. Ginter et al. (2018)
commented that appropriate healthcare management is one of the most emerging trend in recent
times, which offers the originations with effective direction along with leadership which is very
much needed in terms of providing superior quality of care. As discussed by Cherry et al. (2016),
it is evident that due to the dynamic and complicated nature of healthcare organizations, it is the
prime responsibility of the higher authority to implement effective managerial approach in order
to make effective decision and thereby ensure super-special services as per the requirements of
the patients.
Present paper focuses on leading and managing staffs in the context of health and social
care organization. Barchester Healthcare has been chosen as the organization. This is one of the
largest and independent healthcare providers in UK, operating more than 150 care homes
throughout the country. Providing top quality of care among the patients is the fundamental aim
of Barchester Healthcare (Barchester.com, 2018). This paper will focus on the concept of
leadership and management along with the interpersonal skills that are required a self-directed
team within healthcare organization. The role of problem solving, decision making along with
the framework of change management will also be discussed in the paper.

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Figure 1: Logo of Barchester Healthcare
(Source: Barchester.com, 2018)
Reflective journal:
Lo2- Evaluating interpersonal skill in the context of theoretical framework by
building strengths of staffs:
Health and social care sector is extremely dynamic and challenging due to the inclusion
of diverse range of patients. Thus, the staffs must strengthen their interpersonal skills in terms of
improving their own level of expertise and thereby lead a team with utmost efficiency. Being a
junior nurse of Barchester healthcare, I have to amplify my own skill. Theoretical framework
regarding the interpersonal skills of healthcare practitioners is as follows:
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
This is one of the most significant frameworks, which is needed to be analyzed in terms
of assessing the skills that are highly required among the nurse.

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Figure 2: Gibbs Reflective Cycle
(Source: D’Andreamatteo et al. 2015)
This is being considered as experiential learning model, which has made it easy for me to
reflect on the skills of both mine and other team members. Subsequent discussion will help in
analyzing different parameters of Gibbs Reflective Cycle.
 Description
This element covers factual description of the event, which has happened in the course of
working. While working as a nurse, I have to strengthen my skill and competency level in order
to. I was working as a nurse in Barchester healthcare under my mentor and assigned to take care
of a 60 year old man in the oncology department. He was suffering from stomach cancer and was
extremely distressed both mentally and physically. I had also noticed that he had some problems
in verbal communication. By the time, he was informed that, radiotherapy will be applied
shortly, he started crying and hit his head at pillow. There lies the significance of patience, which
had helped me to support the patients at the point of time. I have tried to make him understand
the impact of radio therapy in lowering stomach cancer. As the patients has some difficulties in

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verbal communication, I have used effective body language and tried to spoke with him very
slowly in order to calm the upset patient.
 Feelings
Prior to the incident, I was known to the fact that the nurses are only assigned for providing
medications to patients. However, while working in the oncology department in Barchester
healthcare, I had understood that, it is the prime responsibility of the nurses provide the patients
with immense mental support in order to protect their emotional wellbeing. There lies the
significance of confidence which has served me with the ability to support the patient suffering
from stomach cancer mentally. In addition to that, appropriate usage of humor is also a greatest
skill of nurses. With the assistance of this skill, I have become able to maintain a peaceful
environment with the patients.
 Evaluation
From the experience, I have learned that the level of proficiency among the nurse is one of
the most important factors in improving experience among the service users. In the oncology
department, it was my duty to execute physical examination of the patient suffering from
stomach cancer and thereby evaluate his physical condition. In addition, I was assigned to
administer medication of the patient and thereby make necessary recommendation regarding
diagnosis of the patient. There lies the significance of professional skill of the nurses. As radio
therapy has certain side effects, it is the prime responsibility of nurses to provide mental supports
to the patients, which is the key of protecting the emotional wellbeing of the patients. At the
same time, it is the duty of service providers to protect the confidentiality of patients. I have also
ensured that all my colleagues are aware regarding the learning challenges of the patient,

