2 – Unit 6 – Personal and Professional Development in the Health and Social Care Sector

1.1 Outline careers and job roles in health and social care.

The health and social care sector includes many career options, from clinical roles such as doctors and nurses to administrative positions like medical secretaries. Access points for careers in this field include further education (such as apprenticeships), university courses, or on-the-job training programmes. Some job titles available within the industry are Care Workers, Support Workers, Physiotherapists Assistants; Occupational Therapy Technicians; Community Psychiatric Nurses; Social Services Officers; Medical Secretaries; Counsellors, Therapists etc.

Each of these jobs comes with specific duties that must be fulfilled by those who hold them.

Care workers: They provide physical support to clients, which may involve personal hygiene tasks such as bathing or helping clients use the toilet. This role also consists in providing emotional and psychological support to clients.

Support workers: They assist with daily tasks such as meal preparation or grocery shopping. Support workers may also participate in recreational activities or outings with their clients.

Physiotherapist Assistants: They assist qualified physiotherapists by carrying out physical exercises with patients under their supervision and instruction.

Occupational Therapy Technicians: Occupational therapy technicians work alongside occupational therapists to help rehabilitate individuals recovering from an injury, illness, disability etc., often through specially designed equipment for therapeutic purposes, such as orthotics (splints).

Community Psychiatric Nurses: Community psychiatric nurses specialise in mental health care; they provide assessments and treatment plans that include psychotherapy interventions for people affected by mental health issues such as anxiety disorders or depression. In addition, they offer advice on healthy lifestyle choices like exercise, which can improve well-being outcomes for those receiving services from them within a community setting.

Other answers in the full document:

• 1.2 Explain progression within a chosen health and social care career area.
• 1.3 Analyse skills and knowledge required for a specific health and social care role.
• 2.1 Identify standards relating to professional development in health and social care.
• 2.2 Assess the need for continuing professional development in health and social care.
• 3.1 Explain what is meant by reflective practice.
• 3.2 Explain theoretical models of reflective practice.
• 3.3 Analyse the impact of own attitudes, values and beliefs on the provision and practice of care.
• 3.4 Reflect on own learning.
• 4.1 Outline the stages in planning own personal and professional development.
• 4.2 Explain how to identify development needs.
• 4.3 Explain how to write SMART targets for own personal development.
• 4.4 Create own personal development plan for a chosen career role.