1.1 Explain The Importance Of Continually Improving Knowledge And Practice

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1.1 Explain the importance of continually improving knowledge and practice The importance of continually improving my knowledge and working practice is to make sure that I am fully aware of and can adhere to all the current Health and social care standards, legislations and guidelines for good practice in my place of work. Professional development refers to the acquisition of skills and knowledge both for personal development and for career enhancement. Improving my personal development benefits not only the company I work for, my staff and the service users for who I care for, but also myself. It enables me to keep up to date with my knowledge and skills and change proactively to make sure that the service I offer is appropriate and…show more content…
This can be channeled in either a formal and structured approach or by observations. It all depends on the individual’s motivation. Different ways in which professional development can be carried out can be in formal methods such as appraisals and supervisions. This allows the manager, who conducts these to assess staffs performances. They look at future goals and identify the needs of the staff member on an individual basis according to the organizations policies and objectives. This will create a plan for them to move forward and identifying their training needs to allow them to grow and evolve. This in turn, in the long run helps not only the individual but the organization. Mentoring is a huge support tool. It is used mostly when employing new members of staff and allows them to see how a more long standing member of staff works. It allows them to pass on their knowledge and expertise and guide them through policies and procedures and allows the new member of staff to find a way in which to work which is in line with these guidelines. The mentor can work with this member of staff throughout their working time; however mentoring can be carried out by numerous members of staff on different shifts. This gives the new member of staff different ideas on ways in which to work so that they can find a way of working which is comfortable…show more content…
[1] According to one definition it involves "paying critical attention to the practical values and theories which inform everyday actions, by examining practice reflectively and reflexively. This leads to developmental insight".[2] Edgar Schon an influential writer on reflection, described reflection in two main ways: reflection in action and reflection on action. Reflection on action is looking back after the event whist reflection in action is happening during the event. I have explored these terms and have found the following: Reflection in action means “To think about what one is doing whilst one is doing it; it is typically stimulated by surprise, by something which puzzled the practitioner concerned” (Greenwood 1983) Reflection in action allows the person to redesign what they are doing whilst they are doing it. This approach can be used to improve practice by supporting individuals to question their routine work as they carry it out. They may measure their behaviour against their values and values of the organization to ensure that these are consistent or to try a new approach to an activity and evaluate its

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