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suffering from stomach cancer. I have shared all the information with my colleagues, which has
paved the way of strengthening cohesiveness within the group.
 Analysis
It is the duty of nurses to evaluate an incident properly in terms of assessing the same from
various aspects. In mu nursing course, I have learned that people suffering from learning
difficulties often face challenges in the way of coping up with a new situation. They holds a
problematic behavior, which makes it difficult for them to deal with any kind of uneven
circumstances. This is the reason, for which the nurses have to maintain healthy interaction with
the patients with learning difficulties. In my nursing course, I have developed my
communication skill and executed it in order to explore the likes and dislikes of the patients
suffering from stomach cancer. This is the way, through which I have also addressed his
potential fear by giving him detailed information regarding radio-therapy. As the patient has
some learning difficulty, I have implemented holistic approach in terms of dealing with him
gently. I have made eye contact and allocated more time in order to interact with the patient.
Lack of communication is one of the greatest problems, faced by the people with learning
disabilities, to access superior quality of healthcare. Therefore, communication is the greatest
interpersonal skill, which needs to be strengthened by the nurses. This is the way, through which
they can be able to serve necessary health related information to the patients and the family
members. Ensuring equality in terms of providing healthcare is also a greatest skill of proficient
healthcare practitioners. Being a junior nurse working in the oncology department of Barchester
Healthcare, it is my duty to follow professional code of conduct, which is the key of treating with
all the patients equally, without making any kind of discrimination.

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 Conclusion
Based on my nursing experience with the patient suffering from stomach cancer, I have
gained insight regarding the fact that assertiveness and extreme professionalism are not the key
factor in promoting career as a nurse. I have learned that, both verbal and non-verbal
communication play a major role in the way of maintaining healthy interaction with the patients
and thus providing them detailed information with the patients. I have also learned that strong
relationship with the colleagues is also a very important factor in taking care of the patients in a
collaborative manner. This is the way, through which comprehensiveness of care can be
accelerated.
 Action Plan
Based on the nursing experience with the patient suffering from stomach cancer, it can be
concluded by saying that, the healthcare practitioners should be highly proficient. This is the
only mode of dealing with a patient, suffering from any kind of professional difficulty. Thus, I
have to be extremely proficient in terms of dealing with a patient, suffering from severe disease.
I have to deal with a patient with intense stress by ensuring the fact that all the information,
related to the patient has been sent to all of my colleagues. In addition to that, I have to address
all the relevant requirements of the patient, by altering the approach, as he is suffering from
severe learning difficulties. It is my duty to respect the dignity along with confidentiality of the
patient. I will maintain the professional standard of nursing, which is very much needed in order
to promote health and wellbeing of the patients.

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Blogs- Summative task
LO1: Critically analyses leadership and management concepts in the development
of self, and others within the team.
Due to increased complexity, the healthcare organization always requires strong
coordination in between the staffs. Shirley and David (2016) stressed on the ground that this is
the way, through which required services can be provided. There lies the significance of both
leadership and management of terms of running a healthcare organization in a collaborative
manner. In-depth discussion regarding leadership and management in the context of healthcare is
discussed below:
Role of leadership:
Leadership is one of the most significant factors in running a healthcare organization in a
collaborative manner. In order to ensure responsive healthcare, the organizations should
implement effective leadership strategy. This is the way, through which the care workers can be
focused towards appropriate direction. Taking responsibility and acknowledging the ownership
of both success and failure are some of the most important characteristics of proficient leader.
White et al. (2016) observed the fact that healthcare facility can be considered as unique
environment, in which the patients are the top most prosperity. Thus, it is the prime
responsibility of successful leaders to convey the mission and vision of the healthcare system
among the staffs. Through this way, the staffs can have a firm understanding regarding their
roles and responsibilities.
Effective leadership plays a major role in the way of appropriate administration of the
staffs. This is the way, through which the staffs can focus on their core responsibilities. As

