Author: PAPERLINK

  • Understand the current legal, policy and rights frameworks for children and young people in group living. 2.1. Explain the legislative, policy and rights frameworks that underpin group living for children and young people.

    1.1. Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.

    RCC 5.4 Lead practice to support the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in residential childcare

    Unit reference

    M/506/8362

    Unit level

    5

    Credit value

    8

    Guided Learning (hours)

    55

    Unit aim

    This unit provides the knowledge and skills required to lead practice that supports the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in residential childcare settings.

    Learner name:

    Centre no:

    PIN:

    ULN:

    Learning outcomes

    The learner will:

    Assessment criteria

    The learner can:

    Evidence record

    e.g. page number & method

    Assessor judgement achieved

    Initial and date

    1. Understand the impact of current legislation for the safeguarding of children and young people.

    1.1. Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.

     

     

    1.2. Analyse how current national and local guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding affect working practices with children and young people.

     

     

    1.3. Review how processes used in the work setting comply with current legislation.

     

     

    1.4. Explain the relationship between safeguarding and child protection.

     

     

    2. Be able to participate in local networks to safeguard children and young people.

    2.1 Identify the range of agencies and organisations involved in local networks for safeguarding of children and young people.

     

     

     

    Learning outcomes

    The learner will:

    Assessment criteria

    The learner can:

    Evidence record

    e.g. page number & method

    Assessor judgement achieved

    Initial and date

     

    2.2. Assess the importance of developing and implementing information sharing protocols across agencies in relation to suspected harm or abuse.

     

     

    2.3. Work with other agencies and organisations in local networks using agreed protocols.

     

     

    3. Be able to lead practice that minimises the risk of potential, actual and alleged harm by team members.

    3.1. Implement policies and legal requirements that support safe recruitment of team members.

     

     

    3.2. Support team members to recognise the power inherent in their role and the potential for this to be abused.

     

     

    3.3. Support team members to understand how following policies and procedures protects them from allegations and complaints as well as protecting children and young people from harm.

     

     

    4. Be able to lead practice that minimises the risk of harm and abuse in the care setting.

    4.1. Lead a culture where the needs of children or young people are paramount.

     

     

    4.2. Support team members to develop positive, trusting and consistent relationships in which children or young people are listened to and heard.

     

     

    4.3. Implement systems to ensure that children or young people are able to raise concerns and complaints and have them promptly addressed.

     

     

     

    Learning outcomes

    The learner will:

    Assessment criteria

    The learner can:

    Evidence record

    e.g. page number & method

    Assessor judgement achieved

    Initial and date

     

    4.4. Analyse the roles of advocates and independent visitors in relation to safeguarding children and young people in care.

     

     

    5. Be able to implement policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people.

    5.1. Identify policies and procedures needed for comprehensive safeguarding in a residential childcare setting.

     

     

    5.2. Lead the implementation of policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.

     

     

    5.3. Manage training for team members about harm and abuse, warning signs and actions they must take if harm or abuse is alleged or suspected.

     

     

    5.4. Provide information and mentoring to team members about safeguarding.

     

     

    5.5. Evaluate own role in ensuring prompt response to suspicions of harm or abuse.

     

     

    5.6. Challenge poor practice and attitudes in relation to safeguarding.

     

     

    5.7. Support continuous improvement to practice and attitudes in relation to safeguarding.

     

     

    Learning outcomes

    The learner will:

    Assessment criteria

    The learner can:

    Evidence record

    e.g. page number & method

    Assessor judgement achieved

    Initial and date

    6. Understand situations that present high risk of harm for children and young people.

    6.1. Identify situations and circumstances that present high risk of harm or abuse for children and young people.

     

     

    6.2. Analyse known characteristics of perpetrators and their behaviours that make it difficult for children and young people to report harm or abuse or for others to recognise and address abusive activity.

     

     

    6.3. Explain why children and young people in care can become involved with groups and gangs and why this presents additional risks of harm and abuse.

     

     

    7. Understand approaches that address child sexual exploitation.

    7.1. Analyse research and official inquiries to identify key features of child sexual exploitation.

     

     

    7.2. Analyse trends in child sexual exploitation in the context of human trafficking.

     

     

    7.3. Analyse ways in which children and young people in care are particularly vulnerable to harm from child sexual exploitation and grooming.

     

     

    7.4. Explain the roles of key partners involved in local networks to address sexual exploitation of children and young people.

     

     

    7.5. Explain the purpose and key features of problem profiling.

     

     

    Learning outcomes

    The learner will:

    Assessment criteria

    The learner can:

    Evidence record

    e.g. page number & method

    Assessor judgement achieved

    Initial and date

     

    7.6. Describe ways to contribute to local strategies to combat child sexual exploitation.

     

     

    8. Be able to review policies and procedures for safeguarding children and young people in residential childcare.

    8.1. Develop a plan to review the policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.

     

     

    8.2. Implement a review of policies and procedures for safeguarding children or young people.

     

     

    8.3. Analyse findings from a review of policies and procedures.

     

     

    8.4. Work with others to implement an action plan to improve policies and procedures.

     

     

    For e-portfolio a signature is not required, providing the learner has a personalised and secure login.

    Additional information about the unit:

    Relationship to occupational standards

    SCDHSC0044 SCDMCB1

    Additional unit assessment requirements

    Units need to be assessed in line with the Skills for Care & Development Assessment Principles.

