Unit 2: Principles of Practice

Learning hours: 60
NQF level 4: BTEC Higher National — H2

Description of unit
This unit develops understanding of the values and principles that underpin the practice of all
those who work in health and social care, particularly from the perspective of those with
management and leadership roles. Learners will explore formal and informal mechanisms
required to promote good practice by individuals in the workforce including personal strategies
that can influence the performance of others. The unit will provide supporting evidence for
those working towards S/NVQ Level 4 in Care and those who aim to work in health and social
care professions.

Summary of learning outcomes

To achieve this unit a learner must:
1 Explore how the values of health and social care are demonstrated in health and social
care settings
2 Analyse the impact of legislation and national policy initiatives on local policy and
practice
3 Analyse how a care worker in health and social care contributes to the development and
implementation of organisational policy
4 Critically evaluate the principles and theories that underpin practice and active support for
the individual
5 Evaluate ways to place the needs and preferences of the individual central to practice.
Content

1 Values of health and social care

Examples from experience: as a care worker eg in different care roles, in different settings
Requirements: equality, diversity, discrimination, dignity, confidentiality, protection from
danger, choice, access to information about selves
Protect: taking account of limitations, use relationships to promote rights, choice and well-
being, dealing with and challenging discrimination
Impact of discrimination: identity, self-esteem, confidence
Care, support and attention: for individuals, family and friends, carers, groups and
communities

2 Legislation and national policy initiatives

Relevant: to self, to those for whom responsible, other workers within the organisation,
others external to the organisation
Legislation: on data protection, access to information, disclosure of information
Implications: changes to own practice, influencing and changing practice of others,
personal development needs, development needs of others
Standards and guidance: about individuals, advocates etc, keeping individuals safe,
protection from danger and harm

3 Development and implementation of organisational policy

Roles, responsibilities, accountabilities, duties
Benefits
Recommendations

4 Principles and theories

Theories: human growth and development, identity and self-esteem; communicating with
individuals, families, carers, groups and communities; managing loss and change; conflicts
and dilemmas; stress and behaviour; power relationships
Supervision: supervision and appraisal
Factors: relationships, support networks that support health and well being
5 Needs and preferences of the individual
Information: accessing, reviewing; about physical and mental health conditions
encountered in practice
Relationships: methods for forming, maintaining, ending; multi-disciplinary, multi-
organisational
Approaches to supporting individuals: expressing wishes, needs, preferences; responsibility
for own health and care; identifying how needs can be met; assessing and managing risks
Influences on own work: philosophies, principles, codes of practice, priorities
Outcomes
1. Explore how the values
of health and social care
are demonstrated in health
and social care settings
2. Analyse the impact of
legislation and national
policy initiatives on local
policy and practice
3. Analyse how a care
worker in health and social
care contributes to the
development and
implementation of
organisational policy
4. Critically evaluate the
principles and theories that
underpin practice and
active support for the
individual
Assessment criteria for pass
To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate
the ability to:
• describe, through examples from experience, how
legal and organisational requirements are applied to
ensure that the rights of individuals are met
• describe a range of ways in which care workers
protect the rights and interests of individuals
• analyse the impact of discrimination on individuals
• explain ethical dilemmas and conflict that may arise
when providing care, support and protection
• explain the regulations, codes of practice, standards
and guidance relevant to work in health and social
care
• analyse implications for own practice of legislation
relevant to own workplace
• explain how local policies and procedures can be
developed in accordance with national and policy
requirements
• analyse own role, responsibilities, accountabilities
and duties in the context of those working within
and outside the workplace
• analyse benefits to others of own contributions to
development and implementation of organisational
policies
• evaluate how organisational policies, practices and
guidance provide a framework to support own roles,
responsibilities, accountabilities and duties in the
organisation
• make recommendations to develop own
contributions to meeting good practice requirements
• apply relevant theory to practice situations
• explain the role of supervision and appraisal in
supporting principles of practice
• analyse factors supporting well-being of individuals,
families, carers, groups and communities
• evaluate own practice in relation to principles and
theories
Outcomes
5 Evaluate ways to place the
needs and preferences of the
individual central to practice
Assessment criteria for pass
To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate
the ability to:
• demonstrate ability to access and apply
new knowledge to support own practice
• analyse the way relationships support individuals
• evaluate different approaches to providing support or
individuals and key people
• critically evaluate the factors that influence own work
with others within and outside the care organization
• present evidence of your practice
Guidance

Delivery
Learners should be encouraged throughout to reflect on their own experience and observations
from workplace settings through class discussion, role play, use of case studies, issues arising
in the media etc. Tutor input will be required to support learner understanding of the legal
frameworks that are applicable and also in identifying and applying relevant theories. Tutors
are encouraged to utilise the many links with other units to support delivery of this unit.

Assessment
It is recommended that learners are given time to develop their workplace experience,
knowledge and understanding before assessment of this unit. Learners will be expected to
present evidence based substantially on their work in health and social care. Evidence may be
drawn from, for example, reflective writing in personal learning journals, case study examples,
reflection on observation of others, feedback from others, review of organisational practices.
Learners will be expected to identify and discuss relevant theories and be prepared to address
evidence needed to meet the assessment criteria that is not otherwise addressed by naturally
occurring circumstances in the workplace.

Links
This unit links with and underpins many of the units directly connected with practice and with
managing activities, in particular:
• Unit 1: Communicating in Health and Social Care
• Unit 9: Ensuring Best Outcomes for Individuals
• Unit 10: Understanding Abuse
• Unit 16: Understanding Specific Needs
• Unit 17: Community Development Work
• Unit 21: Supporting Significant Life Events
• Unit 22: Counselling Skills Development and Practice
• Unit 30: Vocational Practice in Health and Social Care.
The unit is intended to underpin the following S/NVQ level 4 units from the care award:
• O2: Promote People's Equality, Diversity and Rights
• O3: Develop, Maintain and Evaluate Systems and Structures to Promote the Rights,
Responsibilities and Diversity Of People
• SC16: Assess Clients Needs and Circumstances
• SC17: Evaluate Risk of Abuse, Failure to Protect and Harm to Self and Others.
The unit also contributes to the underpinning knowledge for the S/NVQ level 5 Strategic
Management Unit A7: Establish Strategies to Guide the Work of Your Organisation and
Element C6.3: Provide Guidance on Values at Work.
Resources
Tutors need to be appropriately qualified and experienced in the care sector to cover the
principles and the management aspects of this unit.
Library resources need to support the range of knowledge addressed.
Case study material will be essential, and can be provided by the tutor or can be based on the
learner's own working situations.
Access to video equipment may be valuable if college-based project work is to be used to
supplement, or in place of, work-based evidence.

Support materials
Textbooks
Holland K and Hogg C — Cultural Awareness in Nursing and Health Care An Introductory
Text (Hodder Arnold, 2001) ISBN: 0340731338
Webb R and Tossell D — Social Issues for Carers: Towards Positive Practice, 2nd Edition
(Hodder Arnold, 1998) ISBN: 0340706252