PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Importance of Continually Improving Knowledge and Practice

improvement of knowledge and practices is of great significance; it is my responsibility as a senior care assistant and team leader to ensure constant professional development in my field. Continuous improvement in the practices and the skills involves taking measures necessary to keep the knowledge and skills at par with the latest updates in my field. Continuous improvement in the practice and knowledge is essential since it assists the professionals to remain informed with the vital skills, information, knowledge, and training. Also, being up to date as a team leader and senior health care assistant is critical since it aid in influencing other members in my field of world (B.R.W., 2014). The up to date information helps me to act as a good role model among my juniors (Bryar, 2016). A continuous improvement of the practices and knowledge helps the employees or the subordinates to carry out their roles more effectively. This is, in turn, effective in the advancement of the health care services in my organization.

1.2 Various Potential Barriers to the Professional Development

There exist various hindrances to professional development. As a team leader and senior assistant in nursing home care, I encounter various obstacles to the attaining Professional Development. One of the significant challenges that hinder professional development is the existence of poor communication. Poor communications mean that the knowledge and skills are not distributed effectively to the other employees in the organization (Bryar, 2016). Poor distribution of the skills and knowledge retards professional development. The other hindrance I encounter as a team leader in the nursing home is the lack of enough support from my seniors (Neal-Boylan, 2015). For instance, the lack of funds to source and disseminate the current knowledge, information, and skills.

• Comparison Between varying systems, and sources of support for professional development

The Formal and Informal Support

Formal support is a type of support which is curriculum-based, it is structured in a particular manner and time-constrained. On the other hand, informal support if not structured, not founded on the curriculum and is Open-ended.

The Appraisal and Supervision

Supervision is employed in nursing home care to aid the person to improve their abilities and prompt them their main duty of delivering health services to the patients (O’Brien & Jones, 2015). Appraisal, on the other hand, establishes needs of individual training as well as, the delegation of the tasks and the responsibilities amongst the stakeholders and employees in the nursing home.

1.4 Factors to consider while choosing the activities and opportunities for keeping practice and knowledge up to date.

There is a need to incorporate a self-focused approach to help in the planning and establishment of the decisions. It is critical to implement a plan that will create confidence and Condon enthusiasm amongst the group members and the employees in nursing home care. Various factors that need to be considered include;

The time frame; one of the factors to be put into consideration is the time frame. It is critical as a team leader to determine whether the implementation of the knowledge and the skills can be prolonged.

It is also ideal to consider the projected outcome of professional development. As a team leader and a senior assistant, I have to consider whether the intended professional development will upgrade the existing skills and knowledge or result in new knowledge and skills. As an assistant in a nursing home, I must ensure the continuity of professional development (O’Brien & Jones, 2015). I can be able to achieve this through inscribing reflective accounts, reading articles and attending the training.

Funding; it is critical first to determine the source of the funding for the professional development plan.

2.1 Evaluation of the performance and own knowledge against the standards and benchmarks.

I have to follow the various benchmarks and standards applied in healthcare to develop effective skills necessary for the running of my job as a senior health care assistant. Some of the standards and the benchmarks that I need to consider while in my field of work include the following; National Occupation Standards, and the General Social Care Council (GSCC). Following various standards and benchmarks can help me improve my performance. I have to engage in supervision, training, comply with the safety and health act requirement and the regulations set in the field of healthcare (Kenny, 2017). As a senior health care assistant, I always have to ensure that I follow the code of ethics and standards set to the letter. Continuous training will help me always to be updated with my understanding of protocols and knowledge.

3.2 A plan for my professional development using an appropriate source of support.

The plan for professional development needs to be Specific; it must be achievable, Measurable, Realistic and Time limit (SMART).

3.3 Establish a process to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan

As a senior healthcare assistant, I have to establish an effective strategy for professional development. First, I have to establish a time frame for monitoring and evaluating professional development frequently(Kenny, 2017). The act of monitoring and evaluation of the development plan should be conducted during the time of appraisal and supervision. The monitoring of the development plan should be conducted after every one year to track the progress.

4.1 Comparison of the Models of reflective practices

Schon introduced reflective practise in 1983. There are two significant reflective model practices (reflection on action and reflection in action). Reflection in action is a significant tool since it enables one to reason ahead. Reflection on the action, on the other hand, refers to a retrospective activity which enables practitioners to analyze and interpret elicited statistics from which they have engaged in.

4.2 The importance of reflective practice to improve performance

Reflective practice is critical for improving performance. The reflective practices play a vital and enhance in the establishment of positive decisions. Most of the reflective practices are established through the use of structured questions necessary to trigger reflection systematically and logically. Reflective practices offer opportunities to monitor shortcomings in skills and knowledge that can be replicated. In my case, reflective practices have enabled me to reflect on my experiences (negative and positive), and hence I can learn from those mistakes.

4.3 Use Reflective Practice and Feedback from Others to Improve Performance

Reflective practice refers to a tool used by individuals to improve their practice. Feedback is established about questionnaires; individuals learn to take responsibility once they begin to be reflective. Every questionnaire needs to relate to well-defined function and competency to evade muddled feedback.

4.4 a. Evaluation of practice has been improved through;

Reflection on best practice

As a senior healthcare assistant, a reflection on the best practice permits me to scrutinize how and why I undertake various activities. The practice also enables me to evaluate the benefits of multiple approaches to the other stakeholders in my organization and members of the group. Reflection of the best practice acts as a superior tool for the establishment of the skills.

4.4 b. How practice has been improved through;

Reflection on failures and mistakes

A reflection on the mistakes and failures plays a critical role in my position as a senior healthcare assistant. It assists me in identifying areas and gaps that need to be improved to help inspire learning, recognizing the needs of training. Despite that people are not willing to admit their failures, it is an essential step for learning.

References

B.R.W. (2014). A survey of evaluation practice readers. Evaluation Practice, 17(1), 85–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0886-1633(96)90043-4

Bryar, R. (2016). Expanding Nursing Knowledge. Understanding and researching your practice. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing, 2(3), 162–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1361-9004(98)80020-4

Kenny, L. (2017). Reflective practice. Nursing Standard, 31(43), 72–73. https://doi.org/10.7748/ns.31.43.72.s48

Neal-Boylan, L. (2015). Overcoming Barriers. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 31(4), 246–247. https://doi.org/10.1097/nnd.0000000000000186

O’Brien, J., & Jones, K. (2015). Professional learning or professional development? Or continuing professional learning and development? Changing terminology, policy and practice. Professional Development in Education, 40(5), 683–687. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2014.960688

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