Importance of Professional Development in Health and Social Care

This report delves into the principles of professional development within the healthcare sector, emphasizing continuous improvement in practice. It identifies potential barriers such as personal and financial issues, and organizational limitations, while also exploring various learning opportunities including books, training courses, the internet, supervision, and formal and informal support systems. The report contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of each source and how they can be utilized effectively. It also outlines factors for selecting opportunities to keep knowledge and practice up to date, and details the importance of reflective practice for improving performance, including comparing different models and the role of feedback. Overall, this report provides a comprehensive overview of professional development, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation within the evolving healthcare landscape.

Promote Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Importance of continuous improvement in practice..............................................................1
1.2 Potential barriers to professional developments...................................................................2
1.3 Difference between different sources and system support for professional development . .3
1.4 factors of selecting opportunities for keeping knowledge and practice ...............................4
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluate own knowledge and performance against benchmarks ........................................5
2.2 Prioritise development goals to meet expected standards ....................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Learning opportunities to meet development objectives and reflect learning style .............6
3.2 Plan for own professional development, using source of support .......................................7
3.3 Establish process to evaluate effectiveness of plan .............................................................8
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Compare models of reflective practice ................................................................................8
4.2 The importance of reflective practice to improve performance ........................................11
4.3 reflective practice and feedback from others to improve performance ..............................11
4.4 practice has been improved through reflection on best practice and on failures and
mistakes ....................................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................13
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Professional development can be described as a learning to earn so that one can maintain
the professional theoretical degrees, certification, informal learning, conferences and formal
coursework (Wilson, 2013). It is known as very collaborative and incentive, very in-corporative
at the evaluative stage. These professional developments will vary from the workshop to long
educational course, and the services which are provided by the provides the development. This
assignment goes around the principles of professional development along with potential barrier
and opportunities through which they keep knowledge and practice up to date (Zepeda, 2011).
This also include the targets for professional development and able to prepare plan for this. So,
through this, they will be able to perform well by reflective practices.
TASK1
1.1 Importance of continuous improvement in practice.
Working in the Health care sector is not so static stream. All the rules, legislations and
guidance gradually keep on changing . To provide the best services to their customers and to be
able to support their staff so that they must be totally aware of the changes in this industry, this
demands for professionalism. They update themselves in every field which is trending in the
current health and social care (Wasik and Hindman, 20112). So, it is important to be aware of
such trending practices, Social care and contemporary in health. Being informed from these
allow them to learn and evolving new skills and knowledge too. If the more concerned about
these continually improving practices and skills so, that will lead to be beneficial for every one
such as clients, their business and obviously staff too. Some quality services make sure about the
good practices, for that the mangers conduct the relevant and continuously training and
development programmes so update them and help them in cope up with the environments.
Training should be known by the final appraisal through which they reviewed all the supervision
where they get positive as well as negative feedback which is appropriate to show training
received into the job role therefore, for improving and modified their practices and along with
this skills too .
In the addition, it must is essential for the newly appointed unqualified staff, that must be
complete the induction and orientation along with training for skills. So, they care with
specification within 2 months of appointment. Learning is only achieved by the training that will

assist new employees in NHS to provide good quality of services to their clients and in order to
meet the needs of individual plans of care.
One of the main benefit of continuous improvements is that it help in offer better and
improve services to clients. This learning can be achieved with the help of training and various
workshop programs.
1.2 Potential barriers to professional developments.
There are number of potential barriers to the professional development. Personal issues
keep affect to the work place too and it disturb the work life balance. It is quite hard task for an
individual to keep balance between the both professional as well as personal life and manage
them appropriately.
Financial circumstances can become barrier for the both organisation and individual. In
the current scenario, the central government on the asceticism drive so that they can squeeze on
the budget of health and care. It is little bit harder for the employers to arrange and provide the
external training sources for the staff and themselves too.
 There can be lack of resources and the budget through which NHS provide health and
care services.
 Some time for the training and development programmes they have to manage by their
own budget.
 They have limited resources through which they can provide facilities and services due to
the lack of financial budgets.
There can be organisational barriers also, in this the line managers or in the above may
intentionally I don't want to get succeed of any individual. So on, because they already worried
about their respective positions. There are times when staff issues and conflicts also affect on the
personal improvisation and development. There can be poor communication circumstances
which may be affect on the improvisation and proper learning and training period.
 Staff shortage can also be a barrier, if there is shortage in staff then there would be
complicated and difficult task for the the organisation to provide best facilities and
services.
 No training and development opportunity can also be a hurdle in the organisation
(Stein ,201). This help them to update with the current scenario and legislation along with
best practices too.