    Guidance for developing assessment arrangements for the unit:

    Guidance for developing unit assessment arrangements – provided with the unit

    Learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 must be assessed in a real work environment.

    Unit assessment guidance – provided by the sector

    Working practices, e.g.:

    • childcare practice
    • child protection
    • risk assessment
    • ensuring the voice of the child or young person is heard (e.g. providing advocacy services)
    • supporting children and young people and others who may be expressing concerns
    • working practices that protect practitioners and children / young people.

    Agencies and organisations may include:

    • Social services
    • NSPCC 
    • Health visitors
    • GP
    • Probation
    • Police
    • School
    • Psychology service

     

     

    Independent visitors are specially trained volunteers with the designated role of befriending and advising a looked after child or young person.

    Policies and procedures required for safeguarding, e.g.:

    • listening to children and young people
    • sharing concerns and recording/ reporting incidents
    • dealing with allegations
    • duty of care
    • whistleblowing
    • propriety and behaviour
    • physical contact / intimate personal care
    • off site visits
    • photography and video
    • bullying
    • use of the internet and mobile phones
    • missing from care
    • visitors
    • timely and accurate information sharing
    • partnership working
    • safer recruitment.

    Poor practice and attitudes, e.g.:

    • denial of the issue
    • blaming the victim
    • not listening to and hearing children and young people
    • being inconsistent or untrustworthy
    • not placing the child or young person’s needs first
    • becoming desensitised to issues of harm and abuse
    • being overprotective
    • failing to report suspicions at an early stage
    • failing to share information
    • failing to work in partnership with key agencies.

     

     

    Perpetrators and their behaviours, e.g.:
    • position of power in the organisation
    • position of power in the community (e.g. through business, political or faith groups)
    • celebrity status
    • fellow resident / peer
    • grooming (of the child or young person and those around them)
    • threats of reprisals
    • promises of rewards
    • denial of behaviour as abusive
    • targeting boys and young men (in relation to sexual abuse).

    Key features include:

    • common patterns of child sexual exploitation both within and outside the setting
    • myths about those who sexually exploit
    • profiles of those who sexually exploit
    • distinguishing features of abusive and non- abusive sexual activity.

    Key Partners include:

    • Sexual Health Services
    • Police, Crown Prosecution Service
    • Youth Offending Services
    • Probation Services
    • Housing Services
    • Drug and Alcohol Services
    • Mental Health Services, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS)
    • Community Health Services, including GPs
    • Hospital Trusts
    • Education Services
    • Voluntary and Community sector
    • family and carers

     

    Problem Profiling, i.e. building a picture:

    • of gangs, groups, individuals, businesses and neighbourhoods which increase the risk of child sexual exploitation
    • of the potential victims who are vulnerable to sexual exploitation and grooming.

    Local strategies may involve:

    • local authorities
    • Children Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs)
    • Multi Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH).

    A plan to review should include:

    • the views of children and young people
    • current guidance arising from inquiries and child safeguarding practice reviews
    • liaison with different organisations.

    Example – Plagiarised Answer

    1. Understand the Impact of Current Legislation for the Safeguarding of Children and Young People

    1.1 Explain the current legislative framework that underpins the safeguarding of children and young people.

    • Key legislation includes the Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004, Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018), and the Care Standards Act 2000. Each framework outlines responsibilities for local authorities and organisations regarding child welfare, safeguarding, and the collaborative approach needed among agencies.

    1.2 Analyse how current national and local guidelines, policies, and procedures for safeguarding affect working practices with children and young people.

    • National policies such as the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) guidelines set standards for practice. Locally, the implementation of these guidelines ensures that practices are tailored to community needs, thereby enhancing the protective measures for children and young people.

    1.3 Review how processes used in the work setting comply with current legislation.

    • A review of documentation such as safeguarding policies, staff training records, and incident reports can demonstrate compliance. Regular audits and staff feedback can help ensure adherence to legal requirements.

    1.4 Explain the relationship between safeguarding and child protection.

    • Safeguarding encompasses the broader range of measures taken to promote the welfare of children and prevent abuse, whereas child protection specifically refers to the processes involved in responding to and managing cases of suspected abuse or neglect.

    2. Be Able to Participate in Local Networks to Safeguard Children and Young People

    2.1 Identify the range of agencies and organisations involved in local networks for safeguarding children and young people.

    • Local networks may include social services, NSPCC, health visitors, police, educational institutions, and community organisations. Each plays a role in ensuring a multi-agency approach to safeguarding.

    2.2 Assess the importance of developing and implementing information-sharing protocols across agencies in relation to suspected harm or abuse.

    • Effective information sharing is crucial to safeguarding, enabling timely interventions and coordinated responses. Protocols help establish trust and clarify roles among agencies
  • Identify 1 two recent Corporate Social Responsibility reports of two UK companies. Compare and discuss (up to 1000 words) how environmental and social issues form the Corporate Social Responsibility strategy of the organisations. Particular emphasis

    The aim of this assignment is to familiarise students with issues pertaining to the development and implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.

