Learning and development skills
Learning and development skills
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Why do you think it is important to have the right level of literacy, numeracy and communication skills when working in health and social care?
Think of as many reasons you can, once you have thought about the answer click the pencil.
When working in health or social care an exchange of information will develop your understanding of an individual’s needs. If the information is inaccurate or misleading, mistakes can be made which can result in care that is not person-centred.
For example.:
You may need to read and contribute to care plans, record data clearly and legibly, fill out forms, write emails or take notes
You need to be able to read and understand instructions about your ways of working
You might be involved in supporting an individual to monitor their weight, for example, and keep a record of weight loss and then calculate overall progress
You might take and record an individual’s temperature or blood pressure at regular intervals and report on any concerns
You might need to know the difference between a variety of different measures, such as gram and milligram, and be able to calculate simple conversions
The internet has a number of websites where you can check your literacy, numeracy and communication skills and get help to develop them further if needed.
Non-web-based materials and face-to-face learning opportunities can also be found.
You might be expected to have skills at a specific level in your role and be provided with support to improve your skills.
Ask your manager if there are any particular opportunities, resources or support available.
Receiving feedback
You need helpful feedback when joining a new workplace and learning new skills.
As you progress through the Care Certificate and your induction, you should receive regular feedback from your manager or assessor.
This should help you to develop your skills, provide clarity and give you the ability to meet the standards required.
Select the questions below for more information
How will not receiving feedback hinder progression through the Care Certificate?
Not receiving any feedback can lead to a false assessment of your own abilities.
Health and social care work involves using knowledge, skills and understanding together to manage complicated and stressful situations in a caring and compassionate way.
Constructive feedback is one way of helping you develop your confidence and your ability to solve problems. It is an essential part of learning and development which helps you develop awareness of your strengths as well as areas for improvement.
How can feedback be given?
Feedback can be formal or informal.
Formal feedback would usually be given in writing. This might be part of an assessment or appraisal or on a comments sheet. Formal feedback is also given verbally in supervision sessions, but is then written down in the notes of the session.
Informal feedback happens in day-to-day discussion with work colleagues, managers or the individuals that you provide care and support for.
When should feedback be given?
You should be given feedback as soon after the event as possible.
The most helpful feedback is always given positively and is constructive. This means it should be based on the facts and describe what you could do differently or what you did well. It should concentrate on how to change rather than on personal factors like confidence or intelligence.
Your learning style
Identifying the way you learn most effectively will help you with your personal development.
Read the statements below and select the learning style you think it describes.
Q1 Includes work shadowing (working alongside a more experienced worker), e-learning, formal learning, courses and qualifications, can improve your knowledge and skills and confirm your competence to do your job
Q2 Involves reading, writing, describing, discussing, listening and reflecting on presented information. Offers the opportunity to explore new areas and gives you fresh ideas. Discussing ideas with others to give greater self-confidence in your work as you gain deeper knowledge and understanding. Enables you to put the theory into practice and improve your overall work
Q3 Uses past experiences to help you develop your skills and gain greater understanding of your abilities. Involves thinking about your actions and how you relate to the people who receive support as well as your work colleagues. You look back on a situation or activity and consider the way it has been done and what could be done differently. It helps you think about your work and the improvements that you want to make
Structured learning
Reflection
Active learning
Answer
Answer
Q1 - Active learning
Q2 - Structured learning
Q3 - Reflection
Which learning style works best for you?
Everyone learns in different ways and there are lots of opportunities today to mix and match (to ‘blend’) different methods and opportunities to suit you and how you like to learn.
Finding information
Depending on your role, there are many formal and informal activities that you can carry out as part of a blended approach to learning.
Your employer may provide internal training that is designed to help you with your learning and development. You should ask your manager or colleagues about this.
Finding information outside your organisation can also help you gain knowledge and skills.
Professional organisations
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), your trades union or staff association (if you have one), the Social Care Institute for Excellence, or other workers and networks provide a wealth of guidance and information.
Sector bodies Skills for Care or Skills for Health, or the National Skills Academy for Health, are all good sources of information about qualifications, courses and apprenticeships suitable for your role.
Web-based resources
Resources for learning may be reading materials, TV or video clips, or research on the internet or even applications (apps) on your phone. These all develop your knowledge and understanding.
Social media
Learning also takes place through social media forums such as Twitter and other social media.
These are live and can develop your awareness of others’ approaches, but always check with the ways of working in your workplace if you are unsure about anything you have learned - and never break the confidentiality of anyone at your workplace.
Continuing your learning
As a health or social care worker, it is important to carry out further training and qualifications.
Continuing professional development (CPD), is a record of your learning, development and achievement. It will usually be in a folder which keeps records of your progress beyond your initial training.
The PDP will help you to focus on areas for learning and development.
Why do you think continual learning is important within the health and social care sector?
Continual learning is needed by all workers, especially in health and social care as changes happen regularly. For example:
Legislation may change
Ways of working may be developed and
Ways to complete documentation may be improved
Your CPD file will become valuable evidence of what you have done to develop your knowledge and skills.
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