 No proper supervision and annual appraisal system also a barrier to them. Through this
they can motivate the staff to do work more efficiently and effectively by providing best
services.
From all barrier one of the main obstacle arise during personal and professional of an
individual is financial circumstances. To avoid such kind of problems it is very essential to
formulate a budget by consider all elements of learning programme.
1.3 Difference between different sources and system support for professional development .
Source Strengths Weaknesses How to use this
Books This source is very
informative which is
consist of knowledge. It
found as a reliable
source.
It quickly gets outdated. This type of resources are
appropriate for people who
works in business and gets
various knowledge and skills
through the books that are
related with personal and
professional development
theories.
Training
Courses
They handover the
practical knowledge and
try to share cognition.
They make sure to
implement on the
theoretical knowledge.
Sometimes organisation
may not be too willing
to finance their training.
In this modern world each
business organisation is
concern on providing training
session to their new and
existing employees in order
to developing their skills and
ability to perform any task
and duty which are assigned
by organisation. In the sector
of health and social care
training is needed to each
employee, so that they can
provide valid and proper

treatment to patients and
clients.
Internet It is very quick, easily
accessible from
anywhere, any time and
it basically consist of
wide range of
information.
Too much information.
They should be
concerned about the
very right question when
they are searching and it
is not always reliable
source.
In this modern era this can be
considered as the most
effective tool which is widely
used by each individual in
their personal as well as
professional life. In business
organisations internet is
widely applied by each
department in order to
gaining appropriate and idea
about any topic. Internet
made humans life more easy
and simple as it helps in
providing data and
information in limited period
of time. In the sector of
health and social care the use
of internet is very wide as it
is used by staff people in
resolving some kind of
serving high range of
treatment to their clients.
Supervisors It is very focused and
structured and their main
agenda is to agreed and
then discuss.
It is difficult in the entire
organisation to supervise
regularly and at each
staffing levels. There is
few times lack of the
good and meaningful
Supervisor plays most
effective part within an
organisation through
providing assistance to their
employees at work place, so
that desired goals and

discussions. objectives can be attained in
systematic manner.
Supervisor has some power
to utilise them in effective
and appropriate manner and
guide their subordinates for
improving their working
ability to perform any task
and duty.
Informal
support
Getting favour and
support from the
mentors as well as peers
and colleagues too.
In this the informational
might be subjective,
misread by the giver.
Sometimes the giver
may also mislead the
individual.
In order to achieving growth
and success at market place
informal support plays most
effective role taking proper
decision for benefits of firm.
Formal
support
In the regular appraisal,
can be identify the areas
where an the individual
demands for the
improvement and
development by the
training.
Both affair demands for
the commit which is in
the process.
Organisation provide formal
support through providing
regular support to their
employees who are having
significant skills to gaining
high growth in career.
Line
managers
Knowledge of the
wealth can be monitored
and that should be with
the recent as well as
current industry news.
This may not be so
willing to pass an
information due to the
personal reasons. This
might not ensure to
performing their own
personal improvisation
and not so up to date
Line manager can be
considered as the most
effective part of organisation
who perform various task in
developing organisational
performance at higher level.
They helps in providing
proper guidance to their

with the recent practices. employees who are involved
in the production process.
On line
source
It is already modified
and relevant, All it needs
to know about the
current legislation to be
updated.
None
1.4 factors of selecting opportunities for keeping knowledge and practice .
NHS need to consider the relationship in between the cost and time. It definably will take
time to keep and update with the current knowledge and apply with the best practices, they have
to keep balance between the existing either updated cognition and with the applied practices.
This must be important and play essential role in the health and services scenario. They have to
consider the quality and the relevance of the other information, information they get from the
few of sources such as NICE and CQX which is very important (Russell and Korthagen, 2013).
It is also essential for the NHS so they can analyse that whether the training is relevant for the
job role or not. For example, it is needed and necessary to attend the training sessions so that
they got to know about the services and they understand better about the affluence which is
complicated. They also get to know about how to treat them in that particular way so it will be
recover soon such diseases are Parkinson's and dementia.
It is convenient for the staff that would be the impossible for them to have more than one-
day sessions which all staff can attend. This will be beneficial for them and it also promote the
personal development along with this will be beneficiary for the services which is provided to
the clients and the team. Particularly the training process is quite effective and there are various
factors through which they consider the opportunities of selection and the activities for keeping
the practices and knowledge in the best possible way.
In order to develop practices at work place there should be time and money required
which are useful for them in order to complete all their operations in specified time that have
been allotted to them. The personal centred approaches are applied in order to resolve barriers

which are faced by people so they will not face any type of difficulty while completing their
assigned targets. There should be plans developed so persons will be able to under stand what the
other persons wants to say to them. There targets should be achieved in the desired times that
have been allotted to them so they will achieve growth and success in their overall business
operations.
TASK 2
2.1 Evaluate own knowledge and performance against benchmarks.
There is the code of the practices for social care workers, which is must to be assist the
responsibility of the quality of their own work (Rodesiler and McGuire, 2015). They take the
accountability for sustaining and progressing as well as improvising their skills and knowledge
to cope up with the modified environment. National Occupational Standards (NOS) also defined
the practice of paramount by bringing their own skills altogether. These NOS are very valuable
tools and they used them as a benchmark as well as standards too for their qualification and their
staff recruitments, outlining the roles at work, appraisal and supervision. There are some
important standards for their safety and their quality which simply states to the certainty which
demands to be care for their qualified staffs. In this they engage with the services and activities
for the patient's health and welfare. they need and requires the staff which is qualified
appropriately (Reeves, 2012).
In addition, the user of services tends to be look after the staff which demands for the
negotiate the chances and possibilities to improve and develop their skills. Care Standards Act
(2000), CSA created latest framework in which they regulated the social aid and independent
health care employment. This act basically has two fundamental aims which protect the
vulnerable people from the abusive words and neglect. They encourage maximum standardized
at the work place which can be positive and they ensure them for the best activity as possible.
This is used for preserving the quality services which can be used as a benchmark. This will not
be enough able to care to be tough and to provide the best available services for their residents
and staff.

