Personal development in care settings

Overview

Framework:
RQF
Level:
Level 2
Unit No:
T/616/6805
Credits:
3
Guided learning hours:
23 hours

Assessment Guidance

This unit must be assessed in line with the relevant Assessment Principles. Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4 must be assessed in a real work environment.

Aim

This unit is aimed at those who work in care settings. The unit introduces the concepts of personal development and reflective practice.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1.

Understand what is required for competence in own work role.

Learners should be encouraged to identify and describe the duties and responsibilities of own role. If not currently working within the sector this could be done by using either a relevant job description, speaking to someone in the role or by undertaking a work placement.

Learners should be aware of how to work effectively with others:

  • influencing others
  • respecting others and their differences, opinions and feelings
  • looking out for others
  • recognising other’s abilities
  • ensuring fair and equitable treatment
  • supporting others
  • communicating effectively

Assessment criteria 1.2

Standards may include:

  • codes of conduct and practice
  • regulations
  • minimum standards
  • National Occupational Standards

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Describe the duties and responsibilities of own role.

  • 1.2

    Identify standards, regulatory requirements and agreed ways of working that may influence your knowledge, understanding and skills to carry out your work role.

  • 1.3

    Describe how to ensure that own personal values, attitudes or beliefs do not obstruct the quality of work and working practice.

2.

Be able to reflect on own work activities.

The learner should be able to evaluate their performance against relevant standards e.g.

  • Codes of practice
  • Regulations
  • Minimum standards
  • National occupational standards

Learners should understand how reflection can lead to improved practice.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Explain why reflecting on work activities is an important way to develop knowledge, skills and practice.

  • 2.2

    Assess how well own knowledge, skills and understanding meet standards.

  • 2.3

    Demonstrate the ability to reflect on work activities.

3.

Be able to agree a personal development plan.

The learner should be able to identify relevant sources of support to plan and review own development.

If employed, they could undertake a performance review with their employer to evaluate own performance and plan development using a personal development plan format. If they are not employed, the learner could undertake a work placement and have a review at the end of this with input from both the assessor and the employer.

Objectives and targets set must be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant (or Realistic), Timebound).

Assessment criteria 3.1

Sources of support may include:

  • formal support
  • informal support
  • supervision
  • appraisal
  • within the organisation
  • beyond the organisation

Assessment criteria 3.2

A personal development plan may have a different name but will record information such as agreed objectives for development, proposed activities to meet objectives, timescales for review, etc.

Who should be involved may include:

  • the individual
  • carers
  • advocates
  • supervisor, line manager or employer
  • team members
  • other professionals

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1

    Identify sources of support and how they can be used for own learning and development.

  • 3.2

    Describe the process for agreeing a personal development plan and who should be involved.

  • 3.3

    Contribute and agree to own personal development plan.

4.

Be able to develop own knowledge, skills and understanding.

Assessment criteria 4.3

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Refers to the process of tracking and documenting the skills, knowledge and experience that you gain both formally and informally as you work, beyond any initial training. It is a record of what you experience, learn and then apply.

Assessment criteria 4.4

Others may include:

  • team members
  • other colleagues
  • those who use or commission their own health or social care services
  • families, carers and advocates

Assessment Criteria

  • 4.1

    Describe how a learning activity has improved own knowledge, skills and understanding.

  • 4.2

    Describe how reflecting on a situation has improved own knowledge, skills and understanding.

  • 4.3

    Explain the importance of continuing professional development.

  • 4.4

    Describe how feedback from others has developed own knowledge, skills and understanding.

  • 4.5

    Demonstrate how to record progress in relation to personal development.