Explain the Importance of Continually Improving Knowledge and Practice

I feel it is important for me to continually improve my knowledge to ensure that I am aware

of, and follow all the current health and social care standards, legislation, and guidelines for
good practice as well as ensuring I follow my companys policies and procedures.
I also feel it is vital that I pass any new knowledge I gain on to my team because this
provides them with up to date information in order for them to carry out their roles as support
workers effectively. I will do this during in a team meeting, supported housing meeting and
also by email then the staff can always reflect back on information that has been sent to
them.
For me learning is a way of gaining new skills and it enables me to progress, and achieve
within my career and working practices as a team leader, support worker & counselor.
Personal & professional development not only benefits me, but it also benefits the Company,
as well as the staff & service users I support. I like to focus on training that is relevant to the
role I am carrying out and also ensures that I am able to be effective in my role.
Continually professional development is important for my career I feel it increases my
employability, and also helps me progress with better prospects and to hopefully gain
promotion. As a Team Leader I am responsible for others this includes Staff, service users,
visitors, so it is very important to me that I am knowledgeable and effective in my role.

Analyse potential barriers to professional development

Organizational Barriers :
Poor communication
Lack of resources or budget
Staff shortage
No encouragement from my manager
No training opportunities within an organization or No time to train
Inadequate supervision or appraisal systems within an organization
Demotivated staff

Personal Barriers:
Low self-esteem to achieve or progress
Being over confident or stubborn (unwilling to admit training is required)
Transport problems
Possible Language barriers
Childcare issues (when training is arranged childcare not available)
Health problems
Conflicting appointments (unable to attend due to meetings)

1.3 Compare the Use of Different Sources and Systems of Support for Professional Development
There are several sources and systems of support for development available to people working within a care

setting these include:

Inductions- Inductions will provide you with the skills and basic knowledge that you need to do in your job
role. It will also help you to get used to the working role. Without having an induction to the job you wouldnt
know what to do when it comes to starting your job and what the job role would entitle.
Appraisals- Appraisals will help you for see the things that you may need to work on within in your job role
and what you may need to improve. They can help you set up a target to achieve something for your next
appraisal in a few months time. They help you to keep you skills and knowledge up to date by highlighting the
areas that you need to develop on and then planning with your manager how youre going to do this.
Training Courses- Training courses will expand your knowledge in the childcare based area and keep you
informed of any changes that may be happening to policies to legislations that affect the working role. Courses
help you to understand things that you may have found difficult in the past and then allows you to go back to
your setting and share new information with your work colleagues and manager and implement any new ideas
within the setting
Colleges and University training organisations- College and University organisations are a good way to help
yourself and staff to better their selves and expand their knowledge on childcare. It helps them to have a higher
qualification and provide new information to the person who is doing the course.
1.4 Explain factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities for keeping knowledge
and practice up to date

Ratios- It is important to consider ratios if staff are going on courses as we need to make sure there is going to
be enough staff members in the building for the children that are going to be in that day. Ratios will need to be
accurate and there will need to be enough members of staff in each room to the amount of children in. Cost of
the course- It is important to check how much the course costs and if it is relevant to the job role and the room
that the staff member is in. Is it too expensive and important to go on the course? Is somebody has already
done the course- If somebody has already done the course it is important to think if someone else really needs to
go on it as the other person may be able to feed back all the information in a staff meeting or room leader
meeting. If so this would mean saving money as other staff members will be able to learn new information and
implement new things into the setting from the information that has been shared for the colleague who has
already been on the course. Individual staff assessments- Asses what training each member of staff may need
to go on, look and observe the staff and then feedback what training you think the staff member may need to go
on to improve their performance and knowledge. Even ask the staff members if there is any specific training
that they want to go on or feel that they may need more information on.
2. be able to prioritise goals and targets for own professional development.
2.1 Evaluate own knowledge and performance against standard and benchmarks
It is important to engage in continuous professional development and to take action on what you do. I find it
better to be a professional throughout your work to be a good role model towards other staff members and
towards the children. You need to be up to date with the regulations and codes of practice. In our workplace we
focus on safeguarding the children at a very high standard and making sure they are safe within the setting and
in their home life and by giving them constant care when they are with us. It is about supporting my workers
and giving them the guidance and praise that they need and respecting them and other people who are involved
with our setting.
Job Description: - PENDING

Certificates of Training
Questionnaire
2.2 Prioritise development goals and targets to meet expected standards.
It is important to prioritise your development goals and targets so that you meet your expected standards, by
doing this you need to consider doing more training and possible development activities with your staff
members to help yourself and them achieve the standards that are needing to be met within your setting. You
could plan a development goal within the setting to help you achieve what you want to do, by doing this you
can talk about what you want to achieve in the setting with your colleagues and then plan how youre going to
do it and when youre going to do it by. Giving time frames helps give the staff some enthusiasm to want to
achieve something before its too late.
SWOT ANALYSIS - PENDING
Strength
Weakness
Opportunities
Threats
Key risk bus kids going on main road Road Safety
Requirements
Safeguarding Handbook