    Learning Outcomes

    On completion of this assignment, you will:

    • Understand underpinning principles of corporate social responsibility
    • Appreciate the integrated nature of environmental, health and safety, social and economic performance aspects in the organisational agenda
    • Recognize the importance of transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement in promoting corporate social responsibility.
    • Be familiar with the notions of materiality and sustainability / corporate social responsibility reporting and the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines

    Brief Part A

    Provide an overview of the concepts of corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting. Sustainability reporting is a voluntary instrument at present. Assess the costs and benefits of making it compulsory. Integrate into your discussion at least 3 refereed journal articles1. (Indicated word limit 1000 words)

    Refereed journal articles are articles published after they have been reviewed by other scientists, knowledgeable in the field of inquiry, to determine whether the studies they describe are of reasonable quality and the conclusions reported are supported by the evidence. Reputable scientific journals use a process of peer review before accepting a paper for publication. You can access such articles through the University of Greenwich Library Databases and Electronic Information Resources. Such CSR/sustainability report can be located online in an official corporate website and you should include the link for downloading the report at the beginning of Part B of your assignment.

    Part B

    Identify 1 two recent Corporate Social Responsibility reports of two UK companies. Compare and discuss (up to 1000 words) how environmental and social issues form the Corporate Social Responsibility strategy of the organisations. Particular emphasis should be placed on the reporting of Health and Safety and Covid-19 issues within the CSR reports.

    General Instruction

    The work is to be word-processed, double or 1.5-line spacing Arial or Calibri, 12 Font, aligned to the left hand of the page and appropriately referenced using the Harvard system of referencing. The length must not exceed 2000 words, excluding appendices, bibliography, etc. A word count must be included.

    All assignments must be submitted electronically using the Turnitin plagiarism service through Moodle (even where a hard copy is required by your local centre). In the correct Moodle course, click on the Assignment folder; Assignment Submission; identify and click the correct assignment link and then follow the instructions.

    There are a number of centres offering this programme so you must ensure you submit in the correct folder or your assignment may not be marked.

    You may also be required to submit a hard copy to your local centre. Your local centre will tell you whether or not a hard copy is required to be submitted. Assignments will not be marked unless they are submitted electronically.

    Assessment

    This coursework accounts for 50% of the course marks. It will be assessed on the basis of:

    1.

    Content

    45%

    2.

    Critical evaluation

    25%

    3.

    Structure and presentation

    15%

    4.

    Referencing

    15%

    Submission

    Submission date:- This assignment will normally be submitted 12 weeks after the study school but check online or with your Centre for exact dates. Work submitted late will not be marked unless a formal extension of time has been granted.

    Plagiarism and Copying

    It is not acceptable to copy other student’s coursework or material directly from your sources of information. This is plagiarism. If you copy material it will be highlighted by the Turnitin system that is used for on-line submissions. The copied content will not be marked and you may be referred to the Plagiarism Panel and will be awarded a zero mark. Your final mark transcript will also show that you have been penalised for submitting plagiarised material. We will ignore small matches associated with common phrases and terms and will ignore matches highlighted in your reference list when considering whether or not your work is plagiarised.

    As a general rule you should aim to get your similarity index into the “green” zone on Turnitin. If you are in the “amber” zone you will need to look very carefully at your work to see what you can put into your own words to reduce your score. High amber scores may be referred to the plagiarism panel and will certainly mean that a significant part of your work will not be considered in the marking. If you are in the “red” zone you will be referred to the plagiarism panel. We strongly advise you to submit a final draft through Turnitin well before the cut-off date to check your similarity index. Please remember that you are only allowed to submit one draft version of your coursework every day so leave yourself plenty of time to revise and resubmit your final version of the coursework.

    Sample Answer – Do Not Copy, It`s Plagiarised!

    Understand underpinning principles of corporate social responsibility

    Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept where businesses integrate social and environmental concerns into their operations and interactions with stakeholders. It is based on the idea that companies have obligations beyond generating profit for shareholders. CSR focuses on how businesses contribute positively to society, reduce negative environmental impacts, and engage in ethical practices. This concept is increasingly tied to sustainability reporting, a framework through which companies disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

  • Describe how Dr Ignaz Semmelweis and Dr Robert Koch contributed to the idea of Germ Theory and their contributions to modern healthcare practices. Describe the contribution of Dr John Snow to the development of epidemiology

    Briefly introduce early ideas of how disease spreads and why these ideas came about. Include a short discussion of the ways that people attempted to prevent the spread of disease.

    Unit 14 Infection and Immunity

    Disease has been part of the human story since the dawn of time. The earliest known disease that we have evidence for is leprosy, which has been found in skeletons dating back 4000 years. Smallpox is nearly as old and has been found in ancient Egyptian mummies dating as far back as 1350BCE.

    Thanks to modern medicine most diseases are no longer deadly. Leprosy, once thought to be a result of sinful behaviour, is now known to be caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is spread by inhalation of droplets from coughing and sneezing. It is easily treated with antibiotics and is now very rare indeed. Smallpox, variola virus, was once the deadliest disease in the world. It was estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century and around 500 million people in the last 100 years of its existence. It has now been completely eradicated by a global vaccination program, with the last smallpox case anywhere in the world occurring in 1979.

    Your task is to produce an illustrated report that not only demonstrates your understanding of diseases, how they spread and how we recover from them, but also charts some of the key turning points in medical discovery.

    Your report must include the following sections.

    SECTION ONE

    This section covers the development of modern medicine.