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healthcare is one of the most regulated industries, strong adherence to rules and regulations is
very much needed in terms of running the internal functionality in a lawful manner. According to
Yoder-Wise and Patricia (2014), there lies the significance of leadership, as it supports in
satisfying the regulatory standard. Ensuring sustainable development of the staffs is also major
responsibility of leadership. In the context of healthcare, leaders hold the responsibility of
assessing existing skills and among the staffs and take strong action in terms of strengthening the
ability of clinical supervision among them. With the assistance of comprehensive leadership
strategy, Barchester Healthcare is becoming able to embed an independent culture and thereby
promote wellbeing especially among the people with mental health related issue. At the same
time, strong leadership strategy is also helping Barchester Healthcare to ensure diversity in their
organization, which is very much needed in order to provide service to the patients from different
cultural and social background ((Barchester, 2018).
Implication of management in healthcare:
Management is defined as one of the major processes of aligning all the functions within
a single platform and thereby provide services among the patients in a collaborative manner.
Quince et al. (2014) shaded light on the fact that in the healthcare organization, appropriate
management is very much needed in terms of coordinating all the services, which will be
provided among the patients. In healthcare management, appropriate management plays a major
role in the way of perceiving any kind of negative issues and take prompt action to mitigate the
same. Implementation of legal polices is one of the major responsibilities hold by the
management in the health and social care organization. It is the role of management to
implement strong safety policy, which is very much needed to protect the patients from any kind
of irrelevant circumstances. Implementation of effective policy makes it easy for the healthcare

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organizations to work properly in the contemporary medical system. Thomas (2015) stated that
keeping the status quo of a firm is also a major significance of management. In the context of
health and social care, appropriate management plays a major role in assessing current
operational process and exploring the areas of improvement. This is the way, though which the
internal functionality of a business can be strengthened.
Healthcare management, in its simplest form can be defined as healthcare administration,
through which healthcare system can be administered from various aspects. The management of
Barchester Healthcare is highly committed towards strengthening skills among the nurses. Bi-
annual Performance Development Plan is being followed by them in terms of encouraging the
nurses to review their performance level annually and take action accordingly in terms of
improving the same. Barchester operates their own business school in order to offer course
among the junior nurses. Through this way, the nurses can be able to strengthen their clinical
leadership skill (Barchester.com. 2018).
LO3: Utilize key concepts in decision making and problem solving applied to both
professional and organizational goals.
Due to the complicated and dynamic nature, it is the prime responsibility of the
management of healthcare organizations to implement critical approach. This is the key of
maintain consistency of services. As showed by D’Andreamatteo et al. (2015) it is evident that
in the contemporary times, the healthcare sector is becoming extremely volatile due to the
inclusion of diverse range of patients suffering from different types of diseases. Thus, the
approaches needed for dealing with them should also be unique. There lies the significance of
problem solving approach, which can serve the healthcare practitioners with the ability to
provide superior services to the patients and thereby protect their health and wellbeing. One of

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the most significant approaches of problem solving is that, it is supports in applying apt
treatment to the patients in accordance with their health and wellbeing. This is the mode of
applying relevant research technique in terms of analyzing the extent of problem of a patient.
Huber and Diane (2017) showed the fact that it is the prime responsibility of the doctors to
evaluate all the health related problems of a patient before applying any kind of treatment.
Problem solving, in its simplest form is considered as the systematic approach evaluating
any kind of difficult situation and take creative decision accordingly in order to mitigate the
problematic situation. Taylor et al. (2014) put stress on the ground that the healthcare providers
must be highly committed to act in extremely proficient manner in order to solve crucial clinical
problems of the service users. In-depth assessment is the initial and most important aspect of
executing problem solving approach. The healthcare practitioners of Barchester healthcare must
recognize the underlying problem at the initial step. This is the key of finding the best solution to
any impending problem. Swanwick and Judy (2017) observed that it is the duty of healthcare
providers to be extremely aware regarding the main problem of a patient such as increase in the
severity of wound, claim of pain, changes in behavior along with stress and anxiety.
Identification of problem can make it easy for the healthcare practitioners to apply the best
treatment to the patients by investigating their problem. Analysis is the second most important
aspect of problem solving. Spurgeon et al. (2017) highlighted by saying that the healthcare
practitioners should be highly committed towards analyzing any kind of health related issue of
patients from different perspectives. This is the way, through which they can have multiple
solution to any problem. Solution-focused and Cause-focused are two major ways, through
which the healthcare practitioners can evaluate the problem. Under solution-focused approach,
the healthcare practitioners can recommend physicians the medicines. On the other hand, in cost-

