UNIT 1
3.1

4.3

UNIT 2

EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE IN CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED.

2.1 Reflective practice is imperative in order to ensure that high standards are kept continuously as circumstances. In order to reflect one must continuously be aware of approaches used and how they can be changed or developed to improve. Continually improving and adopting approaches benefits both individual and practitioners ensuring that each individual needs are catered for. Reflective practice involves evolving in individual person centered approach. The carer benefits as his/her skills grow and develop, enabling the highest standards of care and provision. It also promotes a better level of understanding and acceptance of those different from us, taking on board the opinions, cultures and attitudes of others to ensure a diverse and positively productive daily experience that enables higher levels of understanding from all. It also fosters personal and team development because of a reflective practice evolves our experiences, thus enabling higher standards of learning experiences. Experiences can only be beneficial when it is either a positive experience (good practice) or negative experience that is reflected upon the consequently changed and improved. Carers that deem experience alone as credential to good practice are not developing, learning and reaching their fullest potential. Instead they are ‘stuck’ in practices and habits that may be over used, bad practice or practice that has not reached it’s full potential. Kolb supports this view within his experimental learning cycle. Kolb values the importance of concrete experience 1) Observation and reflection 2) Forming abstract concepts 3)and testing in new situations 4) without reflection, the working link between each experience is lost and therefore left underdeveloped.

DESCRIBE HOW OWN VALUES, BELIEF SYSTEMS AND EXPERIENCES MAY AFFECT WORKING PRACTICE

2.3 Everyone has different values, beliefs and preferences. What you believe in, what you see as important and what you see as acceptable or desirable is an essential part of who you are. The way in which you respond to people is linked to what you believe in, what you consider important and what interests you. You may find you react positively to people who share your values and less warmly to people who have different priorities. When you develop friendships, it is natural to spend time with people who share your interests and values. However, the professional relationships you develop with people you support are another matter. As a professional, you are required to provide the same quality of support for all, not just for those who share your views and beliefs. This may seem obvious, but knowing what you need to do and achieving it successfully are not the same thing. Working in the care sector, you are bound to come across people whose views you do not agree with, and who never seem to understand your point of view. Awareness of differences, your reaction to them and how they affect the way you work is a crucial part of personal and professional development. If you allow your own preferences to dominate your work with people, you will fail to perform to the standards of the Codes of Practice for care workers set out by the UK regulating bodies. All the codes require care workers to respect and promote people’s individual views and wishes. But how do you manage to make the right responses when there is a clash between your views and those of the people you are working for? The first step is to identify and understand your own views and values. Being aware of the factors that have influenced the development of your personality is not as easy as it sounds....

EVALUATE OWN KNOWLEDGE, PERFORMANCE AND UNDERSTANDING AGAINST RELEVANT STANDARDS.

3.1 This is about reflecting on and evaluating honestly your own performance, and discovering ways to