    • Briefly introduce early ideas of how disease spreads and why these ideas came about. Include a short discussion of the ways that people attempted to prevent the spread of disease.
    • Describe how Dr Ignaz Semmelweis and Dr Robert Koch contributed to the idea of Germ Theory and their contributions to modern healthcare practices.
    • Describe the contribution of Dr John Snow to the development of epidemiology, the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
    • Explain the history of the development of vaccination, including the contributions of Dr Edward Jenner and Dr Louis Pasteur.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION TWO

    Show that you understand the cause and transmission of different pathogens by describing the structure of a range pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, and compare them to eukaryotic cells.

    Identify and briefly describe range of contagious diseases with different modes of transmission and explain how they enter the human body. Explain how each of these causes disease and include the symptoms.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION THREE

    • Show that you understand how the human body responds to infection by: –
    • Describing the range of first line defences and non-specific responses to infection including fever.
    • Explaining the roles of the different types of white blood cells.
    • Explaining the mechanism of the specific immune response and how it can significantly reduce the chances of you catching the same disease twice.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION FOUR

    Show that you understand how vaccinations can prevent an infection through,

    • Describing the different types of vaccine and how they work.
    • Explaining how vaccination increases the chance that you will become immune to a pathogen and how this can reduce the spread of a disease.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION FIVE

    Show that you understand how antibiotics work and their limitations through,

    • Explaining what antibiotics are and, briefly, how they were discovered.
    • Describing the mechanism of action of antibiotics and explain why they only work on bacteria and no other pathogens.
    • Explaining how bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and the consequences of this for public health.

    Guidance

    The report should be written using the recommended structure and format for an illustrated report as outlined in the study materials for the Academic Writing Skills unit.

    Relevant theory must be referenced where appropriate and you must provide a references list and bibliography.

    Your report should also contain appropriate drawings and diagrams to support your commentary. If these are taken from published sources, they must be cited and referenced accordingly.

    The report should be a maximum of 3,000 words in length

  • Explain the functions of internal quality assurance in learning and development. Explain the key concepts and principles of the internal quality assurance of assessment. Explain the roles of prac

    1.1: Explain the functions of internal quality assurance in learning and development.

    UNIT10

    Provide a written response for each of the below, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding of the context and principles of the IQA function.

    Explain the functions of internal quality assurance in learning and development.

    Explain the key concepts and principles of the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Explain the roles of practitioners involved in the internal and external quality assurance process.

    Explain the regulations and requirements for internal quality assurance in own area of practice.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 1.1: Explain the functions of internal quality assurance in learning and development.
    • 1.2: Explain the key concepts and principles of the internal quality assurance of assessment.
    • 1.3: Explain the roles of practitioners involved in the internal and external quality assurance process.
    • 1.4: Explain the regulations and requirements for internal quality assurance in own area of practice.

    Provide a written response for each of the below, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding of how to plan the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Evaluate the importance of planning and preparing internal quality assurance activities.

    Explain what an internal quality assurance plan should contain.

    Summarise the preparations that need to be made for internal quality assurance, including

    • information collection;
    • communications;
    • administrative arrangements; and
    • resources.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 2.1: Evaluate the importance of planning and preparing internal quality assurance activities.
    • 2.2: Explain what an internal quality assurance plan should contain.
    • 2.3: Summarise the preparations that need to be made for internal quality assurance, including: • information collection; • communications; • administrative arrangements; and • resources.

    Evaluate different techniques for sampling evidence of assessment, including use of technology.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 3.1: Evaluate different techniques for sampling evidence of assessment, including use of technology.

    Explain the appropriate criteria to use for judging the quality of the assessment process.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 3.2: Explain the appropriate criteria to use for judging the quality of the assessment process.

    Provide a written response for each of the below, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding of how to internally maintain and improve the quality of assessment.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 4.1: Summarise the types of feedback, support and advice that assessors may need to maintain and improve the quality of assessment.
    • 4.2: Explain standardisation requirements in relation to assessment.
    • 4.3: Explain relevant procedures regarding disputes about the quality of assessment.

    Evaluate requirements for information management, data protection and confidentiality in relation to the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 5.1: Evaluate requirements for information management, data protection and confidentiality in relation to the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Provide a written response for each of the below, allowing you to demonstrate your understanding of the legal and good practice requirements for the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Evaluate legal issues, policies and procedures relevant to the internal quality assurance of assessment, including those for health, safety and welfare.

    Evaluate different ways in which technology can contribute to the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Explain the value of reflective practice and continuing professional development in relation to internal quality assurance.

    Evaluate requirements for equality and diversity and, where appropriate, bilingualism, in relation to the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 6.1: Evaluate legal issues, policies and procedures relevant to the internal quality assurance of assessment, including those for health, safety and welfare.
    • 6.2: Evaluate different ways in which technology can contribute to the internal quality assurance of assessment.
    • 6.3: Explain the value of reflective practice and continuing professional development in relation to internal quality assurance.
    • 6.4: Evaluate requirements for equality and diversity and, where appropriate, bilingualism, in relation to the internal quality assurance of assessment.

    Sample Answer

    1.1: Explain the functions of internal quality assurance in learning and development.

