1.1 Identify standards relating to professional development in health and social care.
Professional development is essential to keeping health and social care workers up-to-date with the latest advances in their field and helping them stay ahead of the curve. In the UK, there are a number of standards that health and social care professionals must adhere to in order to receive quality professional development.
One important standard is that all professional development should be evidence-based. This means that the training offered must have been tested and found effective by experts in the field. Furthermore, any training materials used should be accessible to everyone participating in it, regardless of their level of expertise. Also, all training programmes must comply with both national and local regulations governing professional development provisions.
The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is responsible for setting standards relating to professional development in the UK. The HCPC has developed a number of guidelines that health and social care professionals must follow when seeking or providing professional development.
Health and social care providers are required by law to participate in a minimum amount of accredited training every year. This training can be provided by either external organisations or within the healthcare provider itself. Providers must also ensure that their employees can access high-quality, evidence-based training programmes offered through accredited bodies. In addition, all staff who provide direct patient care – including nurses, doctors assistants, midwives, chaplains etc. – are obliged to undergo continuing professional development each year if they hold an appropriate licence or certification from their governing body(s).
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a statutory body responsible for protecting the public interest in the quality of health and social care services provided in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The CQC has developed guidelines relating to professional development that all healthcare providers must follow. In addition, the CQC frequently audits training programmes offered by external organisations to ensure they are of high quality.
Healthcare professionals who provide care or support to older people are required by law to have received appropriate training in order to comply with established regulations. This includes both compulsory basic training as well as more specific mandatory Continuing Professional Development courses relating specifically to older people’s needs. Healthcare providers must also make sure that their employees receive regular refresher courses, so they remain up-to-date with the latest developments in ageing research and practice.
The Learning & Skills Council (LSC) promotes lifelong learning opportunities across UK society, including within the health and social care sectors. As part of this mandate, LSC offers a range of free resources – such as eLearning modules – that can be used by health and social care professionals seeking professional development materials relevant to their field. Furthermore, LSC runs workshops such as those designed specifically for nurses working within dementia settings; these workshops aim to help nurses better understand how best practices related to dementia patient management can be incorporated into the everyday nursing workflow.
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2. Explain ‘continuing professional development’.
- 2.1. Discuss theoretical perspectives on reflection in relation to professional development.
- 2.2. Explain how reflective practice supports the professional development of the health and social care practitioner
- 2.3. Analyse how reflective practice supports positive outcomes for:
– Individuals/Parents / Carers
– Staff Team
– Other Professionals. - 3.1. Analyse how the health and social care practitioner’s own values, beliefs and experiences can influence delivery of care.
- 4.1. Identify:
– Sources of support for learning and development
– Professional development opportunities. - 4.2. Discuss methods for identifying and planning for professional development needs.
- 5.1. Reflect upon own learning using a model of reflection.
- 5.2. Use outcomes from reflection to assess and plan for own development.