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focused approach, the healthcare practitioners can evaluate the effect of a wound of a patient
before taking any kind of decision. Execution of this approach supports the healthcare
practitioners to build strong relationship with that of the patients in order to determine the degree
of anxiety, which can have a firm impact on providing treatment to them.
Decision making is a major aspect of health and social care, through which, the
comprehensiveness of care can be accelerated. This is the way, through which the team of
healthcare practitioners can act in a collaborative manner and thereby promote health and
wellbeing of the patients. Based on the observation of West et al. (2014) it can be said that as the
complexity in the context of health and social care is increasing in a rapid manner, decision
making is also gaining wide admiration in recent times. This is basically the process of making
effective decision related to the best clinical care of the patients. Shared Decision Making is
needed to be considered in this context, as it helps the team of healthcare practitioners to take
any kind of decision in a collaborative manner and thereby ensure superior care of the patients.
Shared decision making is the best way of deciding the best option together. The patients
generally suffer from different various up and downs. Thus, Tsai et al. (2015) hold the perception
that execution of shared decision making also supports the healthcare practitioners to deal with
the challenges, faced by the patients. In addition to that, shared decision also supports the service
providers to perceive the risk and benefits of each of the options before applying them in the
final context.
LO4: Critically analyze change management theory in order to support
organizational innovation and development initiatives.
The nature of health and social care sector is increasing in a rapid manner due to the
inclusion of different types of patients along with multiple rules and regulations. In addition to

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that, the uncertainty in the health and social care sector is also increasing in a drastic manner.
Thus. Appropriate management of change is one of the most significant aspects of this sector.
This is the key of ensuring innovation while providing treatment to the patients. Thus, the
healthcare practitioners should be highly obliged towards maintaining their level of expertise,
which is the key of undertaking effective professional practices and thereby promote health and
wellbeing of the patients. Shanks and Nancy (2016) commented that change management is
basically the process of dealing with any kind of complexity in the healthcare system. It
comprises of analyzing, making comprehensive planning, and implementing effective strategies
and thereby provide treatment to the patients in an innovative manner. This is one of the most
dynamic and planned processes which serves the healthcare organizations with the ability to
promote growth of the firm. The healthcare sector is becoming highly volatile in recent times due
to the changing requirements of the patients. As highlighted by Thomas (2015) there lies the
significance of change management, as it supports in altering behavior of the healthcare
practitioners and thus enable them to follow professional standard of practices.
One of the most significant advantages of change management is that, it supports the
management of healthcare organizations to align all the necessary resources and thereby run the
internal functionality in a timely and cost effective manner. Through this way, the overall
effectiveness of healthcare organizations can be assessed. Huber and Diane (2014) observed that
Rapid development of technology is acting as a driving forces behind the organizations
irrespective of every sector to integrate high end technology in their internal process in order to
promote growth. There lies the significance of change management, which can have a firm
impact on integrating innovation in the conventional process. This process has played a major
role in the way of revolutionizing both diagnostic and therapeutic options, which is the key of

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providing superior care to the patients and thus ensure health and wellbeing of them. There are
some of the unprecedented challenges such as improving quality of life of the patients, reducing
the harm and paving the way for them to access superior quality of health care. So, innovation is
becoming one of the most significant ways of to deliver superior care to the patients and thus
generate satisfaction among them (West et al. 2014).
Conclusion:
Based on the discussion, it can be concluded by saying that the degree uncertainty in the
healthcare sector is increasing in a rapid manner due to the changing requirements of the service
users. Thus, effective leadership strategy needs to be integrated in terms of leading the healthcare
practitioners in such a manner, which can help them to offer superior care to the staffs.
Conveying the fundamental mission of healthcare system with the staffs is the initial and most
fundamental step of keeping the aligned with that of the organizational goals and objectives.
Leadership is the great way of administering the staffs in an appropriate manner and foster
positive behavior among them. In addition to that, proactive leadership also plays a major role in
strengthening skill and competency among the staffs. Apt management of healthcare
organizations is the way of amplifying internal process. It is the duty of nurses to serve the
patients with immense mental support, which is the key of promoting wellbeing of them and thus
accelerate their quality of life.

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References:
Barchester.com. (2018). Staff Development at core of Barchester's workforce commitment |
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D’Andreamatteo, Antonio, Luca Ianni, Federico Lega, and Massimo Sargiacomo. "Lean in
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Ginter, Peter M., W. Jack Duncan, and Linda E. Swayne. The strategic management of health
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Shirley, David. Project management for healthcare. CRC Press, 2016.

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