    Internal quality assurance (IQA) in learning and development serves several key functions to maintain and enhance the quality of training and educational programmes within an organisation. These functions include:

    1. Monitoring and Maintaining Standards: IQA ensures that the training delivery and assessment methods meet the established standards, whether these are internal benchmarks or external accreditation requirements. It helps to ensure consistency in the learning experience and assessment outcomes.
    2. Ensuring Compliance: IQA plays a vital role in ensuring that the organisation complies with relevant regulations, such as awarding body requirements or legislative standards related to education, equality, and safeguarding. This helps maintain the credibility of the training programmes.
    3. Supporting Continuous Improvement: By regularly reviewing and evaluating the training and assessment processes, IQA identifies areas for improvement. It encourages feedback from learners, trainers, and assessors to refine the programme and enhance its effectiveness.
    4. Providing Professional Development: IQA ensures that trainers and assessors are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge by identifying training needs and supporting their professional development. This helps maintain high-quality delivery and assessment standards.
    5. Standardising Assessment Practices: One of the core functions of IQA is to ensure that assessment practices are fair, consistent, and aligned with the learning objectives. This includes verifying that assessors apply grading criteria appropriately and consistently across all learners.
    6. Supporting Learners: IQA ensures that learners receive appropriate support throughout their learning journey, from clear feedback on assessments to ensuring that learning resources meet their needs. It helps identify and address any barriers to learning.
    7. Risk Management: By implementing a robust IQA system, potential risks such as non-compliance or poor performance in external audits are mitigated. This proactive approach helps the organisation address issues before they escalate into significant problems.

    Internal quality assurance in learning and development is essential for maintaining high standards, ensuring compliance, promoting continuous improvement, and supporting both learners and staff within the organisation.

  • Describe an area of practice that you would like to develop and improve in an innovative way – Provide a key research question or statement (title) that shows what you are aiming to improve – Explain the strategy you are going

    1.1 Explain the purpose of action research

    Unit 6

    Produce a written account to:

    Explain the purpose of action research.

    Analyse key features of the action research process.

    Analyse the implications of a model of action research.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 1.1: Explain the purpose of action research
    • 1.2: Analyse key features of the action research process
    • 1.3: Analyse the implications of a model of action research

    For this unit, you are going to complete a piece of action research. This task begins with the proposal.

    – Describe an area of practice that you would like to develop and improve in an innovative way
    – Provide a key research question or statement (title) that shows what you are aiming to improve
    – Explain the strategy you are going to use for your innovative improvement and justify your choice of improvement strategy
    – Describe the timeframe of your improvement strategy
    – Explain how you will follow ethical considerations in relation to confidentiality, safeguarding, and data protection

     Download Guidance Files 1

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 2.1: Justify own choice of an area of practice for action research
    • 2.2: Plan a clear intervention strategy
    • 2.3: Justify the choice and timescales of an intervention strategy
    • 2.4: Explain how ethical and political considerations and issues of confidentiality will be observed in practice

    Complete a literature review to show how you have used previous knowledge and theory to justify your approach.

    Your literature review should be approximately 800-1000 words in length.

    A minimum of three pieces of literature should be reviewed.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 4.1: Draw on selected literature relating to an area of practice for action research.

    Complete a methodology report that will:
    – Evaluate a range of methods for action research
    – Evaluate methods of collecting qualitative and quantitative data.
    – Review ways in which collected data may be analysed
    – Identify, describe, and justify the choice of methods you will use to measure the success of your action research.

    Your report will explain a range of methods and methodologies, before discussing and justifying on your chosen methods.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 3.1: Evaluate methods for action research
    • 3.2: Evaluate methods of collecting qualitative and quantitative data
    • 3.3: Review ways in which collected data may be analysed
    • 4.2: Justify own choice of methods selected for action research

    Once you have implemented your change, you will write a report to cover what you did and what you found out. You should cover the following in your answer:

    – What you did (including any evidence, pictural, plans, feedback, reviews)
    – Present and review your data
    – Explain what your data means and record your findings
    – Report your conclusions
    – Discuss recommendations that you would do to move forward based upon your conclusions

    This is an extensive piece that will vary in how it is presented depending upon the project you have undertaken. The work will include a range of diagrams, tables, charts, and photographs, depending upon the work you have carried out.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 2.5: Implement a clear intervention strategy
    • 4.3: Collect data relating to an area of practice for action research
    • 4.4: Analyse data collected from action research
    • 4.5: Present data collected from action research
    • 4.6: Draw conclusions based on findings from action research
    • 5.1: Report own findings and conclusions from action research
    • 5.2: Justify own recommendations for action to be taken based on conclusions from action research

    Write a reflective account based upon your own practice in your action research project. You should:

    – Analyse the effectiveness of own practice in relation to action research.
    – Identify own strengths and areas for improvement in relation to action research.
    – Plan opportunities to improve own skills in action research.

    Hide/View Criteria

    • 6.1: Analyse the effectiveness of own practice in relation to action research

    6.2: Identify own strengths and areas for improvement in relation to action research

    Sample Answer

    1.1 Explain the Purpose of Action Research

    Action research is a method of inquiry that involves a cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting, aimed at improving practice through practical intervention. The purpose of action research is to address specific issues or challenges in a real-world setting, with the practitioner actively involved in the research process. It is particularly useful in educational, healthcare, and business environments where continuous improvement is key. The goal is to make informed changes, foster innovation, and enhance the effectiveness of existing practices through evidence-based decision-making. Action research allows for practical solutions that can be implemented and refined iteratively, empowering individuals to take ownership of their own learning and improvement processes.