2.2 Prioritise development goals to meet expected standards.
In the development goals and target must include the enrolling course which give them
extraordinary informative skills as they needed to cope up with the current legislation and do
practices in their best way. Specifically, their priority is to arrange good training and
development course because it is the demand and requirement of the current practices. They
already identify like how they will perform their mental capacity and training in their profession.
It is essential for them to learn basic knowledge which increase to their enrolled course and get
the skills what they needed (Quinton and Smallbone, 2010). NHS consider that the targets and
goals, which decide what they needed and requires to complete their team and themselves in the
concern of great knowledge theoretical as well as practical. Sometimes in this scenario, they dint
got available resources through which the organisation need more money and funding to pay for
the training. Using the working skills and knowledge as a senior care assistant, which is
facilitating them to achieve their goals and targets so they can complete their task and courses
(Palloff and Pratt 2011).
To make them effective job role they demand for a good plan. Having a good and visible
plan helps them to see quick review over the task on the daily basis and analyse them by
checking and understand their work targets and objectives. It basically also help them, to agree
on the timescale and goals which assist them in managing as well as performing well. Planning
skills is very essential to their efficiency and job profile. They have to set the strong and
achievable targets which help them to accomplish by time and help the staff for doing the same
effective and hard work.
It is very essential to set priorities in order to develop special skills in order to offer better
and effective services to customers.
TASK 3
3.1 Learning opportunities to meet development objectives and reflect learning style.
It is good to have plans for personal evaluation which accurately helps them to take
responsibility for their own self improvisation, this will motivate them to strengthen and promote
their skill and to be aware of strengths and weaknesses through which they are able to
accomplish their NHS goals and targets (Odom, Cox, Brock, 2013). They also analyse that what
training they might be required for fulfilling their future plans. There are few major stages

through which they will able to complete their aim by achieving their targets are as compel with
process:-
This is must to consider their skills and strengths as well as weaknesses. There are some
major areas which demands for empowerment the strength and develop or improve the
weakness. They demands for the develop and then analyse the skills. They made a strategy or
plan through which they can achieve their objectives. They also analyse if they demands for
more training before actual practical work. Every plans and strategy need for support from the
team which help them to implement the idea. It is important to measure and reviewing the
arrangement to ensuring that all steps are going well or not. There is various style of learning
adopt by various individual. This NHS organisation seems realist more which keen to test the
things out in the practice and who try experimenting with their new ideas With the goals of
providing great services. Therefore, Verbal communication is another learning style which
associates with using of words appropriately for the reading, listening, writing reports and
speaking (Nicholls, 2014). This could be use the words through which they explain the
situations, which meant to be complicated at the work place. In this, it is essential to choose the
words carefully and gather information because it can also mislead to the other by the improper
use of words.
Leadership style:

This is an trial and error approach which plays effective role in learning. It is applied with
permission. This is developed by Honey and Alan Mumford that is based upon the work of kolb
and they determined four distinct leadership style such as activist, theorist, pragmatist and
reflector.
3.2 Plan for own professional development, using source of support .
To plan in advance, traditional training of the capabilities and work skills that links
course to the organizational performance it is necessary to improve. This is I must have to
identify the gaps, needs and priorities. These are some of the examples of the actuation of
training which may increase the training requirements. It is barely use by these aspects in the
training needs, instead I would select the one which is kind of most suitable to my own business
improvement and performance along with this people development too. This is formal as well as
informal opportunities through which they find targets, goals and objectives for personal
development. For example :- Being monitored is another experienced manager (Moon, 2013).
I might consider all accredited as well as non accredited courses that would help me to
enhance my management skills and performance at the workplace. That will give me all the
required management qualification. So, through this I find and evaluate my own learning style
and recognise within the plan. It would help me to assist and consider the evaluation of training
plan, monitor and review the plan and the development of the time frame. To collect the
information and evidences of the accomplishment and performance, self appraisal against the
targets. I would validate the plan with the chosen instructions, mentor or colleague. This frames
at the informal meetings and conferences at the meeting of supervision where the result of my
training must be evaluate and fully documented by them. As the piece of the course I have
undertaken the few learning styles questionnaire in which it puts to the people into the four
classified characteristics are as follows :- Pragmatist, activist, theorist and reflector.