Professional Practice Report: Episode of Care and Legislation Impact

This report provides an analysis of a professional practice experience within a community placement affiliated with the National Health Service (NHS). It centers on the care provided to a patient named Whang, focusing on the episode of care and its impact on professional values. The report links key points from community service policies to the episode, emphasizing the importance of integrated care and the patient's rights. It examines the influence of relevant UK legislation, particularly the Equality Act, and its impact on the care provided, highlighting the importance of staff training and communication. The author reflects on the positive impact of policy and legislation on patient care, aligning the episode with quality indicators in the health and social care sector and emphasizing the importance of patient-centeredness and effective treatment. The report underscores the development of professional values through this experience, including ensuring clear communication and preventing discrimination.

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INTRODUCTION TO
PROFESSIONAL
PRACTICE

Table of Contents
Patient and Episode of Care.............................................................................................................1
Linking Key points from the policy to the Episode.........................................................................1
Relevant UK legislation and how it impacted the Episode of Care.................................................1
Impact of Policy and Legislation on the Care..................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

Patient and Episode of Care
Professional Practice, in my perspective is the care provided to people which requires a
person to catering to the needs of individuals who need medical or communal help. The episode
of care is during my community placement in a welfare home which was affiliated by National
Health Service (NHS). The patient which this is based on is named Whang, and his name has
been changed due to confidentiality regulations. The overall experience and episode of care was
quite enriching for me as it contributed towards development of my professional value which is
imperative towards enhancing one’s professional approach within the community service centre.
Linking Key points from the policy to the Episode
The national policy on community services which was implemented in the episode of
care supports and governs the right of an integrated care to Whang. Moreover, this contributed
towards my professional values as I realised that no patient under any circumstance must be
isolated regardless of any condition as this promotes mental health which is unethical in medical
profession.
Relevant UK legislation and how it impacted the Episode of Care
I personally found a very negative relationship between the Equality Act and the current
practice at that time which was showcased within the care home with Whang. This was because
the current practice was a complete violation of professional values, as well as a clear example of
discrimination in the care facility. However, after its implementation, the staff members were
forced to take necessary training in order to communicate with Whang and other cross-cultured
individuals and it made them provide best treatment to these patients. Hence, while rest of the
staff indulged in professional training, I was supporting Whang through the dialect and
improving his sign language, which would allow him to appropriately converse with other
individuals. Therefore, within my professional values I ensured that communication knowledge
is being provided by all parties involved.
Impact of Policy and Legislation on the Care
This episode of care could be linked with the several quality indicators within health and
social care sector of the United Kingdom, which currently revolves around domains such as
Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, Safety, Timeliness, Patient-centeredness, which according to
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me were crucial and integral part of delivery of health and social care services. The whole
episode of care was impacted positively through the implementation of policy and legislation
mentioned above as now Whang is being treated effectively and he won’t be living in constant
state of paranoia, fear and insecurity about any discriminatory actions or activity happening with
him. In addition to this, it contributed towards the professional values of myself, as well as other
individuals involved in the case, as with the policy of integrated caring, the staff came together
and ensured that Whang’s needs and treatment are taken care of appropriately. Moreover, I
worked towards ensuring that at no point must there be any ambiguity in communication
initiated by Whang, as this might lead to discrimination.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Crane, L., and et. al., 2019. ‘Something needs to change’: Mental health experiences of young
autistic adults in England. Autism. 23(2). pp.477-493.
Devlin, N.J., and et. al., 2018. Valuing health‐related quality of life: An EQ‐5 D‐5 L value set for
E ngland. Health economics. 27(1). pp.7-22.
Hindi, A.M., Jacobs, S. and Schafheutle, E.I., 2019. Solidarity or dissonance? A systematic
review of pharmacist and GP views on community pharmacy services in the UK. Health
& social care in the community. 27(3). pp.565-598.
Keown, P., and et. al., 2018. Changes in the use of the Mental Health Act 1983 in England
1984/85 to 2015/16. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 213(4). pp.595-599.
Pearson, C. and Watson, N., 2018. Implementing health and social care integration in Scotland:
Renegotiating new partnerships in changing cultures of care. Health & Social Care in the
community. 26(3). pp.e396-e403.
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