    1.2 Analyse Key Features of the Action Research Process

    The action research process typically follows a cyclical pattern involving the following key stages:

    • Identifying the Problem: This involves recognizing a specific issue in practice that requires improvement or further understanding.
    • Planning: The researcher develops a plan for intervention, including clear objectives, methods, and a strategy for collecting data.
    • Acting (Intervention): The planned intervention is implemented in practice, with the researcher actively participating in the process.
    • Observing: Data is collected during the intervention to assess its impact and effectiveness.
    • Reflecting: The researcher reflects on the outcomes, identifying successes, challenges, and areas for further action. Based on this reflection, the cycle can repeat, with the intervention being adjusted and improved as necessary.

    The iterative nature of action research allows for flexibility and adaptation, making it an effective tool for continuous improvement. Key features include collaboration with stakeholders, a focus on practical outcomes, and the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.

    1.3 Analyse the Implications of a Model of Action Research

    One commonly used model of action research is Kurt Lewin`s `Action Research Spiral`. This model emphasizes a cyclical process of planning, action, and reflection, repeating as necessary to achieve sustained improvement. The implications of using this model are significant:

    • Structured Flexibility: The spiral structure offers a framework that is flexible enough to adapt to changes in context and emerging findings, but still provides a systematic approach to problem-solving.
    • Collaborative Learning: Lewin’s model promotes collaboration, allowing practitioners to work closely with participants and stakeholders, thus fostering a shared commitment to improvement.
    • Continuous Improvement: By encouraging cycles of reflection and action, the model promotes continuous learning and improvement, making it particularly effective in dynamic environments.
    • Time-Intensive: The iterative nature of the model means that action research can be time-consuming, requiring ongoing adjustments and prolonged periods of reflection.

    Research Proposal

    Area of Practice for Development

    I aim to develop and improve the use of digital technologies in the assessment process within the education sector. The goal is to enhance student engagement and provide more personalized feedback using digital assessment tools.

    Research Question

    “How can the implementation of digital assessment tools improve student engagement and the quality of feedback in the classroom?”

    Improvement Strategy

    The strategy will involve introducing digital assessment tools such as online quizzes, feedback apps, and interactive platforms. These tools allow real-time feedback and enable teachers to provide personalized comments more efficiently. The justification for this strategy is based on research indicating that digital tools improve student motivation and make feedback more accessible and timely.

    Timeframe

    The intervention will be implemented over a 12-week period. The first two weeks will be used for training staff and students on the use of the digital tools. Data will be collected throughout the process, with mid-term feedback gathered in week six, followed by a final assessment at the end of week twelve.

    Ethical Considerations

    To ensure confidentiality, all data will be anonymized, and participants will be informed of how their data will be used. Safeguarding measures will be followed, particularly regarding student participation. In accordance with GDPR guidelines, all data will be securely stored and only accessible to authorized personnel.

  • Briefly introduce early ideas of how disease spreads and why these ideas came about. Include a short discussion of the ways that people attempted to prevent the spread of disease

    Briefly introduce early ideas of how disease spreads and why these ideas came about. Include a short discussion of the ways that people attempted to prevent the spread of disease.

    Unit 14 Infection and Immunity

    Disease has been part of the human story since the dawn of time. The earliest known disease that we have evidence for is leprosy, which has been found in skeletons dating back 4000 years. Smallpox is nearly as old and has been found in ancient Egyptian mummies dating as far back as 1350BCE.

    Thanks to modern medicine most diseases are no longer deadly. Leprosy, once thought to be a result of sinful behaviour, is now known to be caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is spread by inhalation of droplets from coughing and sneezing. It is easily treated with antibiotics and is now very rare indeed. Smallpox, variola virus, was once the deadliest disease in the world. It was estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century and around 500 million people in the last 100 years of its existence. It has now been completely eradicated by a global vaccination program, with the last smallpox case anywhere in the world occurring in 1979.

    Your task is to produce an illustrated report that not only demonstrates your understanding of diseases, how they spread and how we recover from them, but also charts some of the key turning points in medical discovery.

    Your report must include the following sections.

    SECTION ONE

    This section covers the development of modern medicine.

    • Briefly introduce early ideas of how disease spreads and why these ideas came about. Include a short discussion of the ways that people attempted to prevent the spread of disease.
    • Describe how Dr Ignaz Semmelweis and Dr Robert Koch contributed to the idea of Germ Theory and their contributions to modern healthcare practices.
    • Describe the contribution of Dr John Snow to the development of epidemiology, the branch of medicine which deals with the incidence, distribution, and possible control of diseases and other factors relating to health.
    • Explain the history of the development of vaccination, including the contributions of Dr Edward Jenner and Dr Louis Pasteur.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION TWO

    Show that you understand the cause and transmission of different pathogens by describing the structure of a range pathogens, including bacteria and viruses, and compare them to eukaryotic cells.

    Identify and briefly describe range of contagious diseases with different modes of transmission and explain how they enter the human body. Explain how each of these causes disease and include the symptoms.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION THREE

    • Show that you understand how the human body responds to infection by: –
    • Describing the range of first line defences and non-specific responses to infection including fever.
    • Explaining the roles of the different types of white blood cells.
    • Explaining the mechanism of the specific immune response and how it can significantly reduce the chances of you catching the same disease twice.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION FOUR

    Show that you understand how vaccinations can prevent an infection through,

    • Describing the different types of vaccine and how they work.
    • Explaining how vaccination increases the chance that you will become immune to a pathogen and how this can reduce the spread of a disease.

    You should use images and diagrams to support your commentary where appropriate.

