Professional Development and Academic Writing Skills

Course Description

The aim of the unit is to deepen learners' understanding of professional development and to help them explore their own development as a manager in health and social care. The unit also introduces learners to the skills necessary for academic writing, when engaging in continuous professional development.

Course Objectives

The aim of the unit is to deepen learners' understanding of professional development and to help them explore their own development as a manager in health and social care. The unit also introduces learners to the skills necessary for academic writing, when engaging in continuous professional development.

Key Topics

1. LO1: Understand the principles of professional development.
2. LO2: Be able to develop goals and targets for their own professional development.
3. LO3: Be able to prepare a professional development plan.
4. LO4: Be able to use models of reflective practice to evaluate own development.
5. LO5: Be able to apply appropriate academic conventions in written communication.

Course Outline

Learning Outcomes

1. LO1 Understand the principles of professional development.
2. 1.1 Explain what is meant by professional development.
3. 1.2 Explain ways of overcoming barriers to professional development.
4. 1.3 Determine the different sources available for professional development.
5. 1.4 Analyse factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities for keeping knowledge and practice up to date.
6. LO2 Be able to develop goals and targets for their own professional development.
7. 2.1 Evaluate own knowledge against standards and benchmarks.
8. 2.2 Create SMART goals and targets for own professional development.
9. 2.3 Determine appropriate goals and targets to meet expected standards.
10. 2.4 Assess learning opportunities to meet objectives and reflect personal learning style.
11. LO3 Be able to prepare a professional development plan.
12. 3.1 Produce a professional development plan.
13. 3.2 Apply techniques to review progress toward personal and professional objectives.
14. LO4 Be able to use models of reflective practice to evaluate own development.
15. 4.1 Compare models of reflective practice.
16. 4.2 Apply reflective practice techniques to improve performance.
17. 4.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of own reflective practice.
18. LO5 Be able to apply appropriate academic conventions in written communication.
19. 5.1 Explain the principles of academic writing.
20. 5.2 Produce written work according to academic conventions.
21. 5.3 Apply techniques to review on own academic writing skills.