    SECTION FIVE

    Show that you understand how antibiotics work and their limitations through,

    • Explaining what antibiotics are and, briefly, how they were discovered.
    • Describing the mechanism of action of antibiotics and explain why they only work on bacteria and no other pathogens.
    • Explaining how bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics and the consequences of this for public health.

    Guidance

    The report should be written using the recommended structure and format for an illustrated report as outlined in the study materials for the Academic Writing Skills unit.

    Relevant theory must be referenced where appropriate and you must provide a references list and bibliography.

    Your report should also contain appropriate drawings and diagrams to support your commentary. If these are taken from published sources, they must be cited and referenced accordingly.

    The report should be a maximum of 3,000 words in length

  • 6004 Assessment 2 Instructions Write a 4–6 page policy proposal and practice guidelines for improving quality and performance associated with the benchmark metric underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1.

    6004 Assessment 2 Instructions

    Write a 4–6 page policy proposal and practice guidelines for improving quality and performance associated with the benchmark metric underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1.

    Introduction

    In advocating for institutional policy changes related to local, state, or federal healthcare laws or policies, health leaders must be able to develop and present clear and well-written policy and practice guideline proposals that will enable a team, a unit, or an organization as a whole to resolve relevant performance issues and bring about improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes.

    As a master’s-level healthcare practitioner, you have a valuable viewpoint and voice to bring to discussions about policy development, both inside and outside your care setting. Developing policy for internal purposes can be a valuable process toward quality and safety improvement and ensuring compliance with various healthcare regulatory pressures. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes as well.

    Instructions

    Propose an organizational policy and practice guidelines that you believe will lead to an improvement in quality and performance associated with the benchmark underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1. Be precise, professional, and persuasive in demonstrating the merit of your proposed actions.

    Requirements

    The policy proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

    • Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this.
      • What is the current benchmark for the organization and the numeric score for underperformance?
      • How is the benchmark underperformance affecting the provision of quality care or the organization’s operations?
      • What are the potential repercussions of not making any changes?
      • What evidence supports your conclusions?
    • Summarize your proposed organizational policy and practice guidelines.
      • Identify applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law that prescribes relevant performance benchmarks that your policy proposal addresses (using your Advocacy Issues topic from the AHA).
      • Keep your audience in mind when creating this summary statement.
    • Analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on your recommended practice guidelines.
      • What regulatory considerations could affect your recommended guidelines?
      • What resources could affect your recommended guidelines (staffing, financial, and logistical considerations, or support services)?
    • Explain ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance and the impact the proposed changes will have on the targeted group.
      • What does the evidence-based literature suggest are potential strategies to improve performance for your targeted benchmark?
      • How would these strategies ensure performance improvement or compliance with applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law?
      • How can you ensure that these strategies are ethical and culturally inclusive in their application?
      • What is the direct impact of these changes on the stakeholders’ work setting/job requirements?
    • Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
      • Why is it important to engage these stakeholders and groups?
      • How can their participation produce a stronger policy and facilitate its implementation?
    • Present strategies for collaborating with the stakeholder group to implement your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
      • What role will the stakeholder group play in implementing your proposal?
      • Why is the stakeholder group and their collaboration important for successful implementation?
    • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Proofread your proposal, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your proposal.
    • Use paraphrasing and summarization to represent ideas from external sources.
      • Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to source citations and references.

    Policy Proposal Format and Length

    It may be helpful to use a template or format for your proposal used in your current organization. The risk management or quality department could be a good resource for finding an appropriate template or format. If you are not currently in practice, or your organization does not have these resources, many appropriate templates are freely available on the Internet.

    Your policy summary statement should be succinct (about one paragraph). Overall, your proposal should be 4–6 pages in length.

    Supporting Evidence

    Cite 3–5 references to current and scholarly research, case studies, or best practice guidelines to support your analysis and recommendations.

    Competencies Measured

    By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

    • Competency 1: Analyze relevant healthcare laws, policies, and regulations; their application; and their effects on organizations, interprofessional teams, and professional practice.
      • Explain and interpret for stakeholders the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws.
    • Competency 2: Lead the development and implementation of ethical and culturally sensitive policies that improve health outcomes for individuals, organizations, and populations.
      • Summarize a proposed organizational policy or practice change guideline and analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on recommended practice guidelines.
    • Competency 3: Evaluate relevant indicators of performance, such as benchmarks, research, and best practices, to inform healthcare laws and policies for patients, organizations, and populations.
      • Explain how ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance will impact a stakeholder group needed for successful implementation of the policy or practice change.
    • Competency 4: Develop strategies to work collaboratively with policy makers, stakeholders, and colleagues to address environmental (governmental and regulatory) forces.
      • Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of a proposed policy or practice change to improve quality and outcomes.
      • Present strategies for collaborating with a stakeholder group to implement a proposed policy and practice guidelines.
    • Competency 5: Produce clear, coherent, and professional written work, in accordance with Capella’s writing standards.
      • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
  • Assignment Content: For your persuasive policy speech topic, write a “problem statement” (no more than one paragraph) to clarify the problem/need and point to the solution. This will

    Assignment Content:
    For your persuasive policy speech topic, write a “problem statement” (no more than one paragraph) to clarify the problem/need and point to the solution. This will ultimately help you figure out what you need to have in each section of your presentation. As you continue working on this speech, you may find that you need to adjust this.

    The link below will help you understand how and why to write a problem statement. Your submission should reflect the ideas and format covered in the link.

    http://www.ceptara.com/blog/how-to-write-problem-statement

  • Your director of service is concerned about the HRM issues, pressures and challenges facing your specialist health area/service/department and says she/he would value a bullet-point ‘problem-response

    Part A

    Question:

    VUCA-type (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) and BANI (brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible) contemporary contexts and dynamics (for example: COVID, financial pressures/economic crisis/ labour market shortages/ geo-political tensions) are becoming the ‘new global norm’. Healthcare organizations have to operate in, and deal with, the challenges these environments create.

    How, and to what extent, is human resource management able to engage with, and support, healthcare professionals in dealing with the challenges that are presented by this changing world?

    Part B

    Written Assignment

    Reflective Company/Organizational – Focused Task

    Your director of service is concerned about the HRM issues, pressures and challenges facing your specialist health area/service/department and says she/he would value a bullet-point ‘problem-response’ report on these.

    Write a brief report-style response that will accomplish this need and objective. The report should: – Identify the direct issues, pressures and challenges relating to HRM that are affecting your specialist area/service/department; – Provide proposed solutions and recommendations to the issues, pressures and challenges identified; – Employ academic references and relate the solutions /recommendations to academic and wider literature(s);

  • Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this.

    6004 Assessment 2 Instructions

    Write a 4–6 page policy proposal and practice guidelines for improving quality and performance associated with the benchmark metric underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1.

     

    Introduction

    In advocating for institutional policy changes related to local, state, or federal healthcare laws or policies, health leaders must be able to develop and present clear and well-written policy and practice guideline proposals that will enable a team, a unit, or an organization as a whole to resolve relevant performance issues and bring about improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes.

    As a master’s-level healthcare practitioner, you have a valuable viewpoint and voice to bring to discussions about policy development, both inside and outside your care setting. Developing policy for internal purposes can be a valuable process toward quality and safety improvement and ensuring compliance with various healthcare regulatory pressures. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes as well.

    Instructions

    Propose an organizational policy and practice guidelines that you believe will lead to an improvement in quality and performance associated with the benchmark underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1. Be precise, professional, and persuasive in demonstrating the merit of your proposed actions.

    Requirements

    The policy proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

    • Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this.
      • What is the current benchmark for the organization and the numeric score for underperformance?
      • How is the benchmark underperformance affecting the provision of quality care or the organization’s operations?
      • What are the potential repercussions of not making any changes?
      • What evidence supports your conclusions?
    • Summarize your proposed organizational policy and practice guidelines.
      • Identify applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law that prescribes relevant performance benchmarks that your policy proposal addresses (using your Advocacy Issues topic from the AHA).
      • Keep your audience in mind when creating this summary statement.
    • Analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on your recommended practice guidelines.
      • What regulatory considerations could affect your recommended guidelines?
      • What resources could affect your recommended guidelines (staffing, financial, and logistical considerations, or support services)?
    • Explain ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance and the impact the proposed changes will have on the targeted group.
      • What does the evidence-based literature suggest are potential strategies to improve performance for your targeted benchmark?
      • How would these strategies ensure performance improvement or compliance with applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law?
      • How can you ensure that these strategies are ethical and culturally inclusive in their application?
      • What is the direct impact of these changes on the stakeholders’ work setting/job requirements?
    • Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
      • Why is it important to engage these stakeholders and groups?
      • How can their participation produce a stronger policy and facilitate its implementation?
    • Present strategies for collaborating with the stakeholder group to implement your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
      • What role will the stakeholder group play in implementing your proposal?
      • Why is the stakeholder group and their collaboration important for successful implementation?
    • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Proofread your proposal, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your proposal.
    • Use paraphrasing and summarization to represent ideas from external sources.
      • Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to source citations and references.

    Policy Proposal Format and Length

    It may be helpful to use a template or format for your proposal used in your current organization. The risk management or quality department could be a good resource for finding an appropriate template or format. If you are not currently in practice, or your organization does not have these resources, many appropriate templates are freely available on the Internet.

    Your policy summary statement should be succinct (about one paragraph). Overall, your proposal should be 4–6 pages in length.

    Supporting Evidence

    Cite 3–5 references to current and scholarly research, case studies, or best practice guidelines to support your analysis and recommendations.

    Competencies Measured

    By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

    • Competency 1: Analyze relevant healthcare laws, policies, and regulations; their application; and their effects on organizations, interprofessional teams, and professional practice.
      • Explain and interpret for stakeholders the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws.
    • Competency 2: Lead the development and implementation of ethical and culturally sensitive policies that improve health outcomes for individuals, organizations, and populations.
      • Summarize a proposed organizational policy or practice change guideline and analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on recommended practice guidelines.
    • Competency 3: Evaluate relevant indicators of performance, such as benchmarks, research, and best practices, to inform healthcare laws and policies for patients, organizations, and populations.
      • Explain how ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance will impact a stakeholder group needed for successful implementation of the policy or practice change.
    • Competency 4: Develop strategies to work collaboratively with policy makers, stakeholders, and colleagues to address environmental (governmental and regulatory) forces.
      • Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of a proposed policy or practice change to improve quality and outcomes.
      • Present strategies for collaborating with a stakeholder group to implement a proposed policy and practice guidelines.
    • Competency 5: Produce clear, coherent, and professional written work, in accordance with Capella’s writing standards.
      